ON!X™ Theater - Live On, Play On, Game On
The Power of Play
More than two billion people on the planet play video games. The number of gamers around the world has grown exponentially in the last ten years and will continue to do so. Children and adults alike seek interactive adventures and new challenges daily on a multitude of devices, such as their phones, high-end consoles, and personal computers. Falcon’s is well aware of these staggering numbers and the level of saturation that gaming has reached in the marketplace. That’s why we’ve been developing experiences that provide theme park guests with a similar level of interactivity and discovery, but it’s beyond what they expect when they step into a cinematic environment.
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write about ON!X™ Theater. This revolutionary product infuses the traditional 4D theater experience with all the nuances and intricacies of a top-tier video game to create powerful and meaningful engagement.
The Technology Behind the Magic
ON!X™ Theater is an interactive gaming environment designed for audiences of all sizes and high throughput. Our goal was to bring the newest advancements in modern gaming technology to the ON!X™ product to ensure that the experience stays fresh and engaging during each and every show. To do this, ON!X™ Theater utilizes a fully interactive real-time system to control the action. It’s powered by industry-leading technology that’s behind the most popular current and next-generation titles. With this system, we can ensure that every person has agency to direct the outcome of the action and even change the narrative.
Each bank of seats in ON!X™ Theater includes motion base actuation, an onboard audio setup, and a wide range of air, water, and lighting effects. All theater seats are controlled by the real-time game system, which means special effects, haptics, and sound are directly tied to each individual player's actions. To illustrate this point, imagine a player earns a more impressive ability because they collected a power-up. The seat will then rumble and activate a combinationof special effects tied to the direct use of that new power.
We have moved away from the traditional beam-based point-and-shoot method found in many arcade games and interactive attractions. Instead, we’ve integrated a full 3D tracking system that not only identifies the individuals present in each seat but also the orientation of their input device in real-world space. This opens amazing new avenues of interaction where we can change gameplay depending on where someone is in the room and how they decide to hold their controller. For example, a guest starts with a magic wand that can be flicked to cast brilliant spells, but then, they put their fist up in a defensive stance and are rewarded with a powerful shield to ward off enemy attacks! This control system harkens back to playing pretend as a child and invokes the power of imagination, coupled with world-class visuals and gameplay.
An Evolving Platform
Our 3D tracking system allows owners of the ON!X™ system to get hyper-advanced metrics for every individual seated in the theater. They can decipher how many people react to a certain action, how precise their actions are, and which players affected the story the most. This data can be used not only for daily throughput metrics but also to dynamically change the game over time to favor elements that bring the guests more enjoyment. For instance, if you find that more players use a certain power-up, you can easily increase the drop-rate of that specific power-up in the game world. All the dynamic elements can be tailored to maximize fun and amplify the excitement and satisfaction.
We are certain that hardcore gamers looking for a challenge will immediately answer the call, and those with a more adventurous spirit will be swept up and entranced by the ability to affect the world around them.
At Falcon’s, we constantly challenge the norms and uncover the best ways to innovate.. We know that the modern theme park guest desires unforgettable experiences, and we truly believe that ON!X™ Theater will deliver exactly that…and then some.
Meet the Author
Andreas LaTourrette
Interactive Artist
Andreas is part of our innovative technical team that is making great strides in the world of AR/VR/MR entertainment. He has developed interactive media for several high-profile projects, proving that his skills can have an impact on projects by bringing to virtual life some of the most intricate natural environments.
