How to tell a story in Virtual Reality?
What is VR storytelling for?
We've always dreamed of stepping into other worlds. From cave paintings to theater stages to movie screens, humans have tried to create spaces that transport us somewhere else. But virtual reality does something different – it turns space itself into an experience.
“‘There is nothing fundamentally new about Virtual Reality. It’s a new way to experience what I refer to as spatially oriented entertainment’”
Why do I choose VR as the medium?
“the ultimate empathy machine”
When the viewers are positioned beside or as the main characters, the immersive nature of virtual reality enhances their emotional engagement. By being present in the same situation, the viewers are more aware of their surroundings and more comprehensive of the obstacles that the characters are going through, hence more empathetic towards them. In another word, we use could use this technology to extend our cognition, empathize, understand, and learn how to ‘human’ better.
“‘In terms of the hero, what’s interesting is a shared experience—having something big happen, some kind of main event. You’re there right next to the hero watching it. That creates camaraderie. That creates a shared experience. That creates empathy.’”
How do I create with VR?
“Storytelling in Virtual Reality is less about telling the viewer a story and more about letting the viewer discover the story.”
Test in QuillVR
Bucher, J. (2017). Storytelling for Virtual Reality: Methods and Principles for Crafting Immersive Narratives. Taylor & Francis.