As the world of extended reality grows increasingly “mainstream”, we’re seeing a host of companies experimenting with the engaging, and entertaining aspects of the technology. While there’s more to XR than just the potential for amazing games, the novel and fun experiences offered by immersive technologies allows all kinds of companies to reach their audience on new levels.
For instance, in the sporting world, games in extended reality provide a unique way for leading organisations to reach their fans, teach new skills, and boost brand loyalty. This was something the MLB (Major League Baseball) community discovered for themselves, with the help of HTC VIVE.
Embracing the thrilling power of virtual reality, the MLB group decided to launch a new competitive experience for fans within a VR simulation. Launched across multiple locations throughout the United States, this VR environment provided a new way for fans to step into the sport.
Here’s what happened when MLB invested in virtual reality with HTC VIVE.
Creating Meaningful Moments for Fans
The sports world is full of passionate fans, committed to seeking out memorable moments of athletic performance, skill, and achievement. Major League Baseball in America inspires a huge community of fans to interact with the sport, follow players, and even put their own skills to the test in games.
According to VIVE, as the world continues to transform, the way we consume meaningful moments in sports like Major League Baseball is changing. We’ve gone from huddling around television sets and radios, to visiting events in person, playing games on digital screens, and more. Now, in a world empowered by immersive technology, we can experience baseball like never before.
In 2018, the MLB landscape introduced the potential of VR as a new medium for meaningful baseball experiences to fans in the United States. As part of the “MLB All-Star Week” event in Washington DC, the group worked with VIVE and the VIVE Pro headset to design a new virtual reality video game experience. Using VIVE tools, MLB was able to host the first-ever virtual reality “Home Run Derby” championship competition.
More than 300,000 people got involved with the gaming experience, and the group also attracted millions of fans through YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch livestreams. Countless viewers tuned in to watch fans of various ages step up to the “virtual” plate and put their baseball skills to the test. The overall experience was a huge hit among both the fans in attendance, and the virtual viewers.
Expanding the VR Experience Across America
The Home Run Derby competition hosted in 2018 was only the first step into a new world of virtual reality opportunities for Major League Baseball. When 2019 rolled around, the group began working with clubs throughout America to unlock even more fan experiences.
The Home Run Derby VR game was rapidly delivered to ballparks across North America, with the help of the immersive VIVE Pro headset. VIVE’s state-of-the-art virtual reality technology, complete with phenomenal visuals and lightweight hardware proved to be the perfect solution for the team. Various Northern American ballparks began introducing the new VR experience to fans. Visitors could immerse themselves in the all-star VR game when visiting the ballparks to watch their favourite teams compete.
As VIVE’s technology continued to evolve, the MLB group expanded its experiments even further. The introduction of the new VIVE Pro Eye product delivered a next-generation environment for fans. Thanks to the powerful new technology, fans can now immerse themselves even deeper into the Home Run Derby with a more accessible and intuitive simulation. Part of what makes this technology so powerful for the MLB group is the phenomenal tracking and sensor functionality.
While other systems for virtual reality gaming in the past have focused heavily on game controllers and finger-controlled mechanics, VIVE Pro Eye offers something new. The integrated eye-tracking capabilities means users can navigate the full VR experience for Home Run Derby using their gaze.
Powerful eye-tracking solutions allow the technology to effectively follow and analyse where users are looking at any given time. This means users can naturally and organically navigate through the menus in the MLB gaming experience. What’s more, users get to enjoy a hands-free solution for pointing, zooming, and even selecting certain settings.
A Swinging Success for MLB and HTC VIVE
The introduction of the new HTC Vive Pro Eye technology allowed the MLB team to take an already successful sporting game experience to the next level. Without the stress of complicated menus to detract from the immersion offered by the Derby title, users can feel as though they’re really swinging at baseballs in a genuine pitch environment.
The streamlined user interface allows for a more fluid user experience for those who want to get involved with MLB fan tournaments. Fans can simply jump straight into swinging without the added roadblocks and frustrations involved with learning how to use a new set of controllers. According to VIVE, the solution also meant more users could take part in the VR experiences.
In the past, complex controllers have made it difficult for some users intimidated by VR to jump into new experiences with ease. However, with eye-tracking as the primary tool for access and navigation in Home Run Derby VR, anyone can jump in and start playing in no time. The MLB team is leveraging this technology to continue rolling out VR experiences to fans throughout North America. Various ballparks, like the Boston Red Sox Fenway Park stadium, and the Great American Ball Park for the Cincinnati Reds offer fans access to the gaming experience.
As VIVE technology continues to develop and evolve, there’s a good chance we’ll continue to see the MLB group offering new gaming experiences to fan. What’s more, the success of the MLB group may inspire other sporting organisations to follow their footsteps for future fan experiences.
