Adrenaline junkies may be able to get a rush from skydiving simulator games and indoor skydiving facilities, but a part of them will always know that the experience is not real. But in order to promote one of its newest films, Point Break, Warner Bros challenged itself to make the experience of virtual skydiving feel more immersive than most.
At London’s Westfield Stratford mall, Warner Bros set up a station that involved more than just a virtual reality headset. Adventurous mall-goers were invited to lie on their stomachs and strap themselves into a wingsuit mechanism, which involved their whole body in the process of the virtual reality experience. While "falling," people were blasted with wind to enhance the multi-sensory experience.
The technology and setup involved in this stunt might have been extensive, the Point Break Virtual Reality Wingsuit mission was simple: get to the ground.
Mall Skydiving Simulators
Warner Bros Used Virtual Reality Skydiving to Promote 'Point Break'
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Reality Skydiving - Virtual reality skydiving experiences are becoming more immersive, with the use of full-body mechanisms that enhance the multi-sensory experience.
2. Indoor Extreme Sports - Indoor extreme sports facilities are expanding, offering a range of thrilling experiences in a safe and controlled environment.
3. Supercharged Virtual Reality - With advancements in virtual reality, companies are finding ways to make VR experiences more immersive and lifelike, creating disruptive opportunities in entertainment and tourism.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - The entertainment industry has the potential to create more immersive and realistic experiences using virtual reality and full-body mechanisms in a variety of ways such as theme parks, arcades and gaming centers.
2. Tourism - The tourism industry can use virtual reality technology to create simulations of popular adventure activities, allowing people to experience them without the associated risks and costs.
3. Retail - The retail industry can use immersive experiences like virtual reality skydiving as a way of drawing customers to shopping centers and increasing engagement with brands.