This Week In XR August 2nd, 2024 ft. Kerestell Smith, Creator of Gorilla Tag, CEO Another Axiom
Aug 4, 2024
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Kerestell Smith, the creative genius behind Gorilla Tag VR and founder of Another Axiom, shares his inspiring journey from VR enthusiast to game developer. He reveals the groundbreaking arm locomotion mechanics that propelled Gorilla Tag to popularity, earning over $100M. The discussion dives into spatial design principles and the importance of immersive experiences in VR. Kerestell also reflects on the challenges of game development and the emotional impact of virtual interactions, emphasizing the transformative power of technology in building connections.
Kerestell Smith emphasizes the significance of simple mechanics and social interaction in Gorilla Tag's design, enhancing player engagement and community.
Zapper's Accessible QR initiative exemplifies the potential of XR technologies to improve accessibility, showcasing a blend of innovation and social responsibility.
Canva's acquisition of Leonardo.ai signals a strategic shift towards consolidating technological capabilities to enhance competitiveness in the digital design space.
The ongoing legal discussions about AI and copyright highlight the evolving balance between innovation and intellectual property rights in the tech industry.
Deep dives
Zapper and XR Innovations
Zapper has established itself as a leader in the XR space by creating accessible tools and SDKs that have democratized augmented reality. Their latest innovation is the ZAPBox, which is the most affordable mixed reality headset on the market. Additionally, Zapper partnered with Unilever to design an enhanced QR code called Accessible QR, aimed at enhancing accessibility for the blind and partially sighted. This initiative highlights Zapper's commitment to combining technology with social responsibility, showcasing the potential of XR to improve everyday lives.
Meta's Current Trajectory
Recent discussions about Meta indicate that the company is undergoing a phase of significant innovation, particularly in AI and its applications. The debut of Meta AI reflects Meta's ambitions to dominate a space previously occupied by competitors like Runway, without immediately monetizing their advancements. Despite concerns about leadership and image, those at Meta are actively investing in groundbreaking technologies, suggesting a long-term strategy focused on maintaining market dominance. Meta's ad-supported model provides them financial backing to explore these innovative pathways without immediate revenue pressures.
Canva’s Strategic Acquisition
Canva's acquisition of Leonardo signifies a strategic move to bolster its capabilities in digital design by integrating existing technologies rather than building from scratch. This acquisition highlights Canva's commitment to staying competitive amidst growing pressures from established players like Adobe. By incorporating Leonardo’s functionality, Canva is poised to respond effectively to user demands and maintain its position as a go-to design tool. This approach emphasizes the ongoing trend in the tech industry of consolidation, where companies recognize the value of acquiring innovation.
Copyright Concerns in AI
The ongoing legal discussions surrounding AI training on copyrighted music underscore the critical balance between innovation and intellectual property rights. Defendants like Suno argue that their use falls under fair use due to the transformative intent behind their applications. This legal discourse recalls historical precedents, such as the landmark VHS case, which set foundations for fair use in media. As the landscape of technology evolves, these legal frameworks will likely face new challenges, raising important questions about the future of creativity and AI.
Carousel Smith and Gorilla Tag's Success
Carousel Smith, the creator of Gorilla Tag, shares insights into the origin of the game and its underlying principles that led to its success. By emphasizing simple mechanics and focusing on social interaction rather than complex graphics, Gorilla Tag taps into foundational gameplay elements that resonate with players. The game’s design prioritizes user experience, fostering a sense of community and nostalgia reminiscent of classic playground games. This simplicity combined with genuine user engagement highlights how effective design can resonate powerfully with players.
The Importance of Interactive Experiences
The discussion acknowledges the potential of VR technologies to create meaningful, immersive experiences that transcend traditional gaming boundaries. Carousel underscores the significance of movement and physical engagement in VR, asserting that these elements can directly enhance user enjoyment. Properly designed interactions, where the virtual environment responds dynamically to player actions, enhance the sense of presence and immersion. This alignment of design principles with user experience not only boosts player satisfaction but also encourages the community to engage with the content more deeply.
Future of VR and Community Engagement
Smith expresses optimism about the future of VR, emphasizing its unique capacity to foster social connections and community engagement. The focus on creating environments that encourage spontaneous interactions stands as a testament to the technology's potential to replicate real-world social dynamics. By prioritizing user experiences that cultivate community, the VR space could evolve into a more inviting sector. As developers continue to learn from past successes and failures, they are better positioned to craft compelling narratives and immersive worlds that resonate with players.
This week our guest is Kerestell Smith, creator of Gorilla Tag VR and founder of Another Axiom. Rony is on a farm with no Internet. In the news Canva surprises no one with its acquisition of Gen-AI startup Leonardo.ai. Congrats to Hedra AI text-to-voice, which produces lip-synced short video; they raised $10M. Meta reported earnings Weds. Revenue is up a whopping 22%. Our guest Kerestell Smith shares his extraordinary journey, from being an early VR fan and Echo Arena champion to developing Gorilla Tag VR on Unity while he continued his 9-5 corporate job. Kerestell shares the secrets of Gorilla Tag's success: its revolutionary arm locomotion. It is the most popular game on Quest, earning over $100M. Kerestell digs into spatial design principles and his philosophy about virtual reality experiences.
Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!
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