No. 009 of with Kevin Williams on XR, VR, and AR for Location Based Experiences, Theme Parks and Attractions

XR Connections - Extended Reality - XR | AR | VR | MR

Episode 009 features an interview with Kevin Williams, a leading specialist in the digital Out-of-Home entertainment industry. Kevin discusses recent trends and developments in Location Based Experiences, focusing on Virtual and next generationMixed Reality/Cross Reality attractions, rides and games. From motion simulators to arena-scale VR, Kevin brings a unique perspective to VR/XR, and details the challenges of LBE VR, including health and hygiene factors, ease of use of equipment and wait times and guest onboarding experiences.

​SHOW NOTES:

Kevin Williams

LinkedIn

​kwp @ thestingerreport dot com

​The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities Book by Kevin Williams and Michael Mascioni

​VR Focus Column

​Hughes Rediffusion (now Thales Training and Simulation)

​Star Tours Star Wars Disney Theme Park Flight Simulator

​Location Based Experience Types:

​• Immersive Simulators (Drive Rally/Formula One Car, Control Jet Fighter)

• VR Headset Linked to Motion Bases

• Next Generation Mixed Reality/Cross Reality (E-Sports Networked Competitions

​Cross Reality/XR in LBE: Marriage of Multiple Disciplines and Technologies to Create an Immersive Environment that is Borderless​

​Rise of Theme Park Mixed Reality/Cross Reality: Goal is to make Experience for Guests Effortless:

• Augmented Reality (AR) Mirrored to 3D Projection Mapping

• Navigable Environments with 3D Projection Mapping

​Disney Goofy Paint n Play House Pioneering 3D Projection Map Theme Park Attraction

​Triotech's Lego Ninjago Theme Park Attraction

Out-of-Home (OOH) Virtual Reality Deployment:

• Stand-Alone Machines - Beat Sabre/VRrsenal, Hologate Driving Simulators

• Location Based Experiences/"Free-Roaming," "Hyper Reality" Arena-Scale VR - The Void (Disney, LucasFilm, Sony), Dreamscape, Sandbox (Star Trek: Discovery), Minority Media (Transformers)

IAAPA Conference

​Dark Rides: "A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music and special effects." (Entertainment Designer, 2005)

​Sally Dark Rides

​Disney Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Experience

LAI Virtual Rabbids Ride

Spree Interactive Bumper Car Experience

Pico VR Headset

Vex Solutions VR Experiences

Oculus Quest

HTC Vive Headsets

Samsung Gear VR Headset

Disney Pandora: Land of Avatar Experience

​Resources:

The Stinger Report

Road to VR

​Upload VR

​InterGame

Conferences:

IAAPA

EAG Entertainment, Attractions and Gaming International Expo, London

​Amusement Expo, New Orleans

​CES, Las Vegas

​Call Recording: Anchor

Podcasting: Anchor

Recording: Logic Pro X ​

Music: "Are You There?" by DR. MARS on Spotify