Google wants you to experience 3D virtual reality so much, they found a way for you to do it with just a piece of cardboard and a magnet. Sounds weird right? Here’s how they did it:
At the 2015 Google I/O event, Google handed everyone a little cardboard kit which they promised would turn their Android Gadgets into a 3D virtual reality world. After unpacking and folding the cardboard, it transforms into a virtual reality headset. Insert your phone into the handy harness and let the games begin! Viewing the screen through the eyepieces in the headset, users are presented with stereoscopic images that, when coordinated with the gyroscopic sensors in the device, create a virtual reality illusion. A simple magnet on the side of the headset acts as a switch to interact with the phone without having to touch it directly. Project Cardboard has widened the audience for VR, opening the door for countless app developers to jump into the market. Here are the 10 best apps available right now on Google Play specifically created for Cardboard.
Of course, Google was not going to leave you without an app to test out your new 3D world. The Carboard app introduces you to VR through a variety of demos including YouTube, Google Earth, Tour Guide, and a little animation called Windy Day. When wanting to venture into the VR 3D world, this is the place to start.
If you are a fan of this Beatles legend, then you can enjoy a VR performance thanks to the Cardboard experience. You will need a phone with a minimum 5-inch display, but it is guaranteed to be a 3D show like none other.
Ever wanted to travel the world and experience exotic landscapes? Orbulus will take you there without breaking the bank. This is an app that lets you visit some of the most scenic places in the world, from beaches to museums to beautiful nature shots. You will literally feel like you are on the beach or watching the Northern Lights yourself.
If you get bored with all those terrestrial locales in Orbulus and want to take a virtual tour of outer space, then this is the app for you. Your guide will explain the sites as you float among the planets and stars in this surreal environment.
For those wanting more than a 3D tour, Proton Pulse gives you a chance to test your VR gaming skills. In a diabolical game of atomic paddleball, guide your energy proton through 50 action packed levels to victory and destroy the evil M.O.A.I.
Ready for a little mystery? Head for the Sisters app! Watch your step around this house of horrors as you dive into the creepy ghost story of the Sisters. This app is currently a demo, but tons of users have already been hailing it as one of the scariest VR experiences ever.
Feel the adrenalin rush in this roller coaster ride as it maneuvers through a tropical island. You will feel as if you are on an actual ride at the amusement park.
Imagine finding yourself seated on a chair in a room and it is up to you to figure out how you got there by taking a look around. The eerie sounds and mysterious objects as you move around makes this VR app worth a try.
This VR game transforms you into Lamper, a little bug which is fleeing to safety after his home is attacked. You will gain points along the way as you dodge obstacles as you try to get to the other side.
Fans of the classic game Aaaaa! can now enjoy it in VR 3D. Jump from buildings and score points as you make your way down. Stunts and glides with the occasional cheer from spectators will give you the thrill of your life on the way down.
To fully enjoy these apps, you’ll need Android 4.1 or higher, a large screen, and a nice pair of headphones. As more Cardboard-compatible apps are developed, they will come in more varieties and themes that will appeal to specific audiences. Some of these include the Mercedes VR app for car lovers, Elle Magazine’s app that takes you behind the scenes of one of their photoshoots and many others. So grab your Cardboard today and enjoy a Virtual Reality experience of your own.
