Bringing Another Classic to Life–in 360

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Make STEAM Work For You

"At some point in everyone's life, they've (played Tarzan)." says filmmaker and Fun Train VR Founder/CEO Douglas Nabors. He's explaining how he and his team came to decide on their second VR project, Tarzan VR™, released in December, 2020. In 2017, Fun Train VR had their hit first release, The Exorcist: Legion VR. While the classic horror title garnered rave reviews, Douglas says Fun Train VR is producing various other genres as virtual-reality experiences. Tarzan VR™, based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs classic adventure series, is getting a similarly enthusiastic response from gamers. Swimming, puzzle-solving and a sense of humor are all part of the new series. But one of the top features which gamers mentions as their favorite? The vine-swinging. Episodes 1 and 2 of Tarzan VR™ are currently available, both on Fun Train VR's website and on Steam. Douglas says Episode 3 is in beta. And Fun Train VR has a third project currently in the works. This one will be a sci-fi experience! While that's about all we can tell you currently, Douglas says there will be an announcement in the future, both about this project and about some new developments with The Exorcist: Legion VR. What we can tell you, though? If you have an Oculus Quest, get ready to do some vine-swinging. The Oculus Quest didn't exist whenFun Train started development on Tarzan VR™--but Douglas says Tarzan VR™is coming to the platform next year! On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Douglas and his team decided on Tarzan VR as their startup's second release; A look at the experience of working with the Edgar Rice Burroughs team; What players experience, as they play Tarzan VR; How the team made the physics of the game work (swinging, swimming) to avoid motion sickness among gamers; A look at the creative decisions involved in developing the project; An "Easter egg" you can find in Tarzan VR! The "fun" ways the game developed, that weren't in the original plans; What Douglas considers especially fun, when he plays Tarzan VR! Douglas's tips, to other creators, about what works well, and what does not work, when storytelling in VR; A hint of some exciting forthcoming developments at Fun Train VR, for the future; One of the most exciting areas in which Douglas considers that he has grown, as a creative, while working on Tarzan VR™.