HIKKY Co., Ltd. will hold the 4th of the world’s largest event “Virtual Market” in virtual reality (VR) space for 12 days from April 29 to May 10, 2020. At the previous “Virtual Market 3” (held in September 2019), about 710,000 people from all over the world participated, making it the world’s largest VR event (*1). This time, we plan to expand the scale further to 41 venues (areas of various concepts that can be visited in the VR space), 35 exhibiting companies, and 1400 circles of general creators. The number of visitors is expected to reach 1 million.
◆ The theme of is “Parallel World”.
With the development of VR / AR technology, the realization of IoT, and 5G high-speed lines, the real and virtual reality spaces are further fused, and new lifestyles are emerging. It is not long before the “para-real world”, a society in which people live through various real and virtual reality spaces, will be realized. “Virtual Market 4”, which you can experience through VR goggles and PC, is a space where you can experience this “parareal” quickly.
◆ About the contents of
venues can be broadly divided into “corporate exhibitors” and “general creator exhibitors”.
・ “Parareal Tokyo”, which will be the “company exhibition venue”
There are various buildings that imitate Tokyo’s landmarks such as Tokyo Tower, Kabukiza, Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Station Building, Akihabara Radio Kaikan, etc. It is uniquely arranged. All of these are designed with permission, and it is possible to view extremely realistic buildings in the virtual space and enter the building to play. It is based on the image of a future city, the “smart city” (*2).
(*1) In the article by Forbes in the United States, it is referred to as the “largest in the world”.
(*2) What is a smart city? “Sustainability is achieved by utilizing the new technologies such as ICT for management (planning, maintenance, management / operation, etc.) of various issues facing the city, and achieving overall optimization. Possible cities or districts ”(from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website)
The “General Creator Exhibit Venue” will have the following six images.
*From the top left, “Default Cube”, “Avatar Showcase”, “Ayori Yashiki”, “Circle Capital Mirabilis”, “Nursery Lime”, “World End Utopia”.
◆ What is
“Virtual market” is VR corporation HIKKY’s “Fio of the moving castle” ( VR corporation HIKKY official website ) is a market festival that sells and buys “3D items” that can be used in the virtual space, which was born in the summer of 2018 with the cooperation of various individual creators. Anyone can participate from VR devices such as head mounted displays for virtual reality and PCs.
The “Virtual Market 3” held in September 2019 was a large-scale event with 30 exhibitors, about 600 circles, and a total of 710,000 people participating. In addition, many of the participating users are from overseas (about 70% of the participants in “Virtual Market 3” are from overseas), which is also an international event. HIKKY will continue to aim to “develop and enrich the virtual reality space” by holding this event.
◆ Products (3D items) to be displayed in "Virtual Market"
In a virtual space, it is common to use 3D models called “avatars” to communicate with others, and it is a popular product. Visitors can freely try on, appreciate, and purchase the 3D avatars and 3D models exhibited at the venue. In addition, accessories, costumes, houses and rooms in the virtual space, etc. will be exhibited to make the avatar unique.
Trying on hats and headphones currently on sale (left), general booth (right)
◆ Exhibition of famous companies in Japan and overseas and new efforts in anticipation of 5G
Due to the increasing attention of the world from this event, famous companies in Japan and overseas have decided to exhibit at “Virtual Market 4”. Exhibitors will develop a special booth in “Para Real Tokyo” that has a design and a mechanism that is highly compatible with its own brand. In the booth, you can enjoy various brand experiences and communication, such as buying and selling various products, riding a car in a virtual space, and watching images, which you can only experience at “Parareal Tokyo”. More details will be announced in the future, so please take a look.
◆ Part of exhibiting companies
◆ Crowdfunding for everyone to enjoy "Virtual Market 4" will start on April 3 at CAMPFIRE!
In the “Virtual Market 3” crowdfunding, we greatly exceeded the target of 2 million yen and received the “CAMPFIRE AWARD 2019 Innovation Award” with support of 12 million yen. We will hold this crowdfunding at “Virtual Market 4” as well.
In the return of this crowdfunding, in addition to engraving the name of the supporter on the stone monument installed at the venue of “Virtual Market 4”, we will provide original T-shirts, CDs containing the venue BGM, real goods such as key chains . We are also making advanced efforts such as installing posters in the virtual space, offering the right to run video ads, and the right to become part of the scene of the venue. If you want to leave your own traces on the virtual market, please help us!
◆ Outline of "Virtual Market 4"
| Name: |
VIRTUAL MARKET 4 |
| Organizer: |
VR corporation HIKKY |
| Session: |
April 1, 2020 11:00 ~ May 10, 23:00 (12 days in total) |
＞Virtual Market Top Page
