Introduction to Ancient Egypt in Virtual Reality
Some 4,500 years ago, ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramid of Giza—the best pyramid the world had ever seen. You can now walk through their pyramid without ever leaving New York City, because of a brand new virtual reality experience called Horizon of Khufu. This revolutionary experience offers a probability to travel miles away and back in time.
Trying Out the Experience
On a cold February afternoon, I got a probability to try the experience created by virtual reality entertainment company Excurio and held at Eclispo. It was my first brush with virtual reality, and I wasn’t sure what to anticipate. As someone who gets seasick, I used to be especially nervous. But I ended up having fun with the journey, learning so much, and even being charmed by the virtual characters I met along the way in which.
How the Experience Works
Closing the door at 555 West 57th Street against the wind, I entered what looked like an office constructing and was asked to sign a waiver for the experience. That didn’t help my nervousness, but I persevered for journalism’s sake. Soon, I used to be outfitted with a VR headset and given some explanation of methods to use it. I didn’t realize that the headset would completely take over my entire field of view. For safety, I could see other patrons, rendered as white orb-like figures, to be sure we didn’t bump into one another.
Exploring the Pyramid
After my initial disorientation, I spotted there was nothing left for me to do but fully get into the experience. I could feel my Apple Watch buzzing with notifications, but I blissfully had to disregard it. Instead, I allowed myself to lean in and discover this world of forbidden corridors, ancient hieroglyphs, and interesting customs under the reign of Pharaoh Khufu. I used to be greeted by a friendly virtual guide, an Egyptologist who taught me about this magnificent pyramid and led me inside its partitions.
The Realism of the Experience
The experience was so realistic, I discovered myself stepping with trepidation over the rocky, uneven ground in my line of sight. Intellectually, I knew the ground was actually a flat expanse in a Manhattan constructing, but my brain couldn’t help but be lured into believing we were climbing over craggy rocks. When it was time to climb right into a low, narrow passageway, I discovered myself bowing my head to "fit through."
The Journey Through Ancient Egypt
After wandering across the pyramid, I looked in awe on the intricate tombs of Pharaoh Khufu and the majestic Giza Necropolis. Eventually, I boarded a ship for a journey across the Nile, attended a mummification ceremony, and experienced the somber occasion of King Khufu’s final rites. I’ll spare among the details to avoid spoilers.
Technical Aspects of the Experience
Horizon of Khufu takes over a ten,000-square-foot interactive space. Given the headset, it was hard to inform exactly how much ground I covered in the course of the exhibition, but I do know I used to be in motion for much of the 45-minute expedition. During the journey, I needed to readjust my headset just a few times when the photographs became a bit blurry. Once, I lost the virtual guide and needed to get assistance from an actual human to assist me recalibrate and find my way.
Conclusion
As the experience got here to an end, I used to be shocked by how quickly 45 minutes had passed. I could have stayed in that virtual world even longer, learning and exploring in a state of suspended reality. If you need to test it out, tickets are on sale now, starting from $34-$44/adult depending on the date of your visit. Children, students, and military members get discounted admission. This is an experience you will not need to miss, offering a novel and immersive approach to explore ancient Egypt without leaving New York City.
