Skydive VR

We were challenged to create an original experience for Ballast’s DIVR, an underwater virtual reality headset to be used in water parks and swimming pools.
The inertia that one feels diving underwater is very similar to skydiving, so, our clients who love radical experiences challenged us to create an experience that evokes the feelings of being one with nature and contemplating the beauty of our world, right before feeling the adrenaline rush of nearing the ground and find a sweet spot to land.
Within the environment definition, we drew the most inspiration from mountain ranges like the Grand Canyon or the Himalayas and ancient civilizations of Tibet. We made sure that each moment of the experience contained a different setting and environment, making it engaging till the end.

One of the crucial points of the ride is the characters which help guide the spectator's eyes, give a better sense of scale, speed, position, and perspective, and make the spectator feel like he belongs in that group of talented divers.
The main inspiration for the divers were nature and animal fauna. We named each diver in a way that expressed the colors and shapes of his outfits, his personality, and the kind of movement he would perform.
The Monarch (yellow), inspired by the butterfly, would have a more elegant delivery.
The Firefly (orange) would be faster and perform more heroic stunts.
The Mantis (green) would have more energy and fly in a more wild and crazy way.
And the Bat (dark blue) would be a more bold and silent type.

To visualize the experience and its key moments, we idealized moments that would provoke emotions. The adventure starts in the tall mountains, we descend into a waterfall and dangerous caves that have remnants of ancient pirate ships.
We pass through a forest, which unveils a hidden city in the mountains, with its ancient monk-like civilization and ancient artifacts like gigantic statues, which we dive through.
We end in the spectacle of hot air balloons and a landscape of a beach. Each moment was backed by studies to emphasize shapes and colors.

DIRECTION – Helder da Rocha Pereira
CREATIVE DIRECTION – Rafael Silva
3D PRODUCTION – Rafael Silva, Alexandre Carvalho, Nazariy Voloshchuck
DEVELOPMENT – Maurício Ferreira