The Martian: VR Experience will let the players see things from Mark Whitney’s perspective.
Ever wondered what it’s like to see things from Mark Whitney’s perspective? Or, better yet, do you have a solution of your own to growing Martian potatoes? Then you’re in luck because, thanks to Fox Innovative Lab and Ridley Scott, Whitney’s adventures can be relieved by PlayStation and PC owner.
‘The Martian: VR Experience’ is the fruit of collaboration between director Ridley Scott and Fox Innovative Lab. The aim of this amazing project was to prove that VR wasn’t meant only for gaming, but cinematography as well.
Coined a tie-in production, ‘The Martian: VR Experience’ will allow the viewers to relive key moments from the Award-winning movie. In addition, the game or cinematic experience is compatible with multiple VR headsets including Facebook’s Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation’s VR.
Launched this week, the ‘game’ is available for purchase on Steam and costs only $20. Although you would think that this is a small price to play for a truly immersive experience, do keep in mind that this not your usual 10+ hours game.
In fact, ‘The Martian: VR Experience’ only lasts for 15 to 20 minutes depending on how well you are acquainted with the movie/novel.
So, what kind of experience can a 20-hour long application can offer? Well, apart from experiencing the key moments from the movie, you will also be able to perform some fun ‘side-tasks’ in order to see how it feel like to be stranded on Mars.
Players will be able to roam freely on the surface of the Red Planet using the Mars Exploration Vehicle, excavate precious minerals, construct all sorts of gadgets, and explore Whitney’s biodome.
In addition, the ‘game’ also feature some pretty interesting space action. According to Scott, players will also be able to fly around in zero gravity using their motion trackers.
Will the game live up to the public’s expectations or not? Of course, since it’s not a full game, but rather a glimpse into the future of VR technology, some of the customers might be a bit disappointed and maybe in range.
But, we should keep in mind that the VR technology is still in its infancy at this moment, and not everyone can afford to buy a kit. However, Oculus Rift’s update for low-end PCs and Vive’s falling price are indicators that this type of technology will soon become indispensable tools of our everyday gaming lives.
Image source: Flickr