Latest news with #immersiveexperience
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I visited the UK's new immersive Titanic attraction – I gasped as the iceberg hit but there was another ‘wow' moment
AS I stepped 'on board' the SS Titanic, a shiver rippled down my spine. I wasn't on the actual ill-fated liner - of course - but instead had stepped into the UK's latest immersive experience called The Legend of the Titanic: The Exhibition. 8 8 8 The exhibition immediately transported me back in time, unveiling the gripping story of the iconic ocean liner before its tragic demise. I began by exploring a room full of fascinating artefacts before venturing into one of the exhibition's cutting-edge VR experiences. In front of me stood a grand hall, full of projections on each wall and across the floor; I had been dropped straight into the scene of the Titanic's final hours. For 30 minutes, I witnessed the tragic story of the Titanic unfold. Personally, I found the story of the experience - which follows a daughter and father on the ship - a little gimmicky and it took away from the overall impact the projections had. However, when the ship collided with the iceberg, I found it gut-wrenching. The entire room 'shattered' as the ice tore through the ship's metal hull and waves lapped onboard. The room plunged into darkness and the ship's decks quickly disappeared beneath the ice water. Even the iconic Grand Staircase turned from a once vibrant focal point to a grave at the bottom of the ocean. As the ship sank to the ocean floor, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, knowing I remained on dry land. First-of-its-kind Titanic exhibition coming to England And I was then hit with a second 'wow' moment when I headed into another VR experience t hat simply took my breath away. In reality, I was navigating around a large empty room. But for me with my headset on, I was in a virtual world exploring the Titanic's various decks and cabins. Glowing red squares marked real-life walls to avoid, and other participants appeared as green figures. But for 10 to 15 minutes I got a real taste of what every corner of the Titanic was like, including the wreck that sits today. Crossing a number of virtual gantries hovering above the ship's engines felt as if a single misstep could lead me to falling into the machinery below. Finally standing beside the Titanic's captain, I removed my headset to reveal a slightly comical room of people wandering around like ghosts. Other parts of the exhibition include information boards detailing the background of the Titanic and how it was built. And there is also a room full of fascinating artefacts and personal stories for the ship. 8 8 The multitude of perspectives from first, second and third-class passengers was striking - highlighting how each passenger had a different experience onboard the ill-fated ocean liner. While all the items on display are from the Olympic - the Titanic's sister ship - the collection showcases how everyday life operated onboard. There are items from the 1997 film too, sharing how impactful the story of the Titanic has been throughout history. One of the shorter VR experiences in the exhibition involves chairs that pivot 360-degrees. Donning a VR headset, I was transported into a seven-minute adventure featuring music and imagery. The music throughout the VR experience and exhibition as a whole has been meticulously crafted by 50 musicians and offers an eerie reminder of the orchestra that played as the ship sank. Following the VR experience, even more information is shared about the behind-the-scenes of the Titanic and the cold waters that claimed so many lives. I was surprised to learn that if it wasn't for the efforts of men battling a fire in the belly of the ship, the Titanic would have sunk an hour earlier. 8 8 There were a couple of let-downs for me, though. Notably, there are few elements of the exhibition that cater to children, but instead, it felt like they were a tad insensitive. Think: a pool-like table with a screen, where you play a game to break up an iceberg before a ship hits it. However, looking at the exhibition as a whole - many elements are a testament to how technology can bridge the gap between us and historical events. It was as if I was mere centimetres away from the reality experienced by the 2,224 passengers onboard the Titanic's maiden voyage - and not many people can say today they have experienced something like that. The Legend of the Titanic: The Exhibition opens July 25 at Dock X in Canada Water, London. Tickets cost from £24 for adults and £16 for children. 8
The Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Elvis fans demand refunds as new show dubbed a ‘shambles'
Audience members for the new " Elvis Evolution" immersive experience in London have expressed significant disappointment, labelling the show "misleading" and "a shambles from start to finish". Attendees, who paid between £75 and £300 for tickets, expected a holographic Elvis performance but instead saw upscaled video footage, leading to accusations of being "mis-sold". Many fans, including those who purchased "Super VIP" packages, felt exploited and compared the experience to a low-budget production, with some leaving early or demanding refunds. Layered Reality, the show's producer, said that the concept evolved from its initial announcement, with a creative decision made not to mimic Elvis's performances directly but to use AI on archive footage. The show, running at ExCel London until December 2025, has received mixed reviews from critics, ranging from one-star for being "limp" to three-stars for being "enjoyable once accepted".
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Elvis Evolution: 'Atrocious and misleading' show upsets some fans
A number of people who attended a new Elvis immersive experience in London have told the BBC they have been left extremely upset, with one fan saying it was "one of the most misleading shows I've ever seen".Elvis Evolution, created by Layered Reality, was announced in January 2024 and advertised at that time as a concert experience that would "use AI and feature holographic projections of the star". It would include a "life-sized digital Elvis who will perform iconic moments in musical history on a UK stage for the first time".But some attendees say the show, for which tickets range from £75 to £300, featured no hologram of Elvis and as a result say they have been left feeling conned and mis-sold.A spokesperson for Layered Reality said: "A small number of people have pointed out that they were expecting a hologram concert, due to the initial announcement made in January 2024. As with many complex productions that are two years in the making, the concept developed from those early stages, and this was made clear when tickets went on sale in October 2024."We ultimately took the creative decision not to mimic Elvis's performances. Those moments proved to be too iconic and irreplaceable. Instead, we use AI to upscale archive footage and in moments we know happened but where no footage existed, offering a new lens into his world."They said the show has been praised by fans and newcomers alike and they were "overwhelmed by the feedback, with many describing it as fun, immersive and unlike anything they've seen before". The experience starts by taking fans on a journey of Elvis's youth, which we learn about from his childhood friend Sam Bell. After an interval in a Hawaii-themed bar with a cardboard cut-out of Elvis, ticket-holders find themselves as audience members in the 1968 comeback special concert that was performed live on NBC. Elvis Evolution, which opened on Friday for a six-month run, costs £75 for a standard ticket and £300 for a Super VIP option, which includes a mid-show champagne experience, commemorative glass, dedicated seating, a drink at each of the three bars and cloakroom access. 'Absolutely atrocious' Mark and Tracey Baldwin had VIP tickets for the show but have been left feeling "more like mugs than VIPs". Mr Baldwin told the BBC he feels "frustrated, disappointed and angry at the organisers". Mrs Baldwin said that the show was "absolutely atrocious" and thought she had paid the money for a once in a lifetime experience but "you could have seen this at the local theatre for £30"."It was a shambles from start to finish, there was no Elvis, it was just a video of him that you could watch on YouTube," she said. During the second act, she claims, unhappy people were leaving the show early and she feels Layered Reality have exploited older people and "taken us for a fool by scamming us with technology that we won't understand". The Baldwins said customers should be refunded and Layered Reality should apologise for "breaking people's dreams".A Layered Reality spokesperson said: "While we understand that expectations can be shaped by comparisons to other formats, we're incredibly proud of what's been created and how it's reconnecting people with Elvis in a bold and meaningful way."Elvis Evolution is not a traditional concert or hologram show. It's a major scale, theatrical experience priced competitively that invites audiences into the world of Elvis through immersive design, selective use of cutting-edge technology, live actors, and musicians. This is an experience where the story leads the technology, not the other way around." Mixed critic reviews The experience has had mixed reviews from critics - The Telegraph awarded it one-star and said it had "limp and indifferent offerings", but CityAM described it as "incredibly touching" in a four-star gave the show three stars and said it was "made with care and the concert is enjoyable once you accept it for what it is". And not every fan has been disappointed by the show – on Facebook some ticketholders praised the experience as "well-acted, innovative, exciting and a whole lot of fun". Another added that it seemed "the majority of people were having fun". But Paige Rannigan, who attended the show on Saturday evening and says she "saved really hard" to afford tickets as a birthday present for her mother, was left in tears and said she felt "it was nothing like what was advertised or promised".Ms Rannigan suffers from epilepsy and said she was surprised that there were no strobe light/flash warnings either verbally or on Reality said accessibility was at the forefront of their production process and "have created a detailed FAQs section on our website about any potential issues that may arise during the experience and how to contact us so we can accommodate any changes". Lizzie Ward also visited the experience as she thought she was seeing a life-size Elvis but described it as a "low quality theatrical performance" and is "desperately" trying to get a Elvis Evolution website no longer references any use of holograms in the show but describes the performance as "combining cutting-edge digital technology, live actors and musicians, mind-blowing multimedia and heart-pounding music"."This walkthrough immersive experience has some seated scenes and themed bars, giving you a multi-sensory journey through Elvis' rags to riches story from country boy to musical icon," it experience was delayed by several months from the planned launch date of November 2024. 'Not worth the money' There are multiple shows a day with a capacity of 160 people per performance which Shanine, who attended a preview show recently, thinks is too many told the BBC that it's immersive in "the sense of there being a set" but is adamant that it is "not worth the money". On Sunday, some of the shows were cancelled for "security reasons" after an attendee was carried out by several security members during the interval. In a video posted on social media, an older man can be seen being lifted by security staff and taken out of the room. Layered Reality told the BBC that the man "became verbally aggressive towards our staff and despite being politely asked to stop, the behaviour escalated, with the guest explicitly stating his intention to continue making threats towards our staff and performers."Security removed him from the event after he refused to leave the venue."Staff had no choice but to carry him out so the show could continue but because of the uproar it became too heated and the mood wasn't right to continue the show," one attendee told the BBC understands that some members of the cast raised concerns following the incident. Layered Reality said: "The safety and security of the public and our team is our highest priority, and after a thorough review and ongoing dialogue with the cast, the shows will be running as scheduled on Wednesday 23 July."Layered Reality have previously produced immersive experiences including The Gunpowder Plot and Jeff Wayne's The War of The Evolution is set to run at ExCel London until December. When first announced, the show was due to move to Las Vegas, Berlin and Tokyo after London but this has not been confirmed.
CNET
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
This Govee TV Backlight Brings a Bit of the Movie Theater Experience to My Living Room
Watching a good flick in a proper movie theater is pretty great, but I never thought to try to re-create that fully immersive experience at home -- until I found a simple TV backlight. After 20 minutes of setup and a quick calibration, I found myself totally drawn into my favorite shows as though I were in the theater, and for far less money than just about any other item I've purchased for my entertainment center. Skip forward a few years, and now I own one of these backlights for every TV in my house. There are a couple of different kinds of TV backlights out there. Some keep a single color all around your TV, usually a warmer shade of white, which allows the colors on the screen to stand out more. Govee's TV Backlight system is more interactive than that, but it works best when the lights in your room are low or off. It uses a special fish-eye lens camera pointed straight at your TV to see which colors are currently showing on the edges of your screen. The software relays that information to the LED strips on the back of the television, which then extend that color onto the wall behind your screen. The result, as you can see in the image below, is incredible. Right now you can get a 7.8-foot light strip, which is good for 40- to 50-inch TVs, for $53 (24% off). Or opt for the longer, 16.4-foot version for $85 (23% off). I've set up several of these over the last couple of years, and it has never taken more than 30 minutes to complete. These lights can also be turned on and off by an app on your phone or by connecting the app to Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. It's extremely satisfying to call Alexa and see your TV suddenly pop with color. The settings are very easy to adjust to fit whatever living room situation you have, as long as your TV is near a wall. And if you really want a great experience, make sure your TV has a good soundbar to go with this backlight setup. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite specs Power source : Corded electric, 12 volts (DC) : Corded electric, 12 volts (DC) Connection types : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Controller types : Govee app or voice (requires Alexa or Google Assistant) : Govee app or voice (requires Alexa or Google Assistant) LED array : RGBICW : RGBICW Cameras : One, Fisheye : One, Fisheye LED strip length: 7.8 feet (for TVs 40-50 inches), 11.8 feet (for TVs 55-65 inches), 16.4 feet (for TVs 75-85 inches) Does this backlight work with your TV? If you're concerned about whether this backlight setup would work for you, there are a couple of easy things you can check before you try it. All you really need to know is your TV's size, its position in your room and how much control you have over lighting. TV size : Govee's TV backlight has three different products based on your TV size. This includes screens that are 40 to 50 inches, 55 to 65 inches and 75 to 85 inches. The larger and smaller sizes are different prices than the one I use, but the difference in price is usually fairly minor unless there's a big sale happening on only one size. If your TV is outside of these sizes, you won't have the same overall experience. : Govee's TV backlight has three different products based on your TV size. This includes screens that are 40 to 50 inches, 55 to 65 inches and 75 to 85 inches. The larger and smaller sizes are different prices than the one I use, but the difference in price is usually fairly minor unless there's a big sale happening on only one size. If your TV is outside of these sizes, you won't have the same overall experience. TV position : Backlights work best when your TV is close to a wall, and that wall should be free of interruptions for at least 5 inches in every direction. If you have pictures or art hanging behind your television, these will interrupt the light coming from the back of the TV and might deliver a poor overall experience. This is especially true if the surface behind the television is reflective. : Backlights work best when your TV is close to a wall, and that wall should be free of interruptions for at least 5 inches in every direction. If you have pictures or art hanging behind your television, these will interrupt the light coming from the back of the TV and might deliver a poor overall experience. This is especially true if the surface behind the television is reflective. Room lighting: Your room does not need to be completely dark in order to enjoy this backlight, but it should generally be dimmer than what would normally be considered good light to read by. If you are hoping to use this backlight during the day, be sure any windows in the room are covered. At night, I recommend dimming your room lights for the best experience. There aren't a lot of traditional room layouts where you can't enjoy a backlight like this one, but with the tips above you can quickly go from having a good experience to a great one. Yes, there are other TV backlights out there Govee is not the only company making multicolor adaptive backlights for televisions, and on a purely technical level, the TV Backlight 3 Lite is not the best you could possibly have. Govee itself offers a more capable Envisual TV Backlight, which uses a pair of cameras to ensure the colors at the corners of your screen are precisely sent to the LED strip on the back. The Hue Play system from Philips reads the color information directly from the HDMI cable so there's the smallest possible delay between what you see on the screen and what you see in the backlights. Those LEDs also cover a wider color spectrum, so the colors behind the TV line up amazingly well. The TV Backlight 3 Lite from Govee is a fantastic setup for its price, which is why I love it. You can regularly get this kit for around half the price of Govee's more capable system -- and for a fraction of the price of the Philips Hue system. But neither is better enough, in my opinion, to justify the added costs. This is something you can do on your own for relatively cheap, and the end result is loads of fun. And at the end of the day, that's why I'm in front of my TV in the first place. For other options, check out our roundup of the best smart home deals going on now.
Thrill Geek
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition to Make World Premiere at The Franklin Institute in 2026
A blockbuster museum experience is heading to Philadelphia. The Franklin Institute and Comcast NBCUniversal have announced Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition , a first-of-its-kind immersive showcase opening February 14, 2026. This massive 18,000-square-foot exhibit will debut in the heart of Philly and promises a behind-the-scenes look into the thrills, technology, and imagination that power Universal Destinations & Experiences. Spanning eight themed galleries and featuring over 100 original artifacts from fan-favorite attractions like Jurassic World , How to Train Your Dragon , and Universal Monsters , the exhibit is set to highlight the creative minds and innovations behind Universal's world-renowned parks. Guests will discover the science and artistry behind ride design, special effects, robotics, and costuming—getting an insider's look at what makes these parks so unforgettable. Interactive experiences are a major focus of the exhibition. Visitors can: Step into immersive themed environments Program animatronics and design coasters Try on virtual monster masks Pose with costumes from characters like Toothless and Po View props and ride vehicles from across Universal's iconic attractions The exhibit also dives into Universal's legendary Studio Tour in Hollywood and celebrates the future of themed entertainment with a spotlight on Epic Universe , opening soon at Universal Orlando Resort. The premiere will be housed in The Franklin Institute's Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center, running through September 7, 2026. It's presented in collaboration with creative firm MDSX, with Comcast NBCUniversal serving as the presenting sponsor and PECO as associate sponsor. 'This is a must-see for theme park fans, tech lovers, and families,' said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. 'Debuting this exhibition during the city's 2026 semi-quincentennial celebration is truly special.' Universal's Gerald Raines added, 'This exhibit pulls back the curtain on how our attractions are made—and celebrates the extraordinary teams who bring dreams to life.' Advance ticket access and updates are now available at Janine is a theme park and pop culture nerd from an early age. Since 1994, she's been traversing the theme park world and has enjoyed all things from Halloween events to new ride releases and beyond. When she's not at a theme park, she's probably at a concert or doing something fun with her kiddo.
