The only constant is change.
Remember there was a time when you check your emails only when you’re in front of a computer? That seems like a lifetime ago now that we can always do so on our phones.
It’s not that long ago actually. It depends on when you got your first smartphone, but most likely it’s around 2009-2011.
2007 was when the first iPhone launched. The following year iPhone 3G was launched, propelling the first major wave of the mobile internet era – everyone is always connected.
Back then most people will shrug their shoulder if you tell them that in 5 year time everyone will be hunkering down to their phones in trains and buses.
Yet it’s an undeniable truth now.
Honestly speaking, I was never so hot in VR or AR at first. I heard about Oculus and saw some videos about it back in 2014, but I never paid any attention.
Only when the first consumer-grade VR systems are available in the form of HTC Vive and Oculus Rift I started to get curious. And the moment I experienced my first immersive experience, I instantly got it.
This felt like the time when the first iPhone was launched. Seeing how the growth it would be 5 years down the road, I would be a fool to let it pass by.
I decided to ride the early wave. In 2016 App Igniter started the shift to immersive technology. We are still a content creation studio at heart, just that the medium we’re using is evolving.
It’s not a straight forward jump obviously. Even if I’m a believer of XR, the market is still cold. They don’t even know AR nor VR.
I decided that 2016 is the year of XR learning. From my experience, learning while doing is the best. While still working on Mobile projects from clients, App Igniter is developing an in-house VR game.
The idea is not to create a full-fledged marketable game, but to learn and adapt to VR development process faster. Within 6 months, not just knowledge and experience, the confidence I hold for XR future is higher than ever.
Now having more than 90% of our works is in XR, it makes me so excited.
Maybe the era like Ready Player One is still far, but seeing today’s adoption of AR&VR is enough to say: XR is definitely alive and kicking strong.
