Yes, it’s actually happening! Footage has been released for the IBM Japan’s Sword Art Online Virtual Reality game. IBM developerWorks released a 26-second clip of today’s demonstration of their VRMMOG (Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Game) project, Sword Art Online: The Beginning.
The clip shows players in actual combat against monsters in the game. Players’ bodies are scanned and then rendered into 3D avatars. They are then able to control their avatars using a various hardware, including Oculus Rift (Developer Kit 2) for head-tracking and VR visuals, Leap Motion and Ovrvision for hand manipulation, a Microsoft Kinect 2 for body movement, and special footwear to detect foot movement. The hardware is labeled “Nervegear Prototype.” “Nervegear” is the name of the virtual reality hardware used by the characters in the original Sword Art Online story to interact with the game.
In the beginning of the game players are placed in a “bazaar” environment allowing them to practice moving world objects, and later they are able to fight “Gleam Eyes” the boss of the 74th floor in the original story along with 3 other players!
99,800 people applied to be a part of the demonstration, but only 208 were selected. The demonstration will continue to take place until March 20th.
IBM Japan has yet to comment on plans after the initial test run, or if it will serve as a demo for a larger VRMMO. Nonetheless fans of the series and gamers alike have shown great excitement for the project.
Are you excited for an actual Sword Art Online Virtual Reality game? Let me know in the comments!
