POOLS VR - Chapter 2: Statues, Slides & Scares
1#virtualreality #gaming #vr
One of the scariest and coolest experiences I've had in VR so far, and this is only the first chapter.
Walking simulator. Explore, admire and listen. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. No monsters chasing you or jumping towards at your screen, but can feel oppressive at times by invoking fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and liminal space architecture. Inspired by backrooms.
A liminal space is a transitional area between two places or states, such as between the past and the future, or between one destination and another. Liminal spaces can be physical, emotional, or psychological.
Examples of liminal spaces
Places: Empty or abandoned spaces, such as airports, hallways, and streets
Life events: Job loss, or other transitions that involve uncertainty or discomfort
Architecture: Ballparks, which can be designed to blur the boundaries between the fan and the player
Characteristics of liminal spaces
Eerie, dreamlike, or surreal
Ambiguous, with layering, dissolution, and blurring
Can evoke feelings of melancholy or nostalgia
Can be transformative, leading to heightened awareness of the space
Psychological significance
Liminal spaces are essential to personal growth and resiliency. They can be times of uncertainty and discomfort, but they can also lead to heightened awareness and a sense of transformation.
Etymology
The word "liminal" comes from the Latin word limen, which means threshold.