Oculus VR, EA, Panasonic Create Immersive Technology Alliance
The Stereoscopic 3D Gaming Alliance has a new name and mission.
As of March 13, 2014, the Stereoscopic 3D Gaming Alliance will be renamed as "The Immersive Technology Alliance (ITA)."
The group made the announcement on Thursday, revealing the expansion of its mandate to meet the needs of the newly established Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), stereoscopic 3D, gesture industries "and everything in-between."
Thanks to The Khronos Group and The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA), the ITA will officially re-launch next week in a private session at GDC 2014. "Exciting" tech demos will be on hand as well, the group reports.
"The goal of the alliance is to foster a vibrant and diverse industry that content makers can support on a wide scale," reads the group's announcement. "Accomplishing this goal requires commercial success, industry diversity, great content, compatibility, and a growing consumer base through joint education and outreach."
Included in the group is Oculus VR, Technical Illusions, Electronic Arts, Epson, Virtuix, I'm in VR, Nanoveu, Gameface Labs, Vrelia, The University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Panasonic, Avegant, YEI Technology and a number of others.
This non-profit alliance was originally created back in 2009. At the time, the group said it was 100 percent focused on making stereoscopic 3D gaming possible through education, product adoption and standards.
"The effect of a standards group such as S3DGA is to accelerate the adoption of technology by presenting a forum for members to express, test, and agree on ideas and approaches to educating consumers," the group said at the time.
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Neil Schneider, Executive Director of the ITA, says that due to the lines blurring between PC and mobile, organizations like the Khronos Group and PCGA are growing increasingly important. "The launch of the ITA is just another example of their positive influence," he adds.
Press and game developers itching to attend the closed meeting next week can grab the email address here towards the bottom of the page. Space is very limited and confirmation from The ITA is required for entry.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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TheDotCommunist EA is involved huh? I can see it now: "2 dimensions come standard, pay 59.99 for 3rd dimension DLC"Reply -
ddpruitt EA Pay $59.99 for a beta, it won't work, we'll release a patch to make it buggy, and then an extra $69.99 for a DLC to make it usable!Seriously, EA's a part of this, we're screwed, no more affordable VR technology. On the plus side Carmack may go back to id!Reply -
expl0itfinder I've seen enough of EA's work these past couple of years. I really do not want them to botch something with this much potential.Reply -
BahWiggy Wow never have to letters scarred me so much. EA = Death to innovation! Here comes the DRM.Reply -
centaurius How come this junction of different companies since 2009 (5 years almost) and no final product to consumer whatsoever? I smell more marketing than anything "final"...Reply -
James22365 ReplyHow come this junction of different companies since 2009 (5 years almost) and no final product to consumer whatsoever? I smell more marketing than anything "final"...
Because the alliance isn't making a product. In 2009 many of the companies in it now didn't even exist. The alliance "was" about about promoting and pushing stereoscopic gaming so that it was common place and not just a neiche.The renamed alliance with the new companies has expanded it to cover a lot more than just stereoscopic gaming. They still are not making a product, their goal is to make the immersive technologies currently available and being developed successful so they are not just a gimmick that don't take off.EA's a part of this, we're screwed, no more affordable VR technology.
As much as i'd prefer it if EA as not involved, their involvement has no bearing on the affordability of future VR techonolgy. The alliance or EA's involvement has nothing to do with what companies charge for their products.Epson? Why and how is Epson involved?
Epson design and make HMDs as well so want to help push the technology. -
AndrewJacksonZA Reply
Wow. Turns out that they're not just a printer company. Thanks.12901124 said:Epson design and make HMDs as well so want to help push the technology.