The Academy of International Extended Reality (AIXR) is hosting the 4th International VR Awards on November 12. The remote event is being organized in partnership with VRChat.
Here, we’ll look at what the event will look like, how to register, and – of course – who the nominees for the VR Awards are.
About the VR Awards
The VR Awards recognize organizations, individuals, and experiences. Winners from the past three events include Oculus Rift and Quest, Google Tilt Brush, HTC VIVE Pro, and the Vader Immortal series.
Historically, the VR Awards also included networking sessions and a formal dinner. While the event – like Auggies before it – is going online this year, AIXR is presenting those networking opportunities through other methods accessible through mobile devices, computers, or VR headsets.
In addition to the awards ceremony and networking opportunities, the program includes live and prerecorded entertainment and premieres. AIXR promises that the VR Awards will be “indistinguishable from a televised, physical awards show.”
To some degree, networking opportunities in particular, have to do with the ticket tier that you invest in. Free and Professional ticket holders have access to lobbies for networking with other people with the same level of access. VIP ticket holders also have access to “curated Academy meet and greet sessions.” However, all have equal access to the VR Awards themselves.
AIXR, the organization behind the VR Awards, is an international, independent, non-profit organization dedicated to growing the XR sector through professional development and general education.
Blogs and industry publications by the organization are free to access to anyone. However, events that take place throughout the year require industry membership at the Company, University, or Freelancer level.
VRChat, the group bringing the VR Awards online, is a free-to-play virtual world currently in early access on Steam, Oculus, and VIVEPORT.
This Year’s Categories
This year, the VR Awards will be given for thirteen categories to be judged by over 70 judges. Judges include Charlie Fink, HP’s Joanna Popper, Google’s Greg Ivanov, HTC’s Shen Ye, and NVIDIA’s Lisa Bell.
VR Social Influencer
- YouTube news, games, and product reviews channel ThrillSeeker.
- “Virtual Realist” YouTuber Nathie.
- VR enthusiast, Twitter and YouTube user “Eric for President”.
- VR content creators Cas and Chary (YouTube and Twitter).
VR Hardware of the Year
- The Pimax Artisan headset.
- Valve’s Index headset.
- The Oculus Rift S headset.
- Varjo’s VR-2 headset.
- The XTAL headset by VRgineers.
VR Game of the Year
- Asgard’s Wrath, the action RPG by Sanzaru Games.
- Experimental physics game Boneworks by Stress Level Zero.
- Fantasy adventure game Down the Rabbit Hole by Cortopia Studios.
- Alyx, Valve’s contribution to the Half-Life series.
- nDreams’ stealth ops game Phantom: Covert Ops.
- Arcade-style shooter Pistol Whip by Cloudhead Games.
- Sci-Fi adventure game Stormland by Insomniac Games.
- Fitness game Synth Riders by Kluge Interactive.
- The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets, an adventure puzzle game by Fast Travel Games.
- The Room VR: A Dark Matter, a mystery puzzle game by Fireproof Games.
- Saints and Sinners, Skydance Interactive’s contribution to the world of The Walking Dead.
- Until You Fall, the sword fighting experience by Schell Games.
VR Experience of the Year
- All Kinds of Limbo, a National Theatre musical adventure by Accenture.
- Britannia VR: Out of Your Mind, an interactive experience by Dimension.
- Elixir, the fantasy adventure by Magnopus.
- The flight experience Fly by Picture This Productions.
- Fujii, the musical exploration adventure by Funktronic Labs.
- The National Geographic Explore VR experience by Force Field.
- The Dawn of Art, an immersive art history experience by Atlas V.
- The Under Presents, a theater experience by Tender Claws.
- The Zen Universe, the educational travel experience by ZenART VR.
VR Film of the Year
- Algeria: A Spark of Light, a Cirque du Soleil experience by Felix and Paul Studios.
- Gravity VR, the Tribeca VR film by Fabio Rychter and Amir Admoni.
- Lutaw, the Tribeca VR film by Samantha Quick and Michaela Holland.
- Myth, the VR Frozen experience by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
- The Pantheon of Queer Mythology, a VR short film by Enrique Agudo.
VR Marketing of the Year
- 360 VR Space Safari for Ørsted by Khora.
- Audi’s e-tron Room: The Future Paradox by Glassworks Barcelona.
- The Land Rover Defender VR experience by Imagination.
- Virtual apartment tours through Londonist by the London Students Accommodation Agency.
- A virtual tour of the US Airforce Academy by EAB.
- The VR chat Virtual Market 4 by Hikky Co. LTD.
- A Unique VR Accommodation Experience by MALVI.
Rising VR Company of the Year
- Gaming station innovator Cybershoes.
- Emperia digital studio.
- Social reality games studio Evernever.
- VR art studio Klip Collective.
- Multiplayer VR maker VR Inn.
Innovative VR Company of the Year
- Virtual sports arena maker EVA.
- Deep tech innovator Kagenova.
- Training simulation maker Orka.
- Tech giant Qualcomm.
- Skydance Interactive – the studio behind fellow nominee The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners.
- VR marketing, education, and training solution provider Visbit.
VR Education and Training of the Year
- Softskills trainer VirtualSpeech.
- Orka’s DHL SLAM industry tool.
- Hitachi-GE’s nuclear powerplant multi-user VR training simulator.
- ITI’s Construction Hazard ID simulator.
- Relationship Management tools from Make Real and Lloyd’s Banking Services.
- McDonald’s Hospitality Training by Tantrum Labs.
- MEL Chemistry VR by MEL Science.
- Police Stop and Search VR Training by Accenture.
- VR in Vocational Education and Training: Evaluating Effectiveness and Efficacy by TAFE NSW.
VR Healthcare of the Year
- Fundamental Surgery and @Home by Fundamental VR.
- Galderma Interactive Anatomy (GIA) VR anatomy experience by Sector 5 Digital.
- Health Scholars ACLS VR simulation trainings.
- Blood identification VR by Make Real and NHS.
- Oxford Medical Simulation’s Interprofessional experience.
- The PeriopSim surgical training and assessment tool by Conquer Experience.
- Oxford VR for social engagement for mental health.
- The Trauma Simulator by Exonicus.
Out-of-Home VR Entertainment of the Year
- Damage Control, a contribution to the MARVEL Avengers world by The VOID and ILMxLAB.
- Virtual reality snorkeling experience DIVR by Ballast and Sub Sea Systems.
- Ghost Patrol VR game by Vertigo Arcades and CrazyBunch.
- HOLOGATE’s racing and flying simulation system BLITZ.
- Reverse the Curse, The VOID’s contribution to the Jumanji universe.
- OTHERWORLD, the “free-roam VR island paradise” by The Dream Corporation.
- ParadropVR City Flyer by Frontgrid.
- The Blu: Deep Rescue, the underwater adventure by Wevr.
- The Universal Monsters Presents: Bride of Frankenstein ride by REWIND and Holoride.
VR Social Impact Award
- Alcove, the “family corner in VR” by AARP Innovation Labs.
- Galeriku, the “VR museum like no other” by Entropia.
- VR project Lessons of Auschwitz, a student group’s VR tribute made available by RT.
- Some Inattention On The Left, an immersive documentary by East City Films and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
VR Enterprise Solution of the Year
- British Airways First Class VR interactive experience by Neutral Digital.
- BRP-Rotax VR Job Assessment tool by MEDIASQUASH.
- Enduvo platform for creating virtual reality training.
- Immersive Collaboration Platform (ICP) by Accenture.
- The US Airforce Flight Simulator by VRgineers.
- The Virtual Enterprise Platform by Immerse.
Another Event Online
While it is a shame that the VR Awards can’t happen in person this year, it seems fitting that a VR awards ceremony should take place in VR. And, like many remote events this year, it seems likely that having the event remotely will allow more people than ever to attend.
