Here are the companies showing VR demos at the STEAM Carnival

Use promo code ‘2bcvr’ to get $5 off on tickets for the STEAM Carnival

From November 6th to 8th in San Francisco, California, Two Bit Circus’ STEAM Carnival will feature high-tech games, interactive installations, dynamic build zones, round the clock stage shows, aerialists, artists, food, and of course Virtual Reality experiences. We’ve rounded up some great VR demos for our attendees, including experiences from the following companies:

Mattel

Back in February of this year, Mattel, the multinational toy manufacturing company, announced a collaboration with Google to “Reimagine the Iconic View-Master Toy.” Mattel’s new View-Master offers an easy-to-use and affordable platform that enables users to engage in virtual field trips where they can explore famous places, landmarks, nature, planets and more in 360 degree ‘photospheres’.

The View-Master device is paired with an ‘experience reel’ and an Android smartphone application, allowing kids (plus family and friends) to immediately pop in their phone and experience a series of imaginative, interactive learning environments. Their new View-Master and several of the accompanied VR demos will be available to try at the STEAM Carnival.

River Studios

Last December, Rothenberg Ventures, a venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco, CA, announced the launch of the first VR accelerator, ‘River.’ In addition to jumpstarting early-stage companies through investment, River VR has created original virtual reality content since then. Among the demos they plan to bring to the STEAM Carnival include an experience with Rallycross racer Collete Davis and a Burning Man demo. At least two other experiences from River will be there as well.

Google Cardboard

Following the end of its 2014 I/O keynote, Google released a smartphone application called Cardboard that allows users to insert their Android device into a do-it-yourself cardboard viewer. When looking through special lenses, people can interact with various immersive experiences.

Following that announcement, the company introduced an education program for VR called “Expeditions,” which will give teachers a way to immerse their students in virtual field trips.

In addition to Google’s cardboard viewer and Expedition platform, they have been actively working on a software solution named “Jump” that assembles 360 videos from a 16 camera GoPro rig. This setup ensures stereoscopic videos, giving a sense of depth to the experiences captured with the rig. The Google Cardboard team will be showing various VR content at the STEAM Carnival, so be sure to check that out.

Discovery

For more than 30 years, Discovery has told stories through the use of video — transporting people to places they didn’t know existed while sparking curiosity at every turn. Now, they have entered a new chapter with Virtual Reality, taking viewers to new worlds like never before. They have launched a Discovery VR application for both Android and iOs, showing endangered animals, extreme sports, and more.

Two Bit Circus

In addition to the companies listed above, Two Bit Circus will also have content that we’ve developed in collaboration with previous clients. We plan to have three demos to show. The first is called “Full Throttle” which was created in partnership with Verizon, Wasserman, and IndyCar. We built a motion platform to accompany the VR demo that moves a racing chair in sync with what is shown on the screen, providing an immersive racing experience.

The Two Bit Circus VR team will be demoing our “Game Time” experience that was developed for the NFL XLIX Super Bowl. Users will be able to feel what it’s like to storm through the entrance tunnel to Cardinal Stadium as a team, catch a football, and run it back across the field for a touchdown. While viewing the experience, people will also feel the rumble of the ground while standing on our custom haptic floor, adding more immersion to the demo.

The last demo will be a synced experience where people can watch the same bit of content together. This will be a highlight reel of all our past VR work, providing a jam-packed experience that can be shared with a group of friends (or even new acquaintances).

To purchase tickets for the STEAM Carnival, visit our SquadUp page.

Note: not all the companies above will be at the STEAM Carnival all three days

Update: Ubisoft will not have VR demos like originally stated.