IBM of Japan Announces Sword Art Online Virtual Reality Project

It may not be for long for you to be wearing a nerve gear and get stuck in the Sword Art Online world battling your way out of the game to save your life because today IBM of Japan just announced a Virtual Reality MMORPG called Sword Art Online: The Beginning, in collaboration with Kadokawa, Bandai Namco, Apniplex and more, inspired by the popular anime series.

Check out the announcement trailer below!

This is certainly great news, I cannot wait to create my personalized dual blade avatar and get into the game only to be trapped there forever fighting my way out of the game while being threatened to have a fried brain by my nerve gear.

‘IBM announced today something rather interesting: Sword Art Online The Beginning Project, a “virtual MMO project” in collaboration with Kadokawa, Bandai Namco, Apniplex and more, inspired by the popular anime series.

Not much is known at the moment, besides the fact that the project uses IBM’s cloud computing tech SoftLayer, and aims to explore the idea of using cognitive computing (the simulation of human thought processes in a computerized model) for the future of gaming.

Apparently, the prototype utilizes body motions to control movement in game. The protagonists of the anime Kirito and Asuna are also involved in some form, retaining their original voice actors.

The project, that has a teaser website and a trailer that you can see below, is recruiting 208 alpha tester in the Tokyo metropolitan area for a test to be held between March 18th and March 20th.”