One of the longest serving members at Oculus, Joe Chen will be a familar face to anyone who has followed that company’s meteoric rise over the last few years. But now, he’s moving to pastures new, jumping ship to VRSE.Works, an organisation specialising in short-form VR experiences.

Joe Chen takes time out at Gamescom 2013

Anyone who has attended industry shows or events where Oculus has been in residence over the last few years (that’ll be most of them then) may well recognise Joseph Chen. He’s been Oculus’ Product Lead and Technical Producer since the company’s inception, post Kickstarter in 2012. Chen was often found, can of Red Bull in hand, demonstrating Oculus’ latest hardware to gamers at their stand.

It seems though that Chen is now set to leave the company credited with revitalising the virtual reality industry. In a press release from VRSE.works, who describe themselves as “…an international collection of forward-thinking artists using cutting-edge technology,” the company states:

VRSE.works announced today that Joseph Chen will be joining in a newly created role as Executive Technical Producer. Chen’s understanding of virtual reality and its myriad possibilities makes him an excellent fit for VRSE. Chen has worked alongside an impressive array of creative minds in realizing their visions through virtual reality.

VRSE.works was formed earlier in the year by director Chris Milk and Producers Patrick Milling-Smith and Brian Carmody. An independent production company, VRSE.works seems to be seizing the virtual reality gauntlet with verve and vigour having already seen various projects début at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Projects like Evolution of Verse a “…photo-realistic CGI-rendered 3-D virtual reality film that takes the viewer on a journey from one beginning to a new beginning.” You can check it out on iOS or Android if you’ve got a VR smartphone adapter.

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A still from Evolution of Verse

More recently, VRSE.works partnered with the UN at the World Economic Forum in Davos with their 360 VR video project Clouds Over Sidra, which aimed to highlight the plight of Syrian refuges through an immersive documentary film. The film was screened to delegates at the forum using Samsung’s Gear VR headseat, resulting in some extraordinary images.

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Delegates at the UN World Economic Forum in Samsung Gear VR headsets for a viewing of “Clouds Over Sidra”

We’ll miss Joe at our regular Oculus rendezvous, but look forward to seeing what VRSE.Works has in store for virtual reality with him on board.


You can find out all about VRSE.works over at their site here and if you own Samsung Gear VR, you can experience Clouds Over Sidra for yourself via Samsung’s Milk VR service right now.

 

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Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.
  • William Wallace

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

    The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. First to bail a sinking ship?

    • Curtrock

      OculusVR is a sinking ship? Oh, but I what I would give for a ticket to board that ship…

      • William Wallace

        No tickets. I will buy u a cake instead. Its a lie. Portal vr half life 3d. Game over oculus.

  • Curtrock

    Lol…if u r implying that Oculusvr is finished, over, and out of the game….please, do share…I want some of what u r smokin!