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Polish Developer The Farm 51 Working On VR Chernobyl Documentary
Virtual reality has the capacity to transport us to distant planets and fantasy worlds born of imagination. The technology also holds the power of education and discovery when turned inward. Polish studio The Farm 51 is working on a project based on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that will meld documentary filmmaking and gaming.
In order to capture the images needed for the clearly named Chernobyl VR Project, The Farm 51 obtained special scientific access in order to enter the Exclusion Zone and travel to the rarely-visited city of Pripyat located close by. There, the team took high resolution photos over dozens of hours to help capture the finer details, including peeling paint and rust.
The resulting images have been scanned and imported to create a 3D world that most of us would never be able to experience first-hand in real life. The Chernobyl VR Project will have a narrative arc that places players in the role of a documentarian. With the help of a survivor, you’ll explore the ruins.
The Chernobyl VR Project is planned for Rift, PlayStation VR, Vive, and Gear VR. No release window has been specified.
Our Take
Chernobyl VR Project represents the potential of virtual tourism and intimate narratives of which the upcoming immersive technologies are capable. I’m eager to see how this comes together.
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