From deep introspective explorations, to far-out journeys into the unknowns of the universe, explorers are the heroes that guide us forward. They are the ones whose relentless curiosity uncovers possibilities.
When it comes to storytelling in VR, Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël are among the most celebrated explorers, uncovering artistic and technical tricks that help immersive content creators progress further. And there is no more extreme example of exploration, than those that choose to venture beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Felix & Paul Studios’ newest experience, Space Explorers: A New Dawn, premieres at the Sundance Film Festival New Frontier Exhibition this week. After the premiere, it will be available for free alongside its second chapter, Space Explorers: Taking Flight, with the launch of Oculus Go this year.
A space exploration vehicle takes a break on a test run in the desert.
I had the opportunity to preview Space Explorers: A New Dawn, and then uncover what Felix & Paul Studios learned from creating the experience. Plus, NASA’s Principal Virtual Reality Engineer and several astronauts shared with me how they are using VR to prepare for future explorations throughout our solar system.
Space Explorers: A New Dawn introduces visitors to NASA’s new generation of astronauts, Jessica Meir, Jeanette Epps and Victor Glover, the depths of what space exploration entails for them now, and the ambitious plans for the near future. I enjoyed being educated directly by NASA astronauts, while joining them in inspirational and breathtaking scenes. We covered a lot of ground, from training underwater, through to speeding through the air in a T-38 jet.
Félix Lajeunesse of VR studio Felix & Paul working on Space Explorers.
Lajeunesse shares that the second chapter, Space Explorers: Taking Flight, takes visitors on an exploration of “…the collaboration between NASA and private space companies such as Space X and Boeing, as well as the spirit of collaboration between the world’s national space programs.” Viewers visit Cape Canaveral, Russia and Kazakhstan, and also experience two up-close rocket launches.
Michael Gerndhart takes the wheel in a space exploration vehicle.
How Felix & Paul Create Entertaining, Educational Content in 360
Storytelling in VR not only takes you to new places, or allows you to be someone or something else, but it has the ability to give you experiences that enhance your life in a way that other mediums cannot do. The drivers of
Astronauts partake in underwater spacewalk training.
Source: Sundance: Felix & Paul Studios Debut Space Explorers VR Series
