VR Goalkeeping: Experience the Thrill of Veszprém Arena

Progressive BEX agency, working with Deutsche Telekom, approached us with a concept for a Virtual Reality game. Their goal was to give fans the sensation of being in the goal at the Veszprém Arena, attempting to block shots from their favorite players.

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Upon donning the VR glasses, users were transported onto the pitch in front of a goal within the Veszprém Arena. They could choose from three difficulty levels: "Beginner," "Youth," or "Professional." Each level required the user to block five shots before progressing to the next. These shots were taken by Veszprém's professional players, such as Máté Lékai, Blaz Blagotins, and Marguc Gasper, and were recorded using a 360-degree camera.

A key challenge we faced was defining the interaction for saving shots. Users had to touch the same area in the virtual space at the exact moment and location as the ball in the video to successfully block a shot. To assist users in making more successful saves, we included markers in the virtual space. These markers predicted the trajectory of the ball based on the chosen difficulty level. Throughout the game, users heard familiar sounds like the chants of "Veszprém! Veszprém!" and other effects, enhancing the realism of the experience.

The VR game debuted on February 24, 2019, at the Telekom Veszprém – HC Meshkov Brest Handball Champions League match. Fans had the opportunity to try the game before, after, and during the match, further immersing themselves in the experience of being a goalkeeper for their favorite team. This project demonstrates the innovative use of Virtual Reality technology to create engaging and immersive experiences for sports fans.