IBM Japan Announces 'Sword Art Online' VR Project, Starts Alpha Testing Next Month
IBM Japan has announced plans to apparently recreate the premise of "Sword Art Online" in real life — in a way. Through its latest project "Sword Art Online: The Beginning," IBM aims to realize VRMMO featuring a game about VRMMO.
"Sword Art Online: The Beginning" is IBM's new virtual reality project that's taking a leaf from the game. The ambitious project will bring an immersive gaming environment through VR where gamers will use their body to control the game rather than a controller, reports Gematsu. It's "completely different from any game experience so far," the publication translates the quote of Reki Kawahara, creator of the "Sword Art Online" series.
The real world ambiance will reportedly be recreated through IBM's high-performance cloud system "SoftLayer." Meanwhile, the motion control functionality will be made possible through the company's next-generation computing system called "Cognitive System."
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IBM is currently accepting applications for alpha testers of its "Sword Art Online: The Beginning" project. The company will accept applications until March 4. Applicants must be from the Tokyo Metropolitan area to qualify. From the pool of applicants, IBM will randomly pick 208 individuals who will be included in the alpha testing that will be held next month on March 18 and 20, according to Tech Times.
IBM teamed up with Bandai Namco and Aniplex for the "Sword Art Online: The Beginning" project, according to Slash Gear. The game will make use of VR devices, obviously, with the Oculus Rift being showcased in the announcement trailer below. However, the same publication reports that IBM is also planning to support the newly released HTC Vive.
"Sword Art Online," for the uninclined, revolves around the story of gamers who get trapped inside a VRMMO. They can only get out in one of two ways: defeat the game's boss or die in the game and in real life as well.
