MANILA, Philippines – It might not be as immersive as the fictional AmuSphere or NerveGear technology in Sword Art Online, but if you've ever wanted to set foot in a virtual world, IBM Japan is taking applications for a new virtual reality project based on the Sword Art Online media series.
Called Sword Art Online: The Beginning, the project wants to bring the virtual world of the light novel, manga, and anime into reality.
According to Gematsu, the project uses a next-generation computing system called the Cognitive System which will reportedly support human decision making. The project will also make use of SoftLayer, IBM's cloud system, to recreate the ambiance of the real world within virtual reality.
Reki Kawahara, author of the Sword Art Online series, calls the initiative "completely different from any game experience so far."
IBM Japan will be taking applications for a prototype alpha test to be held between March 18 and 20 in Tokyo, with 208 applicants to be accepted. – Rappler.com