SHOSHIN VILLAGE

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Context:

In late 2020, a worldwide pandemic had just begun, and in-person gatherings were decreased, discouraged, and downright dangerous. Therefore, many turned to virtual reality, seeking social experiences or peace from the turmoil of COVID-19. The Shoshin Village would be the first venue produced by the team that would eventually become XPR Labs, designed to help alleviate that social crisis.

Challenge:

However, as XPR’s entry into virtual environment design, the village posed a number of unique challenges to the budding team. Most virtual environments weren’t as expansive as the village was intended to be, calling for new innovations in VR optimization. Additionally, the Shoshin Village would need extensive community building, to ensure the desired social experience. Finally, to build the environment quickly, the XPR team would need to adapt an existing asset pack to fit the project’s scope.

Solution:

The Shoshin Village was ultimately designed to provide a space both beautiful and practical, setting a functional health and wellness center in a sprawling complex of Edo-era temples, buildings, and aesthetics, all enshrouded in a forest of flowering cherry blossoms. The village offered facilities for discussion, meditation, reflection, and education — however, it also included amenities for general and physical wellness, including a book club, virtual cat café, and a gymnasium for VR fitness programs.

Results:

In the mid-COVID world, the Shoshin Village served as a community hub for those who could no longer meet in person, alongside those who met across great distances through the medium of VR. Critically, it created opportunities for people whose lives had been upended by a global pandemic to find community, comfort, and wellbeing. Ultimately, it was the first step in the development of XPR Labs, and the cornerstone of everything XPR now seeks to build: a realistic, beneficial virtual environment that encourages meaningful connection across any distance.