Chasing repetitive beats in VR feels like an 80s UK time capsule

《追逐重复的节拍》是对英国的酸浆运动和80年代狂欢场景的怀旧探索。继续阅读我们的完整印象。

Virtual reality can uniquely transport you through time like no other medium can. Away from gaming lies a treasure trove of immersive experiences that don't always give you the same freedom, but still lead to fascinating journeys - like Astra, Empereur, theBody of MineandSen这些都是一些喜欢的作品。在2022年首次亮相后，我最近尝试了《追逐重复的节拍》，发现自己被吸引了进去。

existNew Images FestivalofXR MarketThis was easily my favorite "new" experience of the trip when I got to experience it first hand. Designed as an indoor experience, I put on a head-mounted display and a haptic vest and found myself in 1989. The indoor experience allows you to move around to explore, but also supports joystick-based movement and smooth camera steering.

I've always lived in the south of England, but Chasing Repeated Beats reveals a wider British cultural phenomenon that resonates unexpectedly. Best described as an interactive documentary that unfolds around you, it explores the illicit side of the acid slurry movement in Coventry in the 80s. This brief but fascinating journey follows three ravers in search of an all-night warehouse party.

The experience switches between several different scenes. At one point, you're exploring a typical bedroom filled with soccer posters or a police station, then shifting to that almost mysterious warehouse. These scenes are interspersed with modern interviews with famous acid pulp figures like MC Loud & Nasty and Tony McCook, whose stories are side by side on flyers you can grab for yourself. As someone who was mostly unaware of the history of the scene beforehand, I was fascinated by their stories and these surroundings.

The detail on display is impressive and captures the era well. Developer East City Films often used television and radio programs from 1989 to help recreate the era. There was a moment that felt like walking into a visual synthesizer mixed with a radio tuner that changed stations as I walked. It was a pleasant surprise to hear an old soccer score mentioning my hometown team AFC Bournemouth.

It's a time capsule that makes me nostalgic for a previous era before I was born. Even though the experience isn't very long at 45 minutes in length, I'm still thinking about it almost a week later. I especially liked how East City Films integrated haptic vest support to enhance immersion by synchronizing it with its matching soundtrack.

After the experience, I spoke with Darren Emerson, co-founder and CEO of East City Films, to get more information. Emerson is known for his work creating social commentary-filledVRexperiences made famous back in the early days of modern VR, such as Witness 360: 7/7 and Indefinite,Common Ground.and more recentlyLetters from Drancy.

Emmerson was initially approached by the City of Coventry Cultural Trust to create Chasing Repeated Beats, which later funded the project along with the British Film Institute (BFI). Although Emmerson grew up in London, he wanted to make sure that it represented the real experience that anyone involved in the rave scene at the time might have had.

I wasn't at the rave in '89 at the time, but the process was the same. You go to a friend's house, "Where are we going? Look at this flyer? How do we find out where it is?" And then jump in the car, no cell phones or internet ...... That was a real experience. I wanted to represent in '89 when that was a more politically and culturally significant time.

Part of recreating that era involved using real radio, as acid plasma organizers often used private radio stations to get their message across. We discussed scenarios based on the one mentioned above, in which your physical location is like a radio tuner.

"As a kid, you're fascinated because it doesn't really make sense; it's a code. There's a whole world outside your bedroom that you don't really live in. You try to find private radio stations, pass by classical music, news, cheesy '80s pop - all these different things. Finally, you hear the private radio station that tells you where the party is being held."

I'm not the only one who gets nostalgic, says Emerson, telling me that "Chasing Repeating Beats" often resonates with fans of electronic and dance music.

"I think nostalgia is an important element in this narrative; you can create very vivid worlds that resonate with people."

When asked why he chose VR over more traditional filmmaking, Emerson believes VR is about connection and emotion, which is why he focuses on community in his work. It's also why he chose VR over traditional filmmaking, believing that many music documentaries are too similar.

"After a while, it became very boring. My main thought was I don't want to hear people talk about it. I wanted to do it; I wanted to be there. How could I be there? The only way I could really be there was by making VR. of course, I had people who were around and you could hear them in the space offering comments, like talking heads in an interview, but they were there with you. They're guiding you."

Chasing Repeated Beats has been touring festivals since its premiere in Coventry two years ago, and East City Films is planning a new eight-stop tour soon. When asked if I would see a home version of Chasing Repeated Beats, I was told that East City were considering this. But the touring aspect adds some consideration.

Regarding future plans, I was told that another consideration before the home version is released is to consider the "LBEsense to add co-located multiplayer." Emerson brings up the idea of endless parties where you can join as many as you want, with guest DJs, and while that's already a great experience, I see the potential behind the idea, and hopefully we won't have to wait too long for a home version to be released.

source:uploadvr