I remember back in the late 80's to early 90's there was an initial push to showcase Virtual Reality, with its blocky, jagged graphics and a headset that would have put any long term user into a neck brace. This was back when the 16-bit consoles, the SEGA Genesis (Megadrive) and Super Famicom (SNES) were at the height of their popularity releasing games like StarFox and VR Racing in a bid to make us believe that this technology was the next big thing. Now 20 years later VR technology is again being pushed but thankfully the graphics have improved and the size of the headset has shrunk. Whether the technology will ever truly replace the beloved joypad preferred by consoles players has yet to be ascertained, with companies like Microsoft and Sony aiming to push VR with their next next-generation machines, but in the meantime, it seems Hollywood is dabbling with the technology.
Lucasfilm is reportedly working with ILMxLAB and screenwriter David S. Goyer to create what they deem will be a virtual reality experience that will put the user into the shoes of Darth Vader. Some news outlets are proclaiming this simulation as a "stand alone movie", in a similar vein to this winters Rogue One. While the narrative depicted within the simulation is reported to be canonical to the Star Wars universe, the limited availability of the technology among fans due to excessive pricing will see the project be more of a promotional gimmick than a canonical installment in the ever- expanding galaxy far, far away, set a long time ago.
Here's the official press release from David S. Goyer, and a trailer for Lucasfilm's first foray into the world of VR called Trails on Tatooine...
"Screenwriter David Goyer is now collaborating with ILMxLAB. The brand new story-based project, revealed in a short teaser, centers around a particularly iconic Star Wars character: Darth Vader. Just like VR is a new frontier, so sounds this venture. “When we looked at all the characters, places, and worlds in the Star Wars universe available to us, we asked ourselves, ‘What haven’t we seen before? Who are we curious about?” Goyer continued, “Darth Vader is the perfect ambassador to usher us into the Star Wars VR universe.”
