Just last week, Mark Zuckerberg attended Samsung’s launch event in Barcelona upon the unfolding of their latest project, the Samsung VR gear. A headset gear that promises to give you realistic visuals quite similar to what a 4k gaming PC can offer. These virtual reality headgears have been running around the internet since Oculus first released its concept, promising gamers a whole new gaming experience that they have never seen before.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcGhGEfHdWs]
And if that isn’t enough to make you excited about what the future lies in store for gaming, well, IBM Japan just announced its latest MMORPG project based on the famous anime “Sword Art Online” (SAO) which was given the name, Sword Art Online: The Beginning. And this isn’t just your typical massive multiplayer online RPG game; because it’s going to focus on virtual reality similar to the concept we all saw in the said anime. For those who don’t know the anime, Sword Art Online is a Japanese light novel which was turn into an anime series, the story takes place in a near future setting where the main characters play inside this virtual reality MMORPG world.
IBM Japan opened a new website regarding the said project last February 22, which aims to bring the Sword Art Online game into reality. With the help of Apniplex, Bandai Namco, Kadokawa and SAO’s creator, Reki Kawahara, IBM reveals in its website that it will use next-generation computing system, “cognitive system” which simulates the human thought process in a computerized model, and its high speed cloud service known as “Soft Layer” to produce the virtual reality world of Sword Art Online. However, the prototype of the game however utilizes body motions to control your character’s movement in the game. As of now, IBM are now taking applications till March 4 for its prototype alpha test that will happen on dates between March 18 to 20 in Tokyo, Japan. According to the website, IBM Japan will be accepting 208 applicants. The lucky gamers will then be able to experience the virtual space of Sword Art Online: The Beginning, and interact with other players using a 3d scanned model avatar. According to SlashGear, the game will support both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
Sources: https://gematsu.com/2016/02/ibm-japan-announces-sword-art-online-virtual-reality-project