"Virtual tours of the tanks" - an excellent panoramic video and content for VR-points (+ hoax Google Cardboard)

Virtual reality is slowly gaining momentum. Content until quite a bit, and the quality so do a handful. But today Wargaming and Google forces its getting bigger!

Clarify that the affiliate program also involved a third party - Bovingtonsky Tank Museum (Bovington Tank Museum), The former training center for soldiers of the Royal Tank Regiment UK. Now here it is one of the most impressive exhibitions of military equipment the time of the First and Second World Wars, as well as the more recent years.

The museum's collection includes more than 300 pieces of tanks from 30 countries. Among the exhibits you can find many iconic heavy machinery, but Wargaming and Google chose the Soviet T-34, an American "Sherman" (Sherman), the British "Chieftain» (Chieftain), the German "Leopard 1» (Leopard 1) and the Chinese "Type 59» (Type 59) - one of the most famous tanks XX century. It is about these combat vehicles was filmed a series of panoramic videos using innovative technology: video from a viewing angle of 360 ° and the elements of a virtual reality. Of course, the unique similar content simply does not.

Each viewer can sitting on the couch, be inside the tank to become a member of the crew and to pass on the armor of the polygon. The panoramic video involving historical consultants Wargaming Nicholas Moran and Richard Katland that fascinating talk about the history and characteristics of the particular tank. No need to awaken, and the narration is available in Russian.

I was wondering how hard are these projects, and I decided to ask a few questions to representatives of the company Wargaming Ivan Alexander Bobko and resin.

What are the technical difficulties had to be overcome skilled partner companies during the filming of materials?

For the filming, we used GoPro 3+ and GoPro Hero 4 camera attached to a special rig, which allows shoot video immersive format 360 °, positioning the camera at right angles with respect to each other. Watch the video inside the tank - it seems that there is quite spacious. In fact, there is very little space even for traditional shooting, not to mention the shooting in the format of 360 °. It is necessary to take into account the distance from the lens to the people and objects correctly placed speakers in the frame, so that they looked at the video correctly. A different story with the processing of the material, which involves pasting the video from all cameras - it needs special software. More quite unusual design itself looks to mount cameras on the side of the tank: a tank there is a terrible vibration, as a result of picture shaking until we stuck firmly to the tripod nearly tank surface using ropes, clamps and special clips.

Wargaming sphere of interest is not limited to land. Should I wait for VR-content of planes and ships?

This is our experiment in the field of VR. I think that it is not limited to only the tank content - VR photography allows the viewer to move almost any surviving ship, to look into the cockpit, or visit the Museum of the remote, almost without leaving houses. I am confident that this trend is gaining momentum, and we will see still enough content in the format of a virtual reality.

Maybe, WOT for the PC in the future are waiting for a special version with elements of virtual reality?

In fact, together with the Oculus Rift, we released WOT PC version available for use with a pair of head-mounted display. This, too, was a kind of experiment. Perhaps when a new game use format becomes more widespread, it would be appropriate to maintain it on a regular basis. Now, while talking about it prematurely.

Alexander Bobko

Rollers are available through Littlstar - cross-platform hosting and panoramic VR-video. Under Littlstar developed mobile applications for Android and iOS, but they are not as comfortable as we would like. For example, on my Lollipop search does not work, and registration is available only by e-mail. But it's the little things that are easy to overcome a couple of minutes. I recommend to subscribe to Wargaming channel Littlstar through the site, and then move on to the phone and watch videos on your mobile.

On the occasion of such a significant content, Google has released a special version of Cardboard - virtual reality glasses made of cardboard. Let me remind you that I already told about his impressions of this wonderful device. Its simplicity is hidden a lot of potential, which reveals the Wargaming team. Cardboard is sold in online stores, but you can try to collect them and on their own.

And it is better to try your luck and win the Cardboard from Wargaming! The company is willing to share a few instances branded with readers Layfhakera. And it is not simple. Exclusive sets created especially for the annual "Tankfestu" held back in Bovington (UK). No travel thousands of kilometers away, they will come to you. Of course, all is not enough, so we will hold a lottery.

To participate in the raffle share this article in Twitter, Facebook or VK and provide a link in the comments. Do not forget to add the e-mail address! The draw will end on July 1 and then we define the random winners and arrange with them about getting Cardboard.

Have fun and exciting pastime!

Tanks VR

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