Holovis, creators of technologies for the enterprise, entertainment, and simulation sectors, has announced a multi-million minority investment from Hong Kong listed corporation Road King Investment and Asset Management Group Limited.
“This significant investment will allow Holovis to grow more strategically, particularly in the Far East, whilst maintaining our market leadership position in delivering unique, innovation-led solutions for our global clients,” said Holovis CEO Stuart Hetherington. “We will also be deepening and extending our innovation pipeline bringing new and exciting products to market in the next 12 months. With our new partner investor, our Far East operation will also significantly expand across all market sectors, as well as integrating Holovis experiences into Road King’s existing and new real estate projects they own and operate across China.”
In order to deliver opportunities across China, Road King has expanded its investment division’s focus and brought together specialist technology companies – such as Holovis – to work alongside other complimentary businesses within their portfolio.
“This partnership with Holovis, along with our other technology investments, brings a unique capability to Road King’s vision and strategy in designing and building the next-generation of visitor attractions and public venue experiences in the Far East.” said William Zen, chairman of Road King. “This investment also supports and underpins Holovis and Road King’s plans to expand into the Chinese Enterprise and Simulation markets, which are both showing strong year-on-year growth opportunities.”
In other news, Holovis have worked with Alton Towers to create the Wicker Man, designing and delivering all elements of the multisensory experience of the park’s first wooden coaster.
Holovis worked with Merlin Magic Making, modelling the site and experience in RideView – the company’s proprietary visualisation suite which takes place in a cave. This is a five-sided structure where all walls feature 3D projection mapping allowing multidiscipline teams from designers to engineers and stakeholders to explore the scenes in a 1:1 scale and in real-time.
Holovis also used augmented reality to track a model of the coaster and show its operation and flow of guests, and for the immersive media experience itself Holovis worked alongside MMM to conceptualise and script the preshow.
AV elements, including projection mapping, began on-site at the Holovis Demonstration Campus filming scenes and capturing vocals in the green screen and audio studio with full post production and mixing.
Onsite, surround audio and immersive media feature throughout the queue line, preshow, station loading zone, enclosed sections, exit, and within the Wicker Man structure. Holovis also programmed all the SFX, including pyrotechnics synchronised throughout the experience.
“Immersive pre and post show scenes have now become a staple of the traditional rollercoaster experience, extending the thrill of the ride from just a few minutes to something that guests will remember, talk about and share for years to come.” said Peter Cliff, creative director at Holovis. “This has been a phenomenal project for Holovis and a great example of the company’s turnkey capability, with our artists, software developers and engineering teams all working together to deliver this spectacular experience, which we hope guests will enjoy as much as we do.”
