No one questions if technology can or will redefine the entertainment experience, the questions are how and when. An ambitious team of visionaries is leading this evolution with virtual reality, imagining a world where fans get to watch movies AND become a part of them. The result is more than just an engagement opportunity for fans, but the chance to become an active participant, sharing in the storytelling experiences and bonding with their favorite characters. We paired up with award winning filmmakers to bring this vision to life, giving consumers more than what they ever knew was possible. The result was a show stopping encore to one of the year’s biggest movies. THE MARTIAN VR EXPERIENCE unleashed the next dimension of cinematic viewing by enabling a dramatic entertainment experience where viewers can be a living, breathing part of the adventure.

During post-production for “The Martian,” the team leveraged the film’s storyline to create several versions of THE MARTIAN VR EXPERIENCE: from a three minute mobile trailer for the recently launched Samsung Gear VR, to a full 25-minute compilation of scenes, like chapters in a book. This structure allows participants to become astronaut Mark Watney as he tries to survive on Mars, with both interactive and “traditional” video content.

In designing the experience, the team took into account the importance of an audience’s natural psychological triggers: the headsets are realistic enough that the viewer’s brain instinctively responds as if the environment is real.

THE MARTIAN VR EXPERIENCE debuted at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, where it was demonstrated to top influencers on The Samsung Gear VR, the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift.