At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Sony unveiled a novel concept for the future of immersive entertainment that aims to provide attendees with novel, interactive experiences.
The live demo, although only at a conceptual level at this stage, allowed participants to enter the world of The Last of Us and see it from a different perspective.
The experience is essentially a boxy room where every surface has a high-resolution crystal LED display, surrounding you on all sides with the game world. This, combined with immersive sound, tactile sensations, atmosphere and “smell”, is designed to place you in an interactive environment deeper than before. Yes, this means you will be able to smell whatever game you are playing.
In a gameplay sequence seemingly created specifically for the proof-of-concept, participants are given a weapon controller with which they aim and fire at approaching threats such as clickers. We’d bet they smell absolutely disgusting.
This is not some novel product or service that is ready to be introduced, and it will likely take a long time before it is ready for mass consumption. We could see this type of thing popping up in theme parks, or maybe arcades, but obviously given the space and technology required, it’s going to be an steep endeavor if they keep it up.
What do you think about this Sony concept technology? Would you be interested in immersing yourself in the game this way? Discuss in the comments section below.
