Virtual Reality, in its current form is a very new innovation with the first headsets being released about three years ago. Since then it has grown exponentially in popularity and availability to consumers, with companies like Oculus leading the charge in bringing Virtual Reality to gamers worldwide.
There are multiple different types of games available on VR platforms today but one that stands out due to its userbase size and general high amount of entertainment value is VR Chat. VR Chat allows for people to play online multiplayer games with each other in an open world environment which they can explore, socialize in, interact with others etc.
Understanding the Importance of Characters in VR Chat
The most popular game in VR Chat is called Roleplay. This allows people to place characters in their own worlds, which they design with items they can buy or win at certain gaming tables around the space. These avatars are very important because it is through these that players communicate with each other and form friendships/relationships in-game.
You can buy premade avatars that are very popular, or you can design your own. This is where the marketer’s edge comes into play. You could purchase an avatar that looks like you and interact with others in-game to advertise your product/service. This is highly successful because VR Chat has millions of users who are constantly logging in to play with each other. This makes it prime real estate for marketers because you can deliver your message to a captive audience that is highly engaged in what they are doing.
The second reason why this works so well is because if people like your avatar, they’re more likely to listen to what you have to say about your product/service. Some people use their avatar to roleplay as something else entirely. They might make themselves look like an orc, or a dragon, but they still communicate with other players using text chat.
What Software Do I Need?
There are multiple different software applications out there for putting your own content into VR Chat (See here ). The most popular of these are VRChat Customiser and VR Model Viewer. Both are free to use but have certain limitations on how many avatars you can create/use, whereas the Customiser requires a subscription fee of $5 per month if you want unlimited access.
How Can My Avatar Be Used for Marketing Purposes?
There are multiple different ways your avatar can be used for marketing but most people prefer to use their avatar in the same way that they would a business card. If someone likes you, or finds your avatar attractive/interesting, they’ll want to learn more about you.
How to Upload Characters to Vrchat
To upload your character, you will need to go through the process of setting up a VR Chat account (Found here ) and then import/export models into that account. This is actually fairly easy once you know how and we’ll go through it step-by-step below:
1.) Download one of the applications mentioned above (We’re going to use VR Model Viewer)
2.) Once installed, open your application and click on the “File” menu option at the top of the window. On that screen select “Import” then choose the .obj model you would like to upload into VR Chat from wherever you saved it on your computer. This will import a file for a basic character.
3.) This will have created a new avatar for you in VR Chat so go ahead and switch to that application now. In the bottom-left corner of the screen there will be a small cogwheel button. Click it and select “Add New” then choose your imported model from wherever you saved it on your computer. This should add it to your list of avatars in VR Chat so you can use it immediately.
4.) You may see that the eyes on your avatar are missing or there’s no body, this is fine because these will be hidden when the model is applied in-game.
Conclusion
VRChat is one of the largest social VR spaces and it’s also free to use which makes it a very attractive option as a marketing platform. If you’re still unsure as to whether this would be suitable for you or not, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to talk things through with you.