[VR] 360 video contents vs. 3D virtual reality contents
Those two are not quite the same VR
VR is on the tidal wave.
From Facebook’s Oculus, Google’s CardBoard, Samsung’s GearVR to HTC’s Vive, News about VR is everywhere. You know Reality Reflection also develops games in VR, right?
Speaking of VR, have you tried VR yet?
Have you experience ‘The Matrix’ like virtual world?
As soon as I work in VR related field, I showed my family and friends GearVR. The first VR content I showed them was from New York Times.
Like I did, everyone was excited full of wonder.
Of course, the first impression was “WOW.”
With GearVR, as you move your head, the contents changes in 360 degrees. Those of you who have tried out VR probably experienced VR first through this 360 degrees video.
Unlike the others, one of my friends seemed disappointed.
“What is it? This is just a normal 2D video. This is not VR I dreamed of!”
While everyone else was feeling like they are in a virtual world, why did my friend felt that she was not in a virtual world? The reason because my friend expected 3D VR contents, not 360 video contents.
This article starts from here.
What is the difference between 360 video contents and 3D VR contents?Those who newly encountered VR, it is easy to confuse the two different VR contents.
The contents both seem pretty VR. In reality, the two contents are different in every single details from how they are produced to how they are used. Let me tell you how they are different and their pros and cons.
360 video contents : film-like VR
Let us say that we create VR contents. Then, you will realize that 360 video contents and 3D VR contents are way too different. A 360 Video content is like a film depending on the camera shoots.
So to speak, the contents are like panorama video in 360 degrees. The video is stitched up continuously in a sphere. Basically, video is a 2D paper share and you are inside of the center that you feel like you are in that space. Of course, there is no depth information of the contents.
You can enjoy the contents from the camera’s perspective as if you are stepping on the camera when you put on a VR headset. Inside of the spare you are in, the video is projected on the spare wall. Your position is fixed on the camera’s location. If the camera moves, your view would move. But if you move, the contents won’t move in this case. Like a movie, one can only passively watch what the director wants to show. Since it is filmed in 360 degrees, you can turn your head to see up and down but you can’t move around.
The biggest advantage of 360 video contents is the immersion as if you appreciate high definition photographs. For storytellers, 360 video is an effective tool to limit the contents that one can watch to show what you want to show.
Sceneries from the distance, or live shows are great usage of 360 video to fascinate people without the depth information. Recently, live sports relay broadcasting contents are applying 360 videos, too. Compared to 3D VR contents, cost effectiveness is also one of the advantages that 360 video contents have. They also require very little computing power to use so one can enjoy the contents easily in mobile VR.
3D VR contents: Game-like VR
Now, back to creating VR contents, 3D VR contents are like making game or animation. All the objects and background should be created into 3D model in virtual space.
Unlike 360 video contents, in 3D VR contents, one can change the position of where you can be without a limit. (As long as you are not tethered with the PC lines.) Think of 3D games — for example, the hottest game right now, Overwatch. When you play Overwatch, the scenery keeps changing depending on your head tilting or your move.
This video is about walking around the newest map, Oasis in Overwatch. By controlling the character, your view changes right away just like we interact in the real world.
But the 3D models consisting 3D VR contents contain numerous information compared to 360 videos. 3D models are made of the main structure and the images on the structure. The main structure is consist of meshes and each mesh has information of their location. And the images on the structure are 3–4. Several layers of the image map allow the model to look high quality in varying angles. The image maps can contain color information, light reflection information, or the metalness information. Of course, the production cost including time, money, human resources is generally high.
The biggest advantage of 3D VR contents is that the contents contains depth information. One can explore the virtual world walking around freely. 3D VR contents are good for quest based storytelling or accomplishing game due to its degree of freedom. But it costs a lot to make high quality 3D models and most of the contents need high computing power and graphics so most of them are only available in PC VR. To reduce data, the structures and image maps are simplified so it might seem artificial. In many cases, designers create unique and creative graphics along with limits so it is not a negative all around.
This is a good reference for us to see the difference at a look.
Recently, a new way to mix up with 360 video’s high definition image texture and 3D VR’s depth has been discovered. By using depth camera, we can capture the whole scenery like 360 video. Reality Reflection’s 3D modeling through 3D scanning also allows us to position 3D models of real objects inside of VR. When the technology is commercialized, a lot of places in our lives can be presented inside of VR.
I hope this article helps you to distinguish 360 video contents and 3D VR content in VR.
Do not forget that the two contents each has it’s very own charms!
Reality Reflection will also try to create VR games and contents through these two contents in VR.
This article is for sharing Reality Reflection’s interests — VR, Tech, and Game. If you like this article, check out our other articles and subscribe to RR’s publication!
