Sundance 2017 VR Guide
Discover the latest and greatest virtual reality events at Sundance.
Sundance has seen an exponential rise in VR content in the last few years and 2017 is no exception. Perusing Main Street in Park City you can not walk one block without seeing VR related content being showcased.
To save you the time of hoofing it up the steep hill to discover where the latest and greatest virtual reality events are, I have put together a guide for your convenience.
Helicopter Tour of Mount Everest @ Youtube Space 449 Main St.
VR Hardware — Google Daydream View
If you want to pick up a free coffee/latte/mocha and see some VR in the same space then head to the Youtube lounge. There you will find several chairs where you can plop down and experience Mount Everest from a helicopter view in the Daydream headset. This space opened today and should be around till next week. Line was short today but expect it to be much longer through the weekend.
“VR on the Mountain” with Viveport @ Firewood 306 Main St.
VR Hardware — HTC Vive
Viveport, the HTC Vive platform, is showcasing a wide variety of Vive driven experiences this weekend January 20–22. Located next to the Sundance Channel HQ on upper Main Street, the “VR on the Mountain” will be highlighted by “My Brother’s Keeper”, a VR companion piece to the PBS civil war drama Mercy Street. Many of the most popular Vive demos will be taking place as well including Mindshow, a VR story creation app, and Tilt Brush. This will be a busy scene so get there early if you want to see as much Viveport experiences as possible. To see a full listing of the demos go to: https://blog.vive.com/us/2017/01/13/vr-on-the-mountain-2017/
New Frontier VR exhibits @ ClaimJumper (573 Main Street) and VR Bar at Music Cafe (751 Main Street)
VR Hardware — Various
New Frontier is one of the birthplaces of the modern VR movement. Shari Frilot has been curating the best VR content in the world over the past several years and has grown the VR content portion of Sundance into a sizable part of the festival. This year the plethora of VR experiences is too long to list. The New Frontier will be ground zero for the best VR experiences hosted by the creators of the different pieces. The VR bar at the Music Cafe down the hill will supplement the New Frontier by adding additional location for people to view some of the VR projects located at New Frontier. The New Frontier will be open daily from 1–8pm January 20–27 and from11am-3pm on the 28th. You will need a Sundance Festival credential to enter this year due to demand for the content. For the full guide go to: http://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/program/NFF-guide
VR Palace @ Basecamp (Swede Alley Parking Old Town Transit Center)
VR Hardware — Samsung Gear VR
If you do not want to wait in one line after another to see the best in VR that the New Frontier is offering there is a solution! The VR palace will be running a 50 minute highlight reel of the best VR from New Frontier over at the Basecamp setup in Swede Alley. This is a ticketed event. Cost is $20–$25 for a reserved 50-minute time slot. For volunteers you will need to waitlist just like films. For festival patrons you can buy tickets at: http://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/get-tickets
Jaunt VR Lounge @ Galleria Mall on Main Street 580 Main St.
VR Hardware — Samsung Gear VR
Jaunt VR Lounge is already open and has a plethora of Jaunt experiences some of which are exclusive to the festival. I got the chance to demo the Grateful Dead live experience recorded at Levi’s Stadium. A stereoscopic Jaunt camera rig was placed in several locations on stage and in the crowd to provide an up close experience of the remaining members of the Grateful Dead performing live. There were a number of experiences there to try in comfy swivel chairs located throughout the lounge. Four of the Sundance Institute produced pieces made through the Jaunt Residency program include OMW, Circa 2015, Through you and Collisions. Other pieces include Asteroids!, My Brother’s Keeper Do Not Push the Red Button!, and Bashir’s dream. Rounding out the list are Under the Canopy, Invisible, Why it Matters, The Game, Shaq Goes to Cuba, North Face’s Nepal, A Perfect Day in Los Angeles and What Do You Desire? Additionally, Radiant Images, the rental house responsible for collaborating on a majority of large VR projects, has brought multiple 360 cameras to demonstrate the newest and most cutting edge equipment to create amazing VR experiences. A 360 globe by Global Imagination is also present to demonstrate 360 videos projected on a clear sphere.
C1VR @ Galleria Mall on Main Street 580 Main St.
VR Hardware — Samsung Gear VR
C1VR has two demo 360 videos to view in their space across from the Jaunt VR Lounge. The first I viewed today was a companion piece to an Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore called “Melting Ice.” Gore flies into Greenland to view the rapid melting of the glaciers. The other socially conscious demo involves a visceral look at commercial farming called “Fierce Compassion”.
Oculus by Facebook House @ Main&Sky 201 Heber Ave.
VR Hardware — Oculus Rift with Touch Controls and Samsung Gear VR
Oculus House is likely the biggest VR setup other than New Frontier this year. They will be showcasing different pieces from January 20–27. There will be premieres, panels and other events in addition to the demonstrations scheduled. For a full detail of VR projects and events go to: http://www.oculusatsundance.com/
Acura Mood Roads VR Demo — Acura Experience on Lower Main St.
VR Hardware — Custom Driving Simulation Experience
Acura has two VR demos in their tents this year. The first is not a headset based system but rather a curved screen inside a motion simulator called “Mood Roads” demoing a sport hybrid experience that could be described as psychedelic. The second VR experience is an Acura NSX driving simulation that is headset based and puts your behind the wheel of the sporty and powerful Acura NSX. Expect long lines for both these demos. The Acura tents will be at the festival January 20th through the 28th.
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