The Circus Maximus Experience, opened in Rome this week and offers visitors the chance to relive the ancient splendors of chariot racing in the Imperial period of Rome through augmented and virtual reality. The innovative project implements interactive display technologies never before used in such a large outdoor area.
Rome’s Circus Maximus, reconstructed as it appeared in ancient times. VOA
“Now you find yourself in front of the Arch of Titus, which was possibly built in the place of a more ancient arch and dedicated in the year 81 After Christ by the Roman Senate and people to Emperor Flavius”.
This is just an example of what modern-day visitors will be listening to in their headsets, while at the same time through special visors see a virtual rendering of the majestic 20-meter Arch of Titus in Rome’s Circus Maximus.
A visitor of Rome’s Circus Maximus is seen with a virtual reality visor. VOA
Thanks to a ground-breaking project using interactive display technology never before used in such an extended outdoor area, visitors are able to re-live the life in one of Rome’s undisputed landmarks.
Rome’s Circus Maximus, reconstructed with its tiered seating arena. VOA
Visitors immerse themselves in history for with overlapping images from the past and those of the reality of today. They are able to visualize architectural and landscape reconstructions of what life was like during all of the historical stages of the Circus Maximus.
Another view of Rome’s Circus Maximus reconstructed, with its tiered seating arena. VOA
They can see the ancient Murcia Valley enriched with buildings and walk around in the Circus among the shops of the time. They can visualize the Circus during Imperial times, the Middle Ages and in a more modern age.
Rome’s Circus Maximus reconstructed, showing the opposite end of the arena. VOA
The full itinerary involves eight stops including: the valley and the origins of the Circus, the Circus from Julius Caesar to Trajan, the Circus during the Imperial age, the cavea or tiered seating arena, the Arch of Titus, the tabernae or shops, the Circus during the Middle Ages and modern age, and lastly “A Day at the Circus” for an experience of the exciting chariot race of the quadrigas with the screams of incitement of the public and the overturning of wagons.
Facebook has announced it is acquiring Beat Games, the developer of VR game called Beat Saber. Pixabay
Facebook has announced it is acquiring Beat Games, the developer of popular Virtual Reality rhythm game called Beat Saber.
Beat Games will become part of Facebook’s VR gaming Group Oculus Studios.
For millions of people worldwide, Beat Saber was their first encounter with immersive VR gaming.
“We are announcing that Beat Games is joining us in our quest to bring VR to more people around the world. They will join Oculus Studios as an independently operated studio in Prague, continuing to create new ways for people to experience music and VR gaming,’ Oculus content director Mike Verdu said in a statement late Tuesday.
Beat Games will continue to ship content and updates for Beat Saber across all currently supported platforms, now with even more support from Facebook.
Beat Saber is currently available across all major high-end VR gaming platforms, including the Oculus Rift and Quest.
Beat Saber game is currently available across all major high-end VR gaming platform. Pixabay
“Beat Saber is a perfect example of why VR is so exciting.”VR reimagines old genres and invents new ones.
“The team at Beat Games made a leap forward in innovation and design with the stellar blend of game mechanics and music in Beat Saber, and yet we know that they, along with so many other devs, are just getting started,” said Verdu.
At its sixth Oculus Connect conference in September this year, Facebook shared its vision for VR and plans to build the future of computing with people at the centre with new updates for Quest VR Headsets.
Among the announcements was Oculus Link which allows users to connect Quest with a PC via a USB-C cable, including announcing Horizon and finger tracking for Quest.
The company also announced Facebook Horizon, a new social experience in VR where one can build their own worlds with easy-to-use tools (no coding skills required). (IANS)