Software:VTime

From HandWiki
VTime Logo.png
Developer(s)vTime Limited
Publisher(s)vTime Limited
Platform(s)Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, iOS, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go
ReleaseDecember, 2015
Genre(s)Social Software

vTime is a free-to-play virtual reality social network created by British virtual and augmented reality innovation company vTime Limited[1], developed in Liverpool in the UK. Cross platform, the app allows groups of up to four users to "jump into VR and talk in what is essentially a private chat room. Users can customize an avatar and select a 3D environment to host the chat inside"[2].

Launching on Gear VR in December 2015, vTime was the first virtual reality social network on a mobile platform[3]. The app became the first social network to launch on Google Cardboard in March 2016 [4][5][6], and on Google Daydream in January 2017[7]. vTime was also the first virtual reality application to give its users the ability to socialise inside their own 360 images[8], and was later a launch title for the Windows Mixed Reality platform in October 2017[9].

Experience

"vTime likes to think of itself as a “sociable” network, rather than a social network, perhaps emphasising that these virtual social gatherings are essentially friendly and more genteel in nature than some of their counterparts[10]". The network focuses on facilitating shared conversations in virtual reality, though users without a VR headset are able to join sessions via 'Magic Window' mode on Android and iOS phones[11]. Cross platform, all user avatars support audio lip-syncing and avatar eye-tracking, and can use the network's library of virtual emojis 'vMotes' allowing "users to express themselves in numerous ways[12]". Users on high-end headsets can use platform controllers to add hand and body tracking to their sessions[13]

Funding

In April 2018, the vTime Limited announced that it had raised $7.6 million (£5.4 million) in a series A funding round to accelerate development of the app.[14]

References

  1. https://www.ft.com/content/19c2f3a4-5242-11e6-9664-e0bdc13c3bef
  2. "UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR – TechCrunch" (in en-US). https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/. 
  3. Hayden, Scott (2015-12-21). "'vTime' is a "Sociable Network", Now Available on Gear VR" (in en-US). Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/vtime-virtual-reality-social-network-gear-vr/. 
  4. Kar, Ian. "There’s a new social network where you can hang out with real people in virtual reality" (in en-US). Quartz. https://qz.com/638636/theres-a-new-social-network-where-you-can-hang-out-with-real-people-in-virtual-reality/. 
  5. Strange, Adario. "Virtual reality app lets you meet others in imaginary places" (in en). Mashable. https://mashable.com/2016/03/12/virtual-reality-app/. 
  6. "VR social network vTime hits Google Cardboard (Tomorrow Daily 330)" (in en). CNET. 2016-03-14. https://www.cnet.com/news/vr-social-network-vtime-hits-google-cardboard-tomorrow-daily-330/. 
  7. "'vTime' Is Google Daydream's First Social Virtual Reality App" (in en-US). UploadVR. 2017-01-13. https://uploadvr.com/vtime-google-daydreams-first-social-vr-app/. 
  8. "vTime, the social network for VR, now lets you hang out in your photographs" (in en-US). Digital Trends. 2016-05-28. https://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/vtime-social-network/. 
  9. "All the VR Apps and Games Available for Windows MR Launch Day" (in en). http://www.shacknews.com/article/101741/all-the-vr-apps-and-games-available-for-windows-mr-launch-day. 
  10. "Top Five VR Social Experiences" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/08/top-five-vr-social-experiences/. 
  11. "vTime, the social network for VR, now lets you hang out in your photographs" (in en-US). Digital Trends. 2016-05-28. https://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/vtime-social-network/. 
  12. "Get Emotional with vTime’s vMotes for Oculus Rift and Gear VR Touchpad" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/05/get-emotional-with-vtimes-vmotes-for-oculus-rift-and-gear-vr-touchpad/. 
  13. "VR Social App vTime Gets Oculus Touch Support" (in en-US). VRFocus. https://www.vrfocus.com/2017/05/vr-social-app-vtime-gets-oculus-touch-support/. 
  14. "UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR – TechCrunch". https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/. 

External links