Oculus Pre-GDC Activation for VR Developers at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
This Facebook-Oculus collaborative event spotlighted the new Oculus virtual reality (VR) games and headset products the company was preparing to launch. TTG was tasked with designing and building out the space inside the YBCA with demo pods and meeting spaces where VR developers had the opportunity to chat with the Oculus team on how to become a successful creator on the Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Another key objective for this event was to allow guests to demo the new Oculus VR headset and several new games the company was launching. The client also wanted to demonstrate the fact that you don’t need solid physical walls to play Oculus games. To drive this fact home, TTG created the three Oculus demo pods with clear acrylic walls, framed in 1” aluminum tubing, accented with LED strip lighting.
The interiors of the pods were decorated to look like living rooms so guests could see what Oculus VR gaming would feel like in their own homes, even without the benefit of walls. TTG also created a variety of branded graphics and signage for the space, built a comfy lounge area in the center of the room, brought in a large projection screen for presentations and integrated LED lighting features throughout the space.
According to KT Salzmann, TTG Project Manager for Special Events, “The YBCA was an ideal venue for this event because it’s essentially an art theater, which offers excellent lighting options. We set the lighting to ‘theater dark,’ which made the LEDs that outlined key structures and graphics really pop.”
Facebook, Oculus and Instagram Lobby Activation at Moscone Center
The GDC was held at the Mocone Center in San Francisco, and for that main event, the client elected to go with a collaborative Facebook, Oculus and Instagram activation in the North lobby of the convention center. The objective of this activation was to celebrate the launch of the new Oculus Quest VR headset and also feature the Facebook Gaming and Instagram brands.
The 20’x80’ space included two Oculus demo pods similar to the faux living rooms with clear acrylic walls, aluminum tubing and LEDs installed at the YBCA. Like the pre-GDC event, the goal with the demos was to show that Oculus VR games could be played virtually anywhere—no walls required. Attendees also were able to experience how the new headset compared to the previous version.
Two fun and shareable photo opps were also included in the space. “For Instagram, we created a mirrored tunnel that featured hanging, two-sided, acrylic emojis that was super fun and very shareable. People could also snap photos in front of a 3-dimensional glyph of the Facebook Gaming logo,” explains Salzmann.
The space also featured several pedestals to display the new Oculus headset technology and two large projection screens to share branded content and presentations.
“For Instagram, we created a mirrored tunnel that featured hanging, two-sided, acrylic emojis that was super fun and very shareable. People could also snap photos in front of a 3-dimensional glyph of the Facebook Gaming logo.”
Oculus Meeting Room Activations at Moscone Center
GDC is a great event to conduct business as well, so Oculus asked TTG to design 17 meeting rooms to support its business development efforts. The meeting rooms provided private spaces where Oculus could meet with organizations interested in the company’s technology.
TTG created several, separate meeting rooms that once again played off of the living room theme and were perfect for demos of the new Oculus products and games. In addition, two larger wall-less meeting rooms were installed to reinforce the fact that you can play Oculus games anywhere.
While GDC was a whirlwind event for Salzmann, she looks forward to supporting future activations for Facebook Gaming, Oculus and Instagram. Says Salzmann, “We’ve really enjoyed working with the creative forces behind Facebook Gaming and bringing their brands to life. The GDC activations really turned our beautifully, and we’re excited to continue this partnership for years to come.”
Need help creating a memorable event or experience for your brand?
The live event specialists at The Trade Group are here to help. To learn more about TTG’s solutions for gaming events, trade shows and other live events and experiences, contact us at 800-343-2005 today.
