Star Wars was once a story that bordered on a legend. With Disney buying Lucasfilm all of that has changed and the loyal fans, for better or worse, have been given new insight into the Star Wars and Darth Vader’s universe.
Industrial Light & Magic’s (ILM) immersive entertainment division is looking to some major Hollywood talent to create its next Star Wars virtual reality experience, and the lead character is as big as it gets.
Writer David Goyer (of Batman Begins and Man of Steel fame) joined ILM’s xLab to create an original narrative VR experience that will star the most famous character of them all – Darth Vader. The project is an entirely original story set within the Star Wars universe, written in conjunction with the same brain trust that is overseeing the new live-action films. The untitled Darth Vader project will be so tightly integrated with the overall universe.
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Creative executive Pablo Hidlago mentioned that they considered series canon, alongside the new movies, novels, and comic books to create this interactive Star Wars experience the likes of no other. Goyer also stated that the experience will put you in a persistent world. One of day and night cycles, changing wheather and continues even after the user has gone.
“You are the visitor in this story that is happening in and around you, and to a certain extent you might even have some effect on the narrative. You can pick up things, you can open things. You can push things, you can walk. You can touch characters.”
This is a very interesting idea, one that borders on The Matix-type setup. Goyer added – “The difference between cinema and television and VR “” particularly with the fidelity that [the xLab] team is working on “” is that you really feel like you’re there. The sense of presence isn’t just a buzzword.” Whilst using a VR headset might not seem like the best way to become emotionally involved in a story, Goyer said his experience has actually been the opposite. “It can make you sad, and make you lean in, and make you feel for a character in a way you haven’t before. In a way that you can’t really do in any other medium. And it can scare you.”
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We will have to see how long this Darth Vader project takes to see the light of day, but according to Mr Goyer it will happen – “I’m really, really excited for a year or two [from now] “” whenever it happens “” and you guys get to experience what we’re working on. It’s pretty mind-blowing.”
Source: The Verge
Follow Jaco van der Walt on Twitter: @Jaco_vdWalt
