This time last year, The Void was little more than a novel idea in the minds of its creators, Ken Bretschneider, James Jenson, and Curtis Hickman. Now, the experiential VR specialists have inked a deal with Sony Pictures and Madame Tussauds New York to create a project based on Ghostbusters.
Starting this July, visitors to Madame Tussauds New York will be able to engage in a virtual ghost hunt. Ghostbusters: Dimensions is a VR experience that uses authentic props, costumes, and equipment in league with cutting-edge hardware to deliver an unparalleled ghostbusting adventure.
While its exhibition setting might call to mind Ghostbusters II, Dimensions will in fact be more closely related to this year’s reboot, as it’s set to debut shortly before the new movie. As such, it’s likely that the designs used for the team’s gear and clothing will mirror the 2016 release, rather than the classics from the 1980s.
The Void is using Oculus Rift DK2 headsets and Leap Motion sensors to draw audiences into the experience, according to a report from Tom’s Hardware. The company had hoped to use its proprietary Rapture hardware for Dimensions, but the system apparently needs a little more work before it’s ready for prime time.
This project marks the first time The Void has created a VR installation that’s open to the public. The company hopes to evolve into a fully fledged VR amusement park, with a permanent headquarters in Utah that can distribute experiences to locations all around the country — and perhaps even the world.
However, for now, The Void is hard at work assembling the physical component of Ghostbusters: Dimensions at Madame Tussauds in New York City. The installation will open to the public on July 1, two weeks ahead of the new movie’s premiere.
