Big Rock Creative, Golden Apple Productions and Partikle Digital are teaming up for FanConXR, which is being billed as the first ever VR fan convention. Attendees will be able to access it via either on headset or a PC. And with more than 11 million VR headsets sold in 2021, there is obviously an audience for it.
The virtual event will be held September 24th – and even with live events coming back, there’s still a lot of interest in online events, and FanConXR hopes to fill that need with a full line-up of panels, guests and more.
And admission is FREE!
The event is being produced by Big Rock Creative, producers of an official Virtual Burning Man Experience, content experience thought leader Partikle Digital, and Los Angeles based Golden Apple Comics, known for its area signings and events.
Participants thus far include Aftershock Comics, Heavy Metal, and Stranger Comics, with creators and additional exhibitors to be announced in the coming weeks! OH and FULL DISCLOSURE, I will be moderating several panels for the event.
Why did I sign up to help out with this? Well, I like the people involved, and as much as I love live events, virtual events have their own advantages…and this one will be taking it much further than a Zoom room, with all the possibilities of virtual reality, including a lot more fan interaction. I’ve been intrigued by attempts at VR fan events, so I thought it would be educational to participate in one.
FanConXR’s origin is something of a family affair. “When most of us experience something transcendent, we naturally want to share it far and wide. After one visit to the virtual Burning Man space in 2020, I was blown away and sought to get other communities involved” says Kari Dietrich of Partikle Digital. “I immediately reached out to Kendra and Ryan Liebowitz of Golden Apple Comics, who just so happen to be my sister and brother-in-law. We met with Big Rock Creative’s Athena Demos and Doug Jacobsen, also a long-time friend, and together, we’re working to create a singular virtual con experience open to comic fans around the globe.”
Golden Apple’s Ryan and Kendra Liebowitz continued “We are so excited for people all over the world to visit our store virtually and have a con experience with other fans socially without any of the costs or lines but all the fun!”
Athena Demos and Doug Jacobsen of Big Rock Creative added “We are thrilled to bring our community and world building expertise in VR to convention goers around the world, and are certain they will say they truly have never experienced anything like it.”
FanConXR will take place on September 24, with exhibitors, Hollywood talent, and comic creators announcements coming. Attendees will be able to participate from either headset or laptop, easily set up through AltspaceVR and streaming through FanConXR’s YouTube page with programming running at various times throughout the event.
