Software:VTime XR
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| Initial release | December, 2015 |
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| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, iOS, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go |
| Type | Social software |
vTime XR is a free-to-play virtual reality and augmented reality social network created by British virtual and augmented reality innovation company vTime Limited,[1] developed in Liverpool in the UK. Cross platform, the app allows groups of up to four users to "jump into VR or AR and talk in what is essentially a private chat room. Users can customize an avatar and select a 3D environment to host the chat inside".[2]
Launching on Gear VR in December 2015, vTime was the first virtual reality social network on a mobile platform.[3] The app became the first social network to launch on Google Cardboard in March 2016,[4][5][6] and on Google Daydream in January 2017.[7] vTime was also the first virtual reality application to give its users the ability to socialise inside their own 360 images,[8] and was later a launch title for the Windows Mixed Reality platform in October 2017.[9]
In February 2019, vTime became the first cross reality (XR) social network after adding AR mode.[10][11] The update gives users the ability to meet and chat with people in a shared virtual space using AR, VR, or 2D Magic Window mode.
Experience
"vTime likes to think of itself as a “sociable” network, rather than a social network, perhaps emphasising that these virtual social gatherings are essentially friendly and more genteel in nature than some of their counterparts".[12] The network focuses on facilitating shared conversations in virtual reality, though users without a VR headset are able to join sessions via 'Magic Window' mode on Android and iOS phones.[13] Cross platform, all user avatars support audio lip-syncing and avatar eye-tracking, and can use the network's library of virtual emojis 'vMotes' allowing "users to express themselves in numerous ways".[14] Users on high-end headsets can use platform controllers to add hand and body tracking to their sessions[15]
Funding
In April 2018, the vTime Limited announced that it had raised $7.6 million (£5.4 million) in a series A funding round to accelerate development of the app.[16]
References
- ↑ Margolis, Jonathan (25 July 2016). "Virtual reality start-up goes from Liverpool to Silicon Valley". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/19c2f3a4-5242-11e6-9664-e0bdc13c3bef.
- ↑ "UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR – TechCrunch" (in en-US). 11 April 2018. https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/.
- ↑ Hayden, Scott (2015-12-21). "'vTime' is a "Sociable Network", Now Available on Gear VR" (in en-US). Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/vtime-virtual-reality-social-network-gear-vr/.
- ↑ Kar, Ian. "There's a new social network where you can hang out with real people in virtual reality" (in en-US). Quartz. https://qz.com/638636/theres-a-new-social-network-where-you-can-hang-out-with-real-people-in-virtual-reality/.
- ↑ Strange, Adario. "Virtual reality app lets you meet others in imaginary places" (in en). Mashable. https://mashable.com/2016/03/12/virtual-reality-app/.
- ↑ "VR social network vTime hits Google Cardboard (Tomorrow Daily 330)" (in en). CNET. 2016-03-14. https://www.cnet.com/news/vr-social-network-vtime-hits-google-cardboard-tomorrow-daily-330/.
- ↑ "'vTime' Is Google Daydream's First Social Virtual Reality App" (in en-US). UploadVR. 2017-01-13. https://uploadvr.com/vtime-google-daydreams-first-social-vr-app/.
- ↑ "vTime, the social network for VR, now lets you hang out in your photographs" (in en-US). Digital Trends. 2016-05-28. https://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/vtime-social-network/.
- ↑ "All the VR Apps and Games Available for Windows MR Launch Day" (in en). 17 October 2017. http://www.shacknews.com/article/101741/all-the-vr-apps-and-games-available-for-windows-mr-launch-day.
- ↑ Chapman, Stephen. "World's first cross reality social experience goes live". Prolific North. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/digital/2019/02/world%E2%80%99s-first-cross-reality-social-experience-goes-live.
- ↑ Takahashi, Dean. "Lead Writer, GamesBeat". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2019/02/19/vtime-xr-unveils-ar-mode-for-vr-social-network/. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ↑ "Top Five VR Social Experiences" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/08/top-five-vr-social-experiences/.
- ↑ "vTime, the social network for VR, now lets you hang out in your photographs" (in en-US). Digital Trends. 2016-05-28. https://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/vtime-social-network/.
- ↑ "Get Emotional with vTime's vMotes for Oculus Rift and Gear VR Touchpad" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/05/get-emotional-with-vtimes-vmotes-for-oculus-rift-and-gear-vr-touchpad/.
- ↑ "VR Social App vTime Gets Oculus Touch Support" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/05/vr-social-app-vtime-gets-oculus-touch-support/.
- ↑ "UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR – TechCrunch". 11 April 2018. https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/.
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