With the return of Game of Thrones in the near future, George R. R. Martin wants us to check out a different universe. Not the world of Westeros and Essos, but a world thats more explorable in VR.
Nightflyers was Martin’s novella all the way back in 1980, but Syfy just launched a series of 360-degree tie-in videos to be put in the series. It is a sci-fi horror passage. These three videos that were released feature different characters and elements that this world possesses. These were all written and directed by the showrunner and executive producer Jeff Buhler.
Unfortunately, based on your location, Syfy has blocked the ability to view its videos outside of the US. That being the only restriction, grab your VR set and start up YouTube and you’re ready to get watching.
Martin did speak a little on the subject, shedding some light on what the future of VR holds, and when he expects to jump into the pool of it. “The technology is not mature and we haven’t really figured out how to tell stories for it,” he said, “but I think, 20 years from now, 30 years from now, maybe sooner, it may replace television and film and other things as a totally immersive sort of art form that you can, not only, you know, like read a book or watch a television show, but you can live an adventure.” His take is similar to what Enders Game did, waiting for the technology to evolve and not wanting to mess their opportunity up.
He believes with the assistance of VR, people should and could end up impacting the stories and having a say in how they play out, even impact the ending. He also added “But I think we may be like the theater before Shakespeare, you know?” Martin continued. “There were plays before Shakespeare, but it was the Elizabethan theatre that really made the theatre come alive. And of course, movies began with little, real things of trains arriving at the station and then eventually we got up to Star Wars.”
