On Your Mark, Headset, Go!
VR. Those two letters seem to be on every marketer’s lips lately. Images of people comically waving their arms in the air, or crowds sitting obediently, their faces eaten up by Oculus devices, make us wonder: what will content become in the VR age?
It’s tough to say, but this week’s VR news provides some interesting examples:
1. VR enters the creative arts. The Tribeca Film Festival presented its Immersive Virtual Arcade, featuring 30 VR and interactive projects. As Lauren Hammons, curator of interactive content for TFF, puts it: “While some creators are using classic storytelling conventions, it’s the added element of interactivity that sets VR apart and allows for a level of immersion that simply can’t exist in traditional films”. In other words, there’s no longer a barrier between audience and experience.
2. VR gets a cult following. Adult Swim’s hit comedy, Rick and Morty, released its VR game last week. The format lets fans become characters, and the story unfolds everywhere. The take away for Content Marketers: mastering VR means building a robust universe that is compelling, rich, and relatable. And if you’re lucky enough to have a devoted brand following like Rick and Morty, make the most of it.
3. VR goes social. Last week, Facebook introduced its Facebook Spaces. The new VR platform allows users to connect in a virtual world, with avatars and 360° videos that may replace the traditional news feed. And we’re seconding AdWeek’s take: it’s a little Black Mirror-y.
VR is an immensely powerful tool, opening up a world of unlimited universes and before-impossible experiences. For brands, VR presents the opportunity to display unparalleled creativity and storytelling, while connecting with consumer’s in a “real” way.