For those following the virtual reality scene, the name Kite and Lightning will be familiar—a small indie studio behind several impressive Oculus Rift demos. Now, the team has released a visually rich new virtual reality experience that tours users through the environments based on a short film that took five years to produce.
Senza Peso is a mini-opera that comes in two parts. First, a visually spectacular short-film; second, a complimentary virtual reality experience for the Oculus Rift, which was produced using assets from the short-film’s grandiose production. Senza Peso VR has some of the most stunning and rich environments that I’ve ever seen in virtual reality. If there was any question that VR would encompass narrative experiences beyond gaming alone, Senza Peso VR proves otherwise. You can download the experience for yourself for the Oculus Rift, but be forewarned, the Kite and Lightning team team call this their “most visually-rich experience to date,” a high-end PC will be needed. If you don’t have a Rift, you can get a glimpse of the world of Senza Peso VR below:
A story primer would be a good idea for anyone not versed in Italian and opera form:
This story takes place in the transition dividing the world of the living from the world of the dead. A Siren whose condemned herself to slavery in this limbo struggles with her inner demons and ultimately has to abandon her once true love in order to find salvation. as a slave to this world she escorts newly-deceased souls to the afterlife. As a Siren she is obligated to intensify the sadness of this world through song. Our story begins as she guides three new souls across the darkening realms to the light of the unknown.
Senza Peso VR is based on the newly released Unreal Engine 4 which shines in this experience with impressive lighting and effects. The VR experience was produced in eight weeks using assets from the short film which took five years to produce.
We’ll be looking forward to this to be updated for the Oculus Rift DK2, due out next month. With it’s improved resolution and color saturation, the world of Senza Preso VR will look even better!