World's first in-cinema interactive 3D game inbound

Control a spaceship with your hands!

O2 has a treat in store for cinema goers: the chance to control a 3D spaceship in what’s claimed to be the world’s first in-cinema interactive 3D videogame.

The audience controls a 3D spaceship using their hands

Rolling out across 20 UK-based Vue cinemas from 10 July, O2’s Asteroid Storm will allow seated cinema punters to control the on-screen movements of the Starship O2 – a damaged spaceship requiring the audience’s help to steer it safely out of an asteroid belt.

The craft’s movements are controlled by different areas of the audience putting its hands up, which, O2 told Register Hardware, is made possible by two ceiling-mounted cameras that use infra-red scanners to track hand movements.

These sensors are connected to a gaming server which translates the audience’s hand movements into Starship motion in real time.

Earthworm Jim makes a cameo appearance?

The server controls the cinema’s 3D projector to create the display. You and your fellow popcorn munchers will also be pelted by 3D asteroids as you try to ‘fly’ the spaceship.

Asteroid Storm will appear before screenings of several films, including Ice Age 3 3D and Toy Story 3D. Participating VUE cinemas include those in London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. ®