[itvt] is pleased to present an audio recording of a TVOT 2015 Grand Finale session, "The Reality of Virtual Reality." The session, which was organized and moderated by Brian Seth Hurst, Managing Partner of StoryTech, was described in the show brochure as follows:

"With the arrival of the Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard; with the holiday season promising the Valve/HTC Vive powered by SteamVR, to be followed by Oculus Rift in Q1 2016 and Sony's Morpheus by Q2; and with FOVE, billed as "The World's First Eye Tracking Virtual Reality Headset," seeing a highly successful Kickstarter campaign--it seems that VR, after years in the lab, has finally arrived.

Yet, while development is fast-moving, challenges remain for the industry. Now that the tools are being refined, what about the artistry of immersive, forward-moving narrative, the convergence of game and story, the responsibility for the safety of the consumer, and the business models? How are the game developers and Hollywood studios responding, and what are the true opportunities presented in entertainment, journalism, education, tourism, medicine and more? This session will bring together leading creatives and other key figures from the Virtual Reality space to discuss the current state of, and future prospects for, this rapidly emerging medium." Panelists included:
Shannon Gans, CEO, New Deal StudiosArthur van Hoff, Founder and CTO, JauntBrian Seth Hurst, Managing Partner, StoryTech (Moderator)David Marlett, Founder, CinemersiaRobert Nashak, COO SurviosHelen Situ, Virtual Reality Evangelist, NextVRBrent Young, President and Creative Director, Super 78 Studios