Earlier this year, we shared the interactive FPS set during a zombie apocalypse that was played completely via video chatting. The team at YouTube’s RealmPictures had participants give voice commands to the “player” who then carried out the instruction through a zombie-infested churchyard. The massive team behind the videos used real-time visual effects, voice acting, and dozens of extras to give an immersive experience to complete strangers via ChatRoulette, Omegle, and Skype. It was… absolutely awesome.
As it turns out, RealmPictures has been hard at work to bring their next first-person adventure – quite literally – to the next level and this time it takes place in deep space on a doomed vessel. Players guide their character through the compromised ship after waking up in the medical bay after some unknown catastrophe has compromised the ship. Level 2 clearly pays homage to the Alien films and pretty much any other “a terrible thing happened while we traveled in space” films from over the years.
It’s incredibly impressive seeing just how much control is put into the player’s hands and what can be accomplished in the worlds that are created. Much like level one, there was a tremendous amount of work involved to execute something so immersive and intense. Filmed in multiple locations within a power station – Level 2 has substantially more technical aspects than its predecessor that are brilliantly accomplished with relatively low-tech solutions. From the use of darkness to hide cuts between sets, to the clever use of plexi-glass to create the illusion of a holographic displays. The making-of video might be just as impressive as the end result.
Considering the coordination, talent, and passion involved with the Real Life First Person Shooter series – RealmPictures deserves some sort of award and after this we cannot wait for Level 3.
What would you have done differently than the players of Level 2? Does this get you amped up for for things like the FPS movie Hardcore? Let us know in the comments below!
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Image: RealmPictures
