Virtual Reality is a major plot-point in the story of “Ready Player One,” so I think it’s safe to assume that the marketing team behind the film have been planning their VR suites and fan-engaging activities for a long time now. To celebrate the March 29th release of the new action adventurer, fans at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) event will have a chance to step into the immersive Ready Player One Experience with VIVE VR. The experience sounds impressive, including a two-story, city block takeover of Brazos Hall. The event runs from March 9th through March 11th, and will showcase “the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the film,” including exciting virtual reality (VR) content from HTC VIVE.

The Experience begins from the outside, where the exterior of Brazos Hall will be transformed into the Stacks, the vertical trailer park where people live in the real world of 2045. Upon receiving their personal RFID wristband, guests will enter the venue through Wade Watts’ Van, the hideaway of the film’s young hero, and, from there, be transported into the OASIS, where the real action begins.

The first floor of the Experience will have a lot to do. The RFID wristband will keep score as guests test their knowledge of `80s trivia, play arcade games, or look for hidden clues. It’s all setup as a massive game, and you can move up the Leaderboard to win fun prizes, including one grand prize per day: an HTC VIVE VR System. Visitors can browse at Avatar Outfitters, offering the Hot Topic Ready Player One Pop-Up Shop. Guests will also have a chance to score officially licensed gear, including exclusive t-shirts, caps, jewelry, backpacks, collectible pins and other cool accessories, as well as fan-favorite Funko Pop! vinyl figures and Copper, Jade and Crystal key sets, and much more, all available for purchase.

If you stop by, you can also try out the “Ready Player One” Avatar Creator by VIVE and choose a new digital identity, then send the avatar to yourpersonal email. The event will also host The Distracted Globe nightclub, where infinity mirrors create the impression of being gravity-free for a cool photo op, and guests can enjoy “Ready Player One”-themed specialty cocktails.

The event’s stage will host `80s trivia happy hours and nightly artist performances, with special guest DJs and performers, including a TheWaveVR DJ set by Tye Sheridan, who stars in “Ready Player One”; Them Jeans; FM-84; Bird Peterson; and a special performance by “a surprise guest”.

On Saturday, March 10, the SXSW Film Festival will hold its 25th Edition party, celebrating the anniversary of the film festival, at the Experience.

On Sunday, March 11, the venue will hold a livestream, Ready Player One LIVE at SXSW, powered by Twitch and IMDb, hosted by Aisha Tyler and correspondent Alex Correa. The stream will be live on twitch.tv/twitch and imdb.com/readyplayerone and will feature some of the stars and filmmakers from “Ready Player One,” including cast members Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Lena Waithe, Win Morisaki, Philip Zhao and Ben Mendelsohn; screenwriter Zak Penn; and author/screenwriter/co-producer Ernest Cline.

Level up to the second floor of the venue, where visitors will find themselves in the Stacks. All guests will be invited to try out HTC VIVE’s VR versions of classic arcade games and experiences inspired by the universe of “Ready Player One.” In addition to all the happenings in Brazos Hall, Atom Tickets will be outside offering an opportunity to purchase advance tickets to the film on Atom. Those who do are able to jump ahead in line to enter the Experience.

As for the film itself, the story is based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name. Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline. Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Spielberg and Dan Farah produced the film, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris deFaria and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. The film stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen, with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.” Opening on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX.