Atlantic Productions is bringing wildlife programming to the high-end world of virtual reality (VR), creating a version of its forthcoming Borneo-set, Sir David Attenborough-fronted production Conquest of the Skies for the much-buzzed Oculus Rift headset (pictured).
The Rift is a forthcoming VR head-mounted display, being developed by Oculus VR – a tech-firm which was acquired by Facebook in a headline-grabbing US$2 billion deal two weeks ago. Consumer versions of the headsets are expected to launch either later this year or in early 2015.
Talking to realscreen at MIPTV in Cannes, Atlantic’s commercial director John Morris said the London-based firm had already secured several of the Rift’s developer kits, and that Conquest of the Skies – which is currently filming in Borneo and other locations with Attenborough for Sky 3D – could be the first major wildlife production to be made available via the new tech.
“We’re now filming for the Oculus Rift,” Morris said, “so when we filmed our recent flight in Borneo, we filmed with an eight-camera rig, so you got the full 360° experience.”
