D3D Cinema, a leading provider of immersive experience solutions and services for the museum cinema and attraction industry and the official distributor of Birdly for the museum cinema and attraction industry, unveils Birdly World, a new experience for the pioneering Birdly flight simulator platform.
The new release, from Somniacs AG, seamlessly melds the power of Google Earth VR with the extraordinary Birdly game controller.
Birdly World expands the possibilities for this experience as flyers can now go almost anywhere on the planet. Users can enjoy the thrill of free flying through 3D twins of dynamic cities and natural wonders, or even soaring over their own neighbourhood.
With Birdly, users embark on a full-body VR flight experience which is controlled intuitively with their arms and hands. These movements correspond to flapping wings and primary feather manipulation for speed, height, and direction. This offers a stark contrast to the joystick, mouse, or buttons that may be found in a traditional flight simulator.
A head-mounted VR display immerses passengers in high-resolution virtual environments, and the experience is further heightened by a sensory-motor connection which includes headwind simulation, 3D audio, and visual impact.
Edutainment experiences
Birdly World is the result of many years of research and development and raises the bar for location-based flight simulator experiences.
It includes bespoke graphics and gamified elements such as scavenger hunts, infographics, and multiplayer modes. In addition, players can discover Easter Eggs such as in-game portals to new worlds and micro-experiences that feature different avatars.
Don Kempf, president of D3D Cinema, says: “When D3D partnered with Somniacs to launch the Birdly experience into museums nearly seven years ago, we knew full well that the true power of the platform would come to bear when the entirety of the planet was available to explore – every city, every museum’s home turf.
“At last, Birdly World, powered by Google Earth, delivers on the promise of the full Birdly experience. Couple this with the rich and gamified portfolio already available on the platform – Jurassic Flight, Reef Dive, Butterfly, Wingsuit Racer, and more – and Birdly offers the most fun full-body sim on the market.”
Mark Katz, senior vice president of distribution, explains: “The opportunities for Birdly World in the edutainment arena are boundless, both for mission programming and private events. It’s excellent for exhibit pairings – any topic – world cultures, natural wonders, Egypt, Greece, Pompeii, Mayans, etc. The portability of Birdly allows for offsite promotions – like tradeshows or festivals – to drive traffic and generate tremendous word of mouth.
“The experience is highly sponsorable, highly customizable. In short, Birdly has always been a special location-based platform…but Birdly World is a whole new ballgame.”
D3D Cinema and Giant Screen Films recently exhibited at the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. D3D celebrated the addition of three new titles to its Cinéfolio portfolio and the launch of its Birdly VR experience at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York.
