In partnership with NYVR, NYC Media Lab and Littlstar, LoNyLa (London-NY-LA)/TimeWave launches the VR Hackathon, hosted by the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University (NYU). Current sponsors include EEVO, Fake Love, Freedom 360, Leap Motion, Littlstar, Oculus, Unity and VISR.

The VR Hackathon will provide a lab environment for the experimentation and innovation of virtual reality – experiences, storytelling and games. The intense two-day format enables people with diverse skillsets to come together, conjure up and prototype concepts for virtual reality and other immersive technologies.

Theme: Mythos & Moxie. While technology progresses at an accelerated rate, the tenets of story remain the same. Story allows us to glimpse universal truths and leads us to self discovery. We encourage hackathoners to probe VR with an eye on storytelling and taking users on an emotional journey. We also support media creators with moxie - courage. Try things that have yet to be tried.

Ken Perlin, founder of the NYU Media Research Lab and professor of Computer Science at NYU, will launch the hackathon with a presentation on shared VR space. The Littlstar development team will address VR distribution as well as how to develop, upload and stream VR on the Littlstar platform. Tom Harding, Director of Immersive Products & Virtual Reality at Samsung, and Joergen Geerds, CEO/Creative Director of Freedom 360, will also be speaking. Their presentations will take place on Friday Mega Meet Up (July 10th), hosted by the Samsung Studio, Soho.

Awards will be given to outstanding Projects as judged by seasoned professionals in media, entertainment and immersive technology. In addition, the best VR projects will be featured on the Littlstar platform for a week after the hackathon.

Post-hackathon wrap-up:

EIGHTEEN TEAMS created a wide range of rather stunning VR, AR and DeepDream/AI projects. Please see all of the hacker teams and projects at VR Hackathon NY: Hacker Teams.

http://timewavefestival.com/hackathon-hackerteams.html

Prizes were awarded to FIVE TEAMS for a total of $2500. For a complete list of awards, please visit: VR Hackathon NY: Awards.

http://timewavefestival.com/hackathon-awards.html

The VR Hackathon operates under the umbrella of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

To sign up: visit VR Hackathon! 

$1,000 in prizes

ELIGIBILITY

Teams of 1-7 can register to attend the event. We're accepting people with diverse skills - designers, artists, filmmakers, creative coders, theatre directors, etc. - to VR Hackathon NY. However, you must be a maker of some kind and actively involved in creating VR.

Come with the concept or idea, but not completed code.  All projects must be built from scratch during the hackathon.

REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for judging each team must present a functioning VR prototype or presentation of a VR concept.  All work must be completed by 5:30 pm on Sunday July 12, 2015.  Submissions must follow all criteria outlined in the VR Hackathon NY rules section.

• Originality of Concept
  Given that VR is an emerging new medium, the originality of your VR concept is turnkey. In concert with the theme of the hackathon, judges will also consider how the VR prototype or blueprint serves, innovates or enhances story/narrative.
• Sweetness
  Hearkening back to the era of the Manhattan Project, scientists often termed beautiful and elegant solutions as technically "sweet." How elegant and compelling is the VR project from both an aesthetic and technical point of view? How "sweet" is your VR?
• Relevance
  Because sponsors have designated prize categories, judges will evaluate projects according to the categories. Keep in mind that the categories relate to hackathon's theme. How relevant is your VR prototype to a particular prize category?