Wouldn’t it be nice to come home from a long, stressful day and put on glasses that could transport you to a world that you control? Steven Spielberg’s newest movie, Ready Player One, brings audiences into the near future, where the general public enter a virtual reality world, called OASIS to escape their harsh realities. Players can go anywhere, do anything, and be anyone! The only limits are a player’s imagination. The creator of the virtual reality (VR) world, “OASIS,” has left the control of the VR creation and his fortune to the winner of a contest, designed to find a worthy heir. The reality-bending treasure hunt becomes one of discovery and danger for Wade Watts and his friend, as they save “OASIS,” and their world.

The film, opening at The Prospector Theater on Wednesday night, appeals to nostalgia, like the vast adventure movies of the 80s, but also to those who are interested in how technology is steadily becoming part of human existence.

Virtual reality and augmented reality are two digital entertainment worlds that are beginning to connect men and women from all over the world. The technology itself is connecting gaps and building bridges, with gaming, education, and interaction.

The Prospector Theater is learning and experimenting with these worlds through their state of the art technology, including two high-speed gaming computers and three Oculus Rifts. The Oculus Rift is creating the possibility to experience anything, anywhere, in its VR world.

Ryan Wenke, Director of Operations at the Prospector, appreciates the cutting edge technology of VR since it allows anyone to join a world where people can play and learn without consequence.

“At the Prospector, our goal is to use technology in a way that allows Prospects and our guests to learn and have experiences that one may not be able to have due to accessibility.  We never want to take away from meaningful interactions that occur between Prospects and our guests in person, but this technology can enhance our training and help break down barriers.  For example, with VR, a person in a wheelchair can now experience the thrill of a rollercoaster.” says Wenke.

“One day, you will be able to test drive a car in VR, before you purchase it,” Wenke mentions, “or learn about any product you may want to see or hear before you buy it.”

The Prospects will host a VR/AR demo on Friday, March 30th starting at 5PM. The demo will feature a local scientist, Jerry Nash, who is also passionate about the emerging digital worlds. Please join us! To learn more about The Prospector Theater’s mission, please visit www.prospectortheater.org.