To promote the final series of Game of Thrones, Framestore partnered with HBO recently to create a pair of fully immersive fan experiences in three US cities.
The visual effects specialist conceptualised, designed and developed the digital content and physical components for each of the two experiences, which could be enjoyed for a limited time at AT&T flagship stores in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. This followed Framestore’s production of two previous Game of Thrones VR offerings including, Ascend The Wall.
The two new experiences are as follows:
Beyond The Wall
Game of Thrones fans can test their flaming sword-fighting skills in this virtual reality experience as they take on a massive wight bear and a hoard of White Walkers. Players are transported to north of The Wall and forced to defend themselves from the undead. But there are no dragons to help!
The experience pairs the HTC Vive VR headset with Unreal Engine gaming tech and the latest GPU (graphics processing) from NVIDIA. The gamer’s journey is intensified with 4D elements including a moving floor, heat, cold and wind effects.
Following its in-store run, Beyond The Wall is now available on the video game streaming service Viveport Infinity.
The Dead Must Die
Representing HBO’s first partnership with Magic Leap, The Dead Must Die combines mixed reality Games of Thrones content with animatronic set pieces.
After walking onto a set resembling King’s Landing, players are promptly ambushed by a wight bursting from a trembling crate. This then triggers a head-to-head battle with a White Walker.
The experience is set to finish its run at the participating AT&T stores on June 10.
https://youtu.be/yqQiMAGG_ic
Thrilling the Games of Thrones fans
As a Games of Thrones fan herself, Framestore’s executive producer and global head of VR Christine Cattano says the partnership with HBO has been “truly remarkable.”
“I know the standards they demand,” she adds. “Working with both of these platforms has enabled us to create an unparalleled fan experience. I have no doubt other fans are going to be equally thrilled.”
“Each experience transforms the world around the participant in a unique expression of the technology used to create it,” says Framestore creative director, David Estis. “Both experiences are highly integrated with synchronised scenic elements that blur the line between physical and digital, an aspect that has been very important to the Framestore team from the onset.”
Framestore is no stranger to bringing major IPs to life off screen. It is currently working on a collaboration for Lionsgate Movie World in China featuring The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games.
