KOSHU VR
“The mobile holodeck experience that fits in your pocket!” — Based on the graphic novel by Stuttgart comic artist Felix Mertikat, a virtual reality experience emerged that transports players seamlessly and wirelessly into a strange world — with innovative controls for unlimited, intuitive navigation.
A VR Now Award to kick things off
The Baden-Württemberg Media and Film Society (MFG), together with the Animationsinstitut in Ludwigsburg, launched a concept competition to support emerging talent in VR.
As luck would have it, together with our VR specialists from Nau-Hau and King Racoon Games we were just developing “Koshu VR” — a project that used revolutionary technology to make virtual reality experiences walkable in real space, with no technical set-up and no limits. The jury was convinced: we won the competition.
From graphic novel to virtual reality
Set in a mystical desert world, the story follows a nomadic people travelling across a seemingly endless sea of sand on gigantic elephant creatures — the Djahans.
When players aren’t clambering across the platforms on the animals’ backs at breathtaking heights, they listen to the tales of the tribal elders and journey into the history of a strange culture, its customs, religions and dreams.
An infinite play area in your pocket
Unlike conventional VR systems, Koshu VR offers controls without any restrictions: a Google Tango smartphone scans any room to create a real playing field — movements are transferred one-to-one into the virtual world.
The real room boundaries appear as a blue hologrid. The trick: at the touch of a button, the game world locks to your movement — at the edge of the playing field you simply turn on the spot and keep walking. Even in small rooms, the game world knows no bounds.
World premiere for the mobile holodeck
A team of artists, designers and programmers brought the world of Koshu to life over the course of a year — led by Jonas Kirchner, with Benjamin Rudolf as creative lead, Christoph Rasulis (game mechanics), Verena Klinke (script), Moritz Heinemeyer (3D assets), Raphael Lott & Simona Melzer (sound & music) and Rolf Rothgerber (programming).
At the world premiere at FMX 2017 in Stuttgart — on more than 100 square metres of freely walkable play area — the reception was overwhelming: time slots were booked out days in advance, and later at Comic Con Stuttgart as well.
Preisgekröntes Konzept
Winner of the VR Now concept competition of MFG Baden-Württemberg — praised by publications such as the Stuttgarter Zeitung for its atmospheric world and innovative controls.
