Cable animation/comedy/weirdness network Adult Swim is “reaching beyond the television screen to invite fans to immerse themselves in a bodiless journey of the mind with a virtual reality experience unlike anything else in the marketplace,” blurbs a press release we received today.
They have some pretty popular mobile apps out already, but this is their first crack at VR. The network teamed up with Venice Beach-based virtual reality firm WEVR to develop The Virtual Brainload [download on Google Play]. The VR app promises to take viewers “on a visual and sonic trip through outer space.” Dude.
From the network’s announcement today:
The Virtual Brainload is available now as a free app on Google Play and ready for launch with the Google Cardboard headset, which must be purchased separately. Previously only available as an in-person experiential activation with the Meatwad Fulldome Experience, The Virtual Brainload meets fans where they are with a dazzling animated presentation that gives a special glimpse of the backside of reality.
This initiative is Turner Broadcasting’s first release in the virtual reality sector and provides new and unique opportunities for creative development, programming and advertising. It kicks off an ambitious network expansion into this exciting new space, with plans for deeper, custom-created content to roll out later in 2015 and beyond.
“We know our audiences are early adopters and we aim to surprise them with new experiences like this,” said Jill King, senior vice president, consumer and partnership marketing, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. “As we develop immersive content for our fans, we will keep our advertising partners front of mind and seek out opportunities to extend their brand into these experiences.”
Press Release Translation: This VR shit costs real money to produce and we have no fucking idea how we’re gonna make bank from it yet, but yo big brands, we are very eager to place your logo all up in this biznatch and take your sweet analog bitcoins.
I haven’t tried it out, and don’t have the gear required. But any app that requires this sort of legalese at the download link sure sounds fun:
SOME PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE DIZZINESS, SEIZURES, EPILEPTIC SEIZURES OR BLACKOUTS TRIGGERED BY LIGHT FLASHES OR PATTERNS. THIS MAY OCCUR WHILE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING VIRTUAL REALITY. ADVERSE REACTIONS MAY BE MORE COMMON IN YOUNGER USERS. THESE CONDITIONS MAY INDUCE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED EPILEPTIC SYMPTOMS EVEN IN PERSONS WHO HAVE NO HISTORY OF PRIOR SEIZURES OR EPILEPSY. ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A SEIZURE, LOSS OF AWARENESS, OR OTHER SYMPTOM LINKED TO AN EPILEPTIC CONDITION SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR BEFORE USING THE VR APP. YOU MAY WANT TO SEE A DOCTOR BEFORE USING THIS VR APP IF YOU’RE PREGNANT, ELDERLY, HAVE PRE-EXISTING VISION ABNORMALITIES OR OTHER DISORDERS, SUFFER FROM A HEART CONDITION OR OTHER SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS WHILE USING THE APP — DIZZINESS, ALTERED VISION, EYE OR MUSCLE TWITCHES, LOSS OF AWARENESS, DISORIENTATION, ANY INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT, OR CONVULSIONS — IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE USE AND CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE RESUMING USE.
The Virtual Brainload [adult swim]
