LA COMIC CON | Robot Sea Monster

Project

LA Comic Con SuperFan Mall

Platform

Web and Mobile

Technologies

Virtual Reality, KRPano, AWS, React Redux, Unity

Project Overview

When the pandemic of 2020 threatened to cancel LA Comic Con, organizers recognized the need for a digital solution beyond simply transposing the physical event online. They sought to create an engaging, immersive digital experience that would capture the essence of a physical in-person convention. Robot Sea Monster Games developed a virtual reality platform, to replicate the convention experience and allow vendors to sell merchandise online.

Completed in March 2021, the SuperFan Mall allowed vendors and fans to navigate easily in an immersive experience, complete with distinct sections for comics, anime, and artist alleys.

Key Features

Five distinctively-themed hallways : Immerse users in a virtual convention environment with visually engaging and uniquely designed hallways representing different aspects of pop culture.
Content management system (CMS) : Empowers LA Comic Con to effortlessly manage and update vendor information, ensuring a dynamic and up-to-date experience for users.
Google Street View-style navigation : Provides users with a familiar and intuitive way to explore the virtual space, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.
Web and mobile accessibility : Ensures the platform can be enjoyed by a wide audience across various devices, maximizing reach and engagement.
Distinct sections for comics, anime, and artist alleys : Recreates the familiar layout of a physical convention, allowing users to easily navigate to their areas of interest.
Immersive VR experience (planned) : Offers an even more realistic and engaging experience for users with VR headsets, further blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds.
Traditional 2-D shopping experience : Provides a user-friendly alternative for those who prefer a classic online shopping interface.
Unified shopping cart across multiple vendors : Streamlines the purchasing process, allowing users to add items from various vendors to a single cart and complete their transaction with ease.

The Solution

Virtual Convention Experience : Designed and developed the LA Comic Con SuperFan Mall, a virtual reality platform featuring five distinctively-themed hallways accessible through any web browser.
Immersive VR Option : Developed a planned virtual reality version for users with VR headsets, offering a heightened sense of presence and immersion.
Traditional Shopping Experience : Incorporated a 2-D online shopping experience accessible via a drop-down menu, providing a familiar interface for browsing vendor listings and products.
Unified Shopping Cart : Enabled customers to add items from multiple vendors to a single shopping cart, streamlining the checkout process.
Content Management : Implemented a CMS, empowering the LA Comic Con team to manage and update vendor information efficiently.
Intuitive Navigation : Utilized Google Street View-style navigation for a seamless user experience across web and mobile.

The Results

Successful Online Sales : The platform facilitated vendor merchandise sales, complementing the physical event in 2021.
Enhanced User Experience : Fans enjoyed an accessible and engaging virtual convention experience, replicating the feel of navigating a real-life convention hall, with the added flexibility of choosing between immersive VR and traditional 2-D shopping.
Efficient Management : The CMS empowered LA Comic Con to manage and update vendor information easily.
Vendor Success : The platform offered vendors a valuable year-round sales channel.

The Challenge

Online Transition : Transitioning merchandise sales to an online platform while maintaining the convention experience.
Accessibility and Navigation : Ensuring the platform was easy to use across devices, focusing on intuitive navigation.
Operational Flexibility : Providing LA Comic Con with tools to manage and update vendor information easily.
Authentic Convention Experience : Creating a digital experience that genuinely captures the essence of a physical convention.