Rate top gamesChernobyl VR Project
About
At The Farm 51, we believe that Virtual Reality (VR) is not only about entertainment. It is a fast developing technology which can serve as an excellent tool also when it comes to addressing important social issues. It is specifically with this aspect of VR in mind that we are developing the innovative application Chernobyl VR Project. It is the very first virtual tour around the Chernobyl and Pripyat area, compatible with multiple VR headsets.
We decided that this should not be a simply commercial project. We aimed to reach the people, for whom the disaster had an intimate, private, and sometimes family aspect to it. We met lots of people who had been near Chernobyl when the disaster happened, including the so called liquidators, who helped clean up the disaster site, often at the price of acute radiation sickness. We also managed to reach very famous people willing to support our project, among others the Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich (author of Chernobyl Prayer) and the legendary boxer Vitali Klitschko, now Mayor of Kiev).
However, the most important decision is the declaration of donating part of the proceeds from the sales of the Chernobyl VR Project to foundations helping the victims of the disaster. In association with the Polish-Ukrainian Open Dialog Foundation, we will select organizations to provide support to. In doing so, we hope that we contribute to helping the victims, and that the initiative will give our project another educational and social dimension.
Chernobyl VR Project began with the simple plan of bringing people into the Exclusion Zone, but over time it has grown into something much more personal as we find new stories to be told and places to be explored. This is not the end of Chernobyl VR Project. Plans are already in place to visit the area again to collect even more footage and bring more of the area's history to life later this year.
We decided that this should not be a simply commercial project. We aimed to reach the people, for whom the disaster had an intimate, private, and sometimes family aspect to it. We met lots of people who had been near Chernobyl when the disaster happened, including the so called liquidators, who helped clean up the disaster site, often at the price of acute radiation sickness. We also managed to reach very famous people willing to support our project, among others the Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich (author of Chernobyl Prayer) and the legendary boxer Vitali Klitschko, now Mayor of Kiev).
However, the most important decision is the declaration of donating part of the proceeds from the sales of the Chernobyl VR Project to foundations helping the victims of the disaster. In association with the Polish-Ukrainian Open Dialog Foundation, we will select organizations to provide support to. In doing so, we hope that we contribute to helping the victims, and that the initiative will give our project another educational and social dimension.
Chernobyl VR Project began with the simple plan of bringing people into the Exclusion Zone, but over time it has grown into something much more personal as we find new stories to be told and places to be explored. This is not the end of Chernobyl VR Project. Plans are already in place to visit the area again to collect even more footage and bring more of the area's history to life later this year.
System requirements for PC
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: i5-4590
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Geforce 970 GTX
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 13 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SteamVR Playspace 2m x 2,5m
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: i7-4790
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Geforce 980 GTX
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 13 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SteamVR Playspace 2m x 2,5m
Chernobyl VR Project reviews and comments
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Microsoft from Deutsch
Early Access Review My new Pimax 5K+ Gave me Reason to start Chernobyl VR again ...
True, it's a "mixed box" with Content of different Types and Quality. In addition to the 360 ° Photos and Videos, however, it has some real 3D locations, not only the photogrammetrically created interiors, but also the CAD Recreated control room and-for me the absolute Highlight-the DUGA-2 Radar station. This is so beautifully built and textured that it can keep up with absolutely any other professional Architectural Visualization I know.
The "on top" Location (see Photo above) is even a great Show-/demopiece for VR newbies, because at a windy 150m height almost everyone and every soft Knee gets!
If you are Aware that you are opening a "Miracle Box" of varying quality and take some Time to Explore, then Chernobyl VR is determined to be worth the Price of (currently) 10 CHF FOR a History Buff.
P.S. Also the "Packaging," i.e. Menu-guidance and Details such as the Geiger Counter as a second Controller, are quite appealing and lovingly made.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Microsoft from Deutsch
I was looking forward to this Project for a long time and I was aware that it is neither a Game nor that you can really expect a lot of Excitement. It is a Documentation divided into 360 degrees into many small Bites.
The Problem with this is that it was previously tailored to the Oculus Rift rather and you can see that at all corners.
There are very many 360 panorama Motifs that neither seem particularly highly rebilled nor convey a good Middle of feeling In it. The Information Around Chernobyl is Informative, but also no more interesting than an N24 report.
In addition, the Speaker does not address me at all. It's this intentional "you're in Pripyat, that's why you get a Speaker with Ukranic Dialect. And that likes in STALKER and co. Make Fun, but in a Documentary where he talks about the Local Language about it just annoying.
My Main criticism point is the Elements I had been most looking forward to. Exploring 3D locations. Here you are promised a High-resolution Area via Photogrammetry. That is how it happened. But the Textures are so badly rebused, unfortunately anyone with a mobile Phone and Unity3D and a little Experience can do better. I would have liked to see more Places I could have really looked around. But if there are only 3 Areas (Interiors), then they need to convince me more than a 90s 3D Adventure. Then I can also throw In Tex Murphy Pandora Nudes Again and get the same offered.
I can see the Price and Effort behind it, but I don't understand. When everything was photographed in such an allegedly high Resolution. Why we don't have HD Textures at our disposal. Is it Down to performance? No, I don't think so. In any Case, it is necessary to follow up here.
Still, it was an Experience that is Interesting. But nothing that entitles a Purchase.
I want Teams to continue to gain experience in that Direction and do better. Because There is potential. Visit areas like this. That's what VR should offer alongside Games. For example, history lessons would be Fun. But please walk away from the 3D Panorama mist. This just seems strange and you want to click it away quickly.
Too Bad about it. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth it here. And I join VoodooDE Points so far.