VR has fully evolved into a spectator sports activity. On the first day of CES, HP premiered a multiplayer VR experience created by Groove Jones called LightStrike at their party high above the Las Vegas strip.
Guests at the event strapped on an HTC Vive headset and were transported to the LightStrike Arena, where they battled another guest high above the neon city below. It is a two-player, head-to-head VR game.
This real-time, fully interactive game was fun to play and exciting to watch as a spectator.
Players earn points by hitting their opponent with a disk while using a shield and quick reflexes to dodge incoming disks.
Crowds watched the participants try to destroy their opponents by throwing virtual light disks across from them. Cheers would erupt when their favorite player won. The audience could see all of the VR action on external flat-screen TVs, which displayed what the players saw inside their headsets. Gameplay tournaments lasted 120 seconds.
Engaging With Your Audience – The Future of Brand Activations
People who attended the event saw the future of how brands can engage with their audience. This is true not only for those who attended CES but also for players who can join in from remote locations or watch in spectator mode headsets. These spectator views can also be used for social sharing.
The experience occurred within a 10 x 20-foot space with dedicated monitors for spectator viewing. HP utilized the experience to showcase its new VR-enabled desktops.
Powered by HP
The VR experience was powered by the new HP Omen line of desktop computers that were on display at the event.
GrooveTech™ Multiplayer Platform
The GrooveTech VR Platform powers the experience. The platform can be licensed for two or more people to simultaneously participate in the VR experience. This can be for on-site events or deployed at multiple locations via a networked environment and our central servers.