Warner Bros brings “Into the Storm” to Oculus Rift
Promotional material for films has often times lead to rushed games, with the developers on short time windows. Some film makers have learned to give video game producers enough time, but the Oculus Rift might bring a new way to promote.
Experiences are what matter to the Oculus Rift, and unlike games these do not have set times for the campaign. The experience can last 10 minutes or 10 days, it could even be an experience that continues to grow as the player invests more time.
Warner Bros has snagged onto this new idea with their upcoming movie “Into the Storm“, where humans are threatened by the largest storm in the world. The movie looks to take large visuals to back up the rather weak story, that does not have a real antagonist in the traditional sense.
In order to hype the movie, Warner Bros has created a short simulation of being inside the storm on the Oculus Rift. Warner Bros showed off the simulation at Comic Con earlier this month, allowing users to try a quick two minute demo.
Results appear to be good, the Oculus Rift is still in its early stages, but given the simple set-piece it would be easy for an immersive experience. There is no movement involved, so viewers can only watch the storm around them.
The experience of the Oculus Rift is still extremely new for most people, who can only check it out at conventions. This has given Warner Bros an excellent bridge to cross, offering a new experience and a first look at Into the Storm.
More movies are bound to copy this tactic, especially for graphically intensive movies that feature natural disasters. Even things like The Walking Dead would be great, where a player is stuck in a room and zombies are breaking in through the walls.