We have reported on the plans by IMax to develop VR experiences attached to cinemas and now the company has announced a deal with Odeon & UCI Cinemas group, under which the first pilot IMax VR centre in Europe will be installed at its Printworks multiplex location in Manchester, England. The aim is to open by the end of the year.
IMax is working with Acer and Starbreeze AB to incorporate next-generation headset-mounted display (HMD) technology that offers industry-leading resolution and an extra-wide peripheral field of view.
IMax will provide the centre an ongoing array of new, premium interactive content experiences that are expected to range between 5 and 15 minutes in length each. The Company is in advanced stages with several content developers, including Hollywood studios and gaming publishers, to produce and distribute high-quality VR experiences to its centres.
The centre will employ a new modular design – proprietary to IMax – that will consist of several “pods” to allow multiple players to enjoy interactive, exciting, moveable VR experiences. The pods, which are designed to optimize user mobility and interaction in virtual environments, can be adapted for specific content experiences – whether single or multi-user.
