Chernobyl VR is by far one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the Polish development studio, Farm 51. It transports you to Chernobyl and Pripyat, providing a closer look at the before and after scenes of the ravaged areas hit by the worst nuclear disaster ever.
In 2015, Tech Times reported on how the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was set to become a virtual reality game that allows people to visit the historical ruins in Ukraine. Such is the power of VR technology that anybody owning a VR headset could be cruising around the area that have been off-limits to most people for so long.
The game is slated for release on the Oculus Rift in June. However, on April 26, which marks the 30th anniversary of the disaster, the Chernobyl VR Project unveiled a brand new 360-degree video that provides a sneak peek into the design and graphics of its latest creation.
The company has also disclosed that it will send a slice of the sales proceeds to the charities supporting the victims, which has been fixed at 20 percent of purchases at $19.99, 30 percent of purchases at $29.99, and 60 percent of purchases at $49.99.
The Farm 51 CEO Wojciech Pazdur has decided to add the charitable component to the otherwise simple commercial project after seeing the overwhelming response it received from the people. How people have taken the project indicates the importance and interest the topic still garners.
With an aim to reach out to the population who were personally affected by the disaster, the company has roped in prominent public figures like Svetlana Alexievich, author of Chernobyl Prayer and Nobel Prize winner, and Vitali Klitschko, famous boxer who's now the Mayor of Kiev.
"In association with the Polish-Ukrainian Open Dialog Foundation and other organizations and individuals, we will select groups to support (10, 30, or 60 percent of sales profit, depending on the application version)," said the developers.
Pazdur also hopes that such a move will not only help the victims, but also provide a social and educational angle to the project.
The Farm 51 has currently teamed up with the likes of Global Ukraine, The Human Rights Information Center, Ukraine Image Agency, Kiev City Council, and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
