Pioneering gaming product set to transform industry

A VIRTUAL reality product designed and manufactured in Hull is hoping to transform the entertainment market.

Hull-based company VISR VR, along with a collaboration of other East Yorkshire businesses including Gateway Interactive, Smashed Crab and Garthwest, has developed a new virtual reality device which, once fully established, will compete with global giant Google and technology company Oculus.

The headset, ViSR, is the latest development in visual immersion technology, which allows users to step into and engage in a digital world, enhancing the user experience. But in a bid to make the gaming industry more affordable, the idea behind ViSR is to create a quality, long-lasting product but one which is considerably cheaper than current designs already available. Made out of a cardboard-based material, the product can be flat-packed and posted out to customers, too.

Andrew McCartney, CEO in residence at Microsoft Ventures, described the device as ‘the most exciting and disruptive piece of hardware’ to enter the VR gaming market.

It has been developed as part of the initiative Platform Studios, a collective of game developer companies based in Hull,  with software for its launch at the recent Platform Expos event commissioned by the Arts Council. The new technology marks the next step in Hull’s journey to become the UK’s centre of gaming innovation.

VISR VR is currently in high level talks with “major” industry players to take the technology to the next stage. It has two patents on it and VISR VR is working with software developers to continue developing the technology.

ViSR will go live on Kickstarter –  the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects – this week.

Helping new businesses capitalise on the multi-billion pound gaming industry, the Platform Initiative’s dedicated workspace, Platform Studios, helps nurture gaming start-ups using the space to create new businesses in an industry that is seeing massive growth due to the rise of the mobile device and smart phone and in the increasing use of ‘gamification’ in many other industry sectors.