THE MOON CRUISE

THE MOON CRUISE is a free-roaming VR experience in a space-themed experience facility, Space Travelium TeNQ in Tokyo, that takes visitors on an immersive journey to the moon, offers them a view of Earth from space, and the opportunity to walk on the lunar surface and take photos they can download as souvenirs.

STYLY Inc. was tasked with an ambitious brief to create a VR experience that simulates the universe, all within the existing architecture. To achieve this, Audio Visual Communications Ltd., the integrator, installed Powersoft’s Mover transducers, as well as Quattrocanali and Duecanali amplifiers to simulate a rocket launch and a lunar exploration and transform a limited physical space into boundless virtual environment.

To deliver an unforgettable sensory experience with sound, vibration and VR visuals, five Mover ID transducers are installed into bench seats, delivering powerful vibrations of replicating the low frequency from the BEC IC-120 speakers to create a cohesive audio-tactile effect. MoverIDs are powered by Quattrocanali 1204 DSP and Duecanali 804 DSP amplifiers. This setup ensures a realistic rocket launch experience by combining audio and tactile feedback with virtual reality content to create an immersive journey to the moon.

For the content design, STYLY Inc. emphasised the importance of the journey visitors take on foot to their destination. The narrative centres around travelling to the moon, focusing particularly on the path to the lunar surface. By emphasising the impact and experience at the departure point, it makes the visual-only walking on the lunar surface afterward feel more realistic. Since the entire facility provides a learning experience, the content encourages the visitors to reflect and act independently, rather than only focusing on the story. This approach provides an experience that truly feels like visitors are exploring space and taking action.

During an actual rocket launch, unimaginable vibrations and energy from the loud noise would impact the body. Mover, which vibrates with the sound source and transmits vibrations in sync with the powerful sounds, linked with the visuals, makes it possible to create an experience that feels as if visitors are launching into space.

Creating a convincing rocket launch experience in a confined and low-maintenance environment originally posed some challenges. Traditional large-scale motion platforms were impractical due to their size, maintenance requirements and safety concerns and it was necessary to take a different approach by designing new, easy-to-maintain fixtures and combining them with Mover.

Another challenge was achieving an immersive audio-visual-tactile synchronisation. Mover’s ability to integrate seamlessly with the Quattrocanali and Duecanali amplifiers allowed for precise sub-harmonic reproduction, eliminating the need for additional equipment. This ensured that visitors experienced synchronised vibrations, sound, and visuals, heightening the realism of the launch sequence.

THE MOON CRUISE demonstrates how technology can redefine immersive visitor experiences. Powersoft’s Mover transducers, Quattrocanali and Duecanali amplifiers played a crucial role in bringing the sensation of space travel to life. This install created a level of realism by letting audiences feel the sound through haptic perception through vibrating the surrounding environment, which the human body picks up, and through bone conduction that stimulates the inner ear, translating the vibrations into perceivable frequencies.

The free-roaming (walking around) VR experience is first to be permanently installed on such a large scale and it stands out due to its approach to integrate tactile feedback for enhanced immersion and the collaboration between Powersoft, STYLY Inc. and Audio Visual Communications Ltd. By successfully overcoming technical and space constraints, THE MOON CRUISE sets a new level for immersive attractions worldwide.

From liftoff to lunar landing, Powersoft’s technology ensures that every visitor can get on a gravity-defying adventure, proving that sky is not the limit when it comes to immersive AV installations.