Since the late 80s early 90s, video game enthusiasts and electrical engineers have been striving for the holy grail of entertainment, the Holodeck. Made popular by the StarTrek Next Generation TV series, the Holodeck is a computer simulated reality room, that can mimic terrain, objects and living interaction with indistinguishable realism.

The first attempts at virtual reality being available to the public were made in the 90s, pushed by the popularity of movies like the Lawnmower Man. The vast majority of virtual reality systems were complete failures, most never even being seen by the eyes of the public.

Virtual Boy by Nintendo

Those with enough pizzazz to make it to production failed in the long run,  due to the incredible costs, and crude graphical design. With all the technical and financial problems aside, VR has always struggled in the game design department. Although VR is an incredible concept, it has proven to be very difficult to use is in combination with traditional video game making. Whether discomfort, nausea or a simple lack creativity in the game design, VR game making needs a lot more experimentation to become mainstream. With the obvious problems in VR game development, and the reemergence of VR popularity people are starting to take interest in the other avenues that can benefit from the VR headsets.

One of the most promising areas for VR has been cinematography. After experiencing a VR musical performance from the point of view of an acclaimed artists wife, I can testify that virtual concerts alone could be the driving force behind the new virtual reality wave. VR concerts bring fans to a completely new frontier. VR cinematography gives one the chance to experience intimacy with at a start level that was never previously possible. Even with back stage passes, fans would meet celebrities in a public environment, among other eager participants. With the VR concert / event, you loose the benefit of interaction, for the moment; but benefit from being as close the celebrity as they are willing to take you. A private concert in their living room, a jam session among their closest friends,  a tell all biography during a bubble bath… Imagination is the only limit to what this avenue can deliver. I consider myself lucky to have experienced it, and only hope that the vision of VR cinematographers are as elaborate as my wild imagination.