I Went Clubbing in Virtual Reality: Raves of VRChat
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- Though virtual reality is a niche today, it might be the norm in the future. Meet the creatives that invented an underground dance scene in the metaverse.
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Using the platform VRChat, people can design unique worlds and avatars. These avatars can also track to a user's full body movements. With this new technology, dance scenes began to form in 2018 starting with the club Dance Dance VR. In this episode of Subcultured, Josef Lorenzo spends three weeks visiting these underground dance clubs: Shelter, Rizumu, Club O, Beat Syndicate and more! We also learn from the people that put these events together: Electro, Ru, Aliquem, 2TD, and Kye.
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00:00 Let Me Introduce You to the Clubs of VRChat
01:02 Understanding Virtual Reality and VRChat
02:00 How I Got Into the VR Club Scene
03:08 Meet Ru, a VR DJ and Musician
04:40 Why VR is a Safe Haven for the Queer Community
05:50 How These Metaverse Spaces Started
06:38 Understanding How VR Clubs Operate
07:23 How the Pandemic Caused VR to Grow
08:09 Experiencing the Immersive Club Called Shelter
09:30 Everything in this World is Made From Scratch
10:30 Why the Relationships in VR are Real
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#SubculturedPBS #VR #VirtualReality #Metaverse #VRChat best vrchat worlds audio description documentary descriptive audio vrchat rave
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As a creator that has been documenting VRChat via video for almost two years now, the best compliment I can possibly give this is that I'm jealous I didn't make it. This accurately (and perfectly!) captured the spirit of not just the VRC rave community, but the whole VRChat community. Rad stuff.
I’ve watched all of your videos and I watched them a lot while making this episode. You’re an inspiration and if anyone wants to learn more about this scene they should definitely check out your channel ✨✨
@@pbsvoices Thank you so much for the kind words!
Thank you Straz!! I love your documentaries, thank you so much for all you do for the community c:
Haven't watched this PBS video yet, but you're a pioneer, love your videos and I'm glad to see more people making videos about social VR
When the gawd Strasz compliments this, you know they did a good job!
Thank you Josef, Electro, PBS, and all my VR family. PBS has been a huge part of my life for 40+ years. I'm honestly humbled to be part of this, and show our world and family to everyone. Everyone is equal, and all are welcome. ♥
❤
Much love Ru!
We love you so much Ru!
This is such a breath of fresh air. You’re the only person I’ve seen take the time to understand our world inside VRChat from the outside. Most people who do “Metaverse” stories just focus on Meta and other corporate stuff, but you actually went to the people who LIVE in this community and highlighted what makes all of this so special to us! Really amazing 💙
Thank you Rys0n! That means a lot to me. I love meeting new people and trying to understand where they are coming from. I hope this video and other Subcultured episodes inspire others to do the same.
@@pbsvoices I entirely second Rys0n. This is probably the best outside reporting I've seen on VRChat and the real living breathing social VR scene that already exists. Far too many media sources give a report that's merely a half assed glance into something they plainly regard as an awkward curiosity, rather than actually going in and experiencing it properly. Too many talk about how "this will be the future" whilst showing embarrassing and soulless corporate looking avatars in motionless standing pose, or give air time to crypto hacks and scam artists.
VR-Chat isn't the scene that everyone would choose show to their parents, or fully compatible with a mainstream audience, but what you captured here is real and genuine. And that makes it some of the best reporting that the "metaverse" subject has had to date. Not an empty promise, not a sales pitch. Real people living their lives.
Thankyou.
Good to see a solid representation of VRChat. The VR clubbing community is incredible!
y'all are legends at Tube! I hope I can make it to a party soon. Thanks for watching
I was expecting to feel adverse or negative about this... But I actually think it's beautiful and creative. Humans will always find a way to find love and connection and that is a beautiful thing
I don't actually blame you for the negative pre-disposition. Far too much of the common talk around the "metaverse" subject is fake and hollow coming from trend chasing corporations or phoney opportunist investors and crypto heads. There's none of that here. The VR scene shown here, has been my home for the past 4 years, and it's all grass roots passion built by people for people, not for the sake of some corporate/monetary ambition. No one is going to try and shill you an NFT in VR-Chat, there's no imaginary currency, no advertising, and no surveillance or personal data mining. Personality, passion and talent is what drives this space.
You'll find few people who scoff at the "metaverse" talk more than the people here, because half of what these companies promise as being the "future" we've already been living for years, and are far ahead of. (Cue jokes about Meta claiming that having legs in VR is impossible)
@@UnknownSquid thank you for this response. It's interesting the direction the technology is taking and how people are rightfully reacting to it negatively as a result of corporate greed. It's nice to know that something organic that serves a real need and is art is happening. I'd love to DJ or dance along one day
"This is our metaverse, and nobody is stealing it"
What a line. The VR dance community is something else. I've learned to DJ through VR and went from doing small shows in VRChat to performing on-stage at conventions. Thank you Josef and PBS for telling our stories. And shoutout to Ru and TOTC, who were two of my inspirations to pick up DJing.
I've been DJing in the VRChat scene for over a year and ahalf now, and I cannot even begin to describe how it has changed my life, not only as a producer and a DJ, but as an individual. Some of the single greatest friends, colleagues, and talent I have ever met in my entire life. Thank you for sharing a little bit of our story! Can't wait to meet you at some point and dance with you!
Eyyy Tvpps!
@@LhunVideo ayyyyy
Tvppssiie
Hey yo Tvpps, I want to ask you about live DJing in vrc. Is there some way to reach out to you?
yoo I hope I manage to hop by one of your events! I have been chilling with the Nonstop crowd for a while but I want to experience more clubs as well
Finally, a news report about VRChat and VR culture that isn't saying it's taking over reality. I've been playing since day 1 of VRC and it's an amazing platform. I've learned how to make avatars in unity, learned sign language ASL and seen the deaf community grow, played D&D, went to bars/clubs with friends in the peek of the pandemic, meet some amazing people... it's just magic.
Sorry it took me a bit to respond. I was in complete denial of reality when this became something tangible. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to really explain everything that this means to us and what it is. And we love you for getting in the headset and living out some of those hours with us to really get an idea of it.
The lore, the community of creators, dancers, DJs as well as all the people who come to share these experiences with us are a big family who make this the amazing thing that it is.
Bless everyone for making this as great as it has come through the years. Thanks for being a part of our story and our legacy for years to come.
Electro, Ru. Krisu, VRC Devs and everyone who just simply comes to be with us, you helped us shape this into something wonderful. Jojo and your team with PBS thank you so much for helping us open this door to the world ♡♡♡♡
Another thing VR can be to people, is an accessibility aid, and a fascinating study into how accessibility concerns affect those who are in VR.
I was speaking today with someone who did most of his VR in a wheelchair. To me he appeared as any regular person would, able to interact and play games just like the rest of us.
That thought alone was really humbling and powerful.
It's so wonderful to see our community be portrayed to the outside world in such a good light. VRChat raves are truly something special to experience and we hope to see you soon!
Damn VRChat so hype even K Y L E knows you
Look mom! We're on PBS!
This video is awesome! Thanks PBS for featuring our community :) I just made a similar video feature on my channel, too.
Last month, me and fellow VR UA-camr Thrillseeker held a giant collab event at one of these clubs called TUBE. It ended up being the BIGGEST VRChat community event to-date with over 1700 users dancing along at the SAME time. So crazy!!
Hope more people get to see how exciting this scene is because of your video!
Hey Phia! I love your channel I’ve probably seen all of your videos I’m a big fan :) -josef
thank you for shining a light on our small and wonderful space
It was such an honor to help out on this episode! It turned out great, thank you so much Josef and PBS for showing your viewers our little VR community ☺
and thank you for representing our community
As an old nearly 50-year-old I envy you for the future that is creating itself when I was in my twenties and I would spend days playing early MMORPGs and reading cyberpunk books and thinking about what would the Cyber universe look like I am very happy that these communities are flourishing Mark Zuckerberg and his cronies will ruin what will be the metaverse I hope this community of ravers keep it growing in a grassroots home brewed with love and acceptance and not corporate greed
You are a very special person full of so much creativity!
Froggy car represent !
That part had me dying!
just found out you're the froggy car creator! you're a legend
Do you want to check out this scene yourself? You're invited to a VR rave on April 7th at 7pm EDT! For more information ua-cam.com/users/shortsA-lTYHJQgkw?feature=share There will be 6 hours of DJs and the cast and crew of the documentary will be there to hang out and dance.
All you need is a windows computer to join and the party is 18+.
AH BEANS I MISSED IT IT WAS TONIGHT OMG!?! XD
I was one of the first founding members of DDVR. I remember talking with Trigshot and Venerac and it came up "Hey, we started this new club thing last week, wanna join?" Up to that point there was no precedent for the VRC club scene. We literally wrote and pathed the way for the coolest VR experiences to date.
TOTC is one of my buds and his entire map was inspired by the psychedelic experience that was WaveVR before that platform got shut down. His map is the inspiration to continue that aesthetic. Building things that are physically impossible to create IRL.
VRChat, it's communities, and the friends and experiences I've made along my 5 year history of enjoying this new reality has literally changed my entire life permanently, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Man, TOTC did *such* a good job on that Deviate map. I show it to EVERYBODY. 🤘😎
The second I saw the concept of a virtual reality nightclub I'm like this place is gonna be full of trans people and furries I just know it!!! The Internet allowing us to transcend physical forms and enter a state of pure self expression is amazing! I'm FTM and I use gaming to cope a lot and basically live my life online where my circumstance doesn't matter because people only know me as who I choose to be it's so liberating!
That's beautiful. I love that it's a world where you can be anything. It really brings out the realness in people and the creativity is off the charts. people are amazing! -josef
What’s a “furrie”
@@bobnoxious3858 furries are people that like anthropomorphic animals.
@@bobnoxious3858 A furry is a member of a community of people who identify in some way with anthropomorphic animals. It is quite a large subculture. There are lots of furries in VRChat! :)
@@Thawah Furry means friendly in some parts where i live (yorkshire)
The comments here are packed with so many names and icons I recognize, thank you for doing this community a real solid for once, this is a good example in classic media of what it's really like "in here" for us. A lot of negativity and FUD around vr journalism in the last 6 months, and this is a breath of fresh air.
Oh to be two frogs driving in a car in a night club….. Wonderful episode Josef! We need 500 more of these at least!!
This was amazing. Thank you so much for taking an interest in the VRChat community and representing us in such an honest way.
Everyone who was featured in the video: you're all absolutely legends and I love you tons
Yes! Salute to those who put in the work to make it happen! 🤘😎
It's cool to see so many friends in the crowds!
❤
Such a well rounded and (for once) positive view of vrchat and the topic of "metaverse".
I love how you even presented everyone's story and how much vrchat changed their lives positively.
You basically rounded up everything I've been saying since 2017 about vr and vrchat and presented it amazingly!
This makes me want to get into the music scene of vrchat more now! 🤩
Thank you for the video!
Thank you for watching! I really appreciate it. I hope you'll come to our party tomorrow: ua-cam.com/users/shortsA-lTYHJQgkw?feature=share
Very well made episode! really enjoyed it! VRC is truly something special and im glad im part of it
This is definitely the best video I've seen on the VR rave community
For me the best part about the clubbing scene in VRC has been the ability to safely club from home. I live in an area where there are little to no clubs nearby and most that are nearby are not safe for women. so VRC gives me the chance to experience a club while being safe.
Amazing episode!
Thank you so much for taking the time to capture what this community is all about.
It really has been so much fun. Hope to see you around
After Strasz documentary about vrc rave scene i immediately downloaded VRC and started exploring the scene. Last 4 months changed my life for the better. This platform is amazing.
This is so cool seeing a great view of the vrchat club scene. Since I got introduced to the vrclub almost a year ago my music horizons have expanded and my nights have been filled with fun. Also really cool recognizing a bunch of people in the video.
this was such a respectfully tatsefull documentary. thank you so much for making it! this whole scene means the world to me and it was amazing getting to see my friends talk about it!
The reason this IS the metaverse is that it’s a free creative space created by the people that use it. Nothing can compete with that
Wanted to Point out few names and places that needs to be remembered since they were the spark for the foundation of the Dancing communities at the start.
When there was no Dancing communities, there were individuals that created what we would experience making us feel the spark of trying to help evolve the scene.
For 2018 Jan dancers or earlier, names as: Void Club, Club Aurora, Club Galaxy, Rogue Club (later but inspiring), Rave Robbie were our inspiration to know what it was the feel of been in this VR experience. Creators as Mochie / Lycon / Swiggity Swooty and the owners of those worlds were the first one giving the very first step to the foundation of clubs in VR, having playlists we would love, inspiring us to create a place where all people could get together on discord and make this events to happen.
From DanceDanceVR / Dirty Dancers / VRChat Party Community been the big steps ones
Allowed to evolve into Things as Elysium kmk, Just Party, Addiction Club, Serreality, Club Zodiac, Cannon Cove and more
And Nowadays we have huge scene provides as Orion Club, Rizumu, Ghostclub, Shellter, Loner, Vaultage, Calibrate, MVP, Slyfest, Muzz events, Tube VR, Club 808, L.I.T., Club Emission on Vket / Interconnection... And many more to know and be on board to create new experiences!
I feel so honored to even be a part of these communities and attend events. Like many other, idk where'd i'd be if I wasn't here. Truely amazing people
This is so beautiful. This makes me want to participate so badly! I’m a DJ and performer, but the pandemic has definitely made me more anxious going into physical spaces. I love the idea of being in the comfort and safety of your own home, while still being able to party with friends in an immersive virtual space.
I’ve been in VRChat for about 2 years but I’ve really started to get back into it. It is truly my favorite game ever. Combining VR with full body tracking gives me true immersion.
I’ve found some fantastic communities that I love being a part of. I’m close to comedy clubs and music rave clubs. Also hanging out with great friends is lit. It is honestly the most fun game/ social VR application I have ever played. I’ll never go back to flatscreen gaming.
Trolls do exist, but they do on every platform and game. Block them, report, mute, and move on. That’s what is best. Set your safety settings properly and you are all good to go. VRChat isn’t perfect and there is still some work needed to get it rock solid. But it’s been improving ever over time and will continue to do so.
Creating a custom avatar has been a pass time for myself. The process of adding new features, clothes, toys and accessories is so rewarding. Gives you a virtual identity.
Thanks for reading my speech
i love the vrc rave community! i’ve made so many close friends through working in it and to see it documented is phenomenal!
Yush, such a long journey and has evolved so much through the years.
Certainly seen it grow is exciting and open your mind lot!
And there is more story to tell about :3
Thank you for helping me and Electro with this story. Also thank you for your archival footage of OG dance parties
@@pbsvoices A pleasure, Always happy to tell my OG experience hahaha.
Bless you for always being there through it all ♡
@@aliquemlive8430 Nyaaaaa and thank you to still been here !! You are since back then until nowadays! >=D
Thank you so much to everyone who helped put this together! I've never seen a more detailed and heartfelt depiction of the many wonderful experiences my friends and I have had while exploring social VR. I've made very special lifelong friends, discovered music I never knew existed, and felt truly happy!
thank you for this exploration. the host, Josef, did such a great job leading this!
There's so many great people creating so many great things in this space, it's just awe-inspiring and glorious. Thanks for making this!
OMG this is giving me feels! ToT so many friends, and so many new people who look like they would be neat to hang out with.
One of the best things about being part of this community since Jan 2018 is that I got to see it grow so much, while being a part of it! I have spent so much of my time after work building worlds and avatars, Creating avatars for others, helping people out with their content.
Never in a million years did I think I would get the chance to do something so rewarding, and with such easy access to feedback and appreciation. I used to create indy games and post them online but I would get nothing but crickets.
I helped create a VR furry convention when our in person event was cancelled. I had never even gone to the convention before but I wanted to make sure it could still happen. I have never met so many wonderful people in my life!
People from every walk of life, all coming together to celebrate and be nice to each other.
Now I want to continue to contribute to the community and to share my expertise and tools with others. I feel so very lucky to be a part of this and I want to share that joy with everyone!
[Okay I typed out this comment before when there were only 4 comments but it was deleted because YT mistook it for spam.]
This was surprisingly wholesome! And so were the other episodes...my god, this entire series is wholesome! I'm looking forward to it.
Great piece on this, The video shows a nice sample of the rave scene in vrchat, this is just a sliver of what's on offer, but a great selection none the less.
Glad to see Club RIZUMU featured, it was awesome to work on the club level and DJ there aswell!
So cool! Love learning about new, interesting things like this. Can’t wait for more episodes!
Never expected I would see the Completionist's "Frog in a Car" referenced in a PBS video.
wow! Congratulations to everyone involved in this episode. This series keeps getting better
THE BEST ONE YET!!!! Love this show! so fun! and cool!
Incredibly well put together, amazing work!
A fantastic video and so well done representing the community. So glad to be part of it and can't wait for it to grow!
Great video! Thanks for taking a dive and getting to know the people who really understand this virtual space
Haveigbb gone to many vr rave events gotta say this is a extremely good vid showing how vast and exciting the scene is great work
Absolutely beautiful video, really good job!
This was such an interesting watch! So cool to see different communities coming together using the power of VR.
Whoa, I am getting into VRChat mainly because of the clubbing and Rave scene. Thanks for posting this video.
Thanks PBS this is a banger
i remember back in the early 2000's when facebook first launched people we're mocked by having virtual friends. Online friends aren't real friends, you can't connect with people if your not in close proximity I heard it all back then. Now we're at a point where Virtual Reality isn't just a toy, it's something people use in their everyday lives, it's a means to connect with other and form real bonds even if not in close proximity. It doesn't take over real life but it simply adds to life. Imagine what people could see or explore with photo-realism in VR Chat, we could explore digital museums of real art pieces and show people who can't travel amazing visits you couldn't see because you can't afford to go on a trip. Imagine people who are disabled being able to go places they'd only dream about going to. VR has endless possibilities and we're only just starting into it's potential.
Josef, all of your videos make me happy cry so hard. You're the best
Awww thank you !
i wanna be a part of this scene so bad wtf i have never wanted to be part of a scene so bad in my LIFE
I think one of the things not mentioned in the video is that Joesph is “Jojo”, an amazing DJ in his own right that started Radio Book Club with Tinzo. Be sure to search for him on UA-cam, great sets!
This made me smile, thank-you. :)
Thank you so much for this very down-to-earth coverage of the VRC club scene. 2TD and Kye are just two of the countless amazing folks I've befriended in VRC, and like they said, I also wouldn't know where I'd be without this platform and these people. It's unlike anything I've ever been a part of in my life.
Went to my first vrchat rave last night! Loved it. I'm socially awkward and its a blessing to have vr chat!
Thank you for this accurate and respectful take on our world!
This was a great piece, Kudos to Josef. The community aspect is awesome, I also think tho tho the intersection of visual art, music, reality, hardware hacking, software engineering, custom CDNs/networks for streaming is worth going further into. You can just feel the energy like a paradigm shift of thought and consciousness is occurring that will eventually be impacted back into reality with all participating accelerating us towards a precipice of change. Coverage like this helps ensure that said change wont be singularly controlled but rather spread out amongst a community so definitely thanks for this!
Fantastic video my friend! Nothing to add that everyone else hasn't already stated, but it's amazing how just reading through here I keep finding friends, I love this community
The VR clubbing community is awesome!!
Verry well made and explained ! 🤘🦁🤘
So happy to see our small community represented ^-^. Thank you so much for shining a light on some of what makes this scene so great 💜
Shelter is literally the best club ive ever gone to
cap. shelter is like EDC or Lost land. big big names but casual goers bring not plur vibes.
I knew it was a matter of time
But here we go! This channel has finally introduced me to a type of culture that I didn't know even existed
Nicely made video! Explains VRchat and the VR clubs very well
Wow, this is so cool. I might have to look in to this if I ever get a VR setup
Loved helping you w ur avatar nice to see u still use it haha-Autuna
Autuna you legend ! Glad you found the documentary.
I’d love to check this out! I was a raver when I was younger but still went to the occasional freetekno festival or beach party until the pandemic. Now it’s been four years without parties or party drugs & I’ve become extra introverted, but I still love to dance of course!! That first VR rave looks just like a party I attended on 3 different psychedelics in 2005 😅❤
VRC is kind of my main rave scene cuz I don't have anyone irl to go with and it's not as fun (or safe for me) to go alone. It's nice to see someone I respect as a dj like Jojo looking into it and seeing why we love it so much.
Interesting. I wouldnt know about this world without this video. Good content.
really high quality production, underrated vid and creator
Excellent thx for this moment..
This was beautiful to watch
I love vrchat so much, without fail watching these sorts of videos always bring a huge Ile on my face
This November it'll be 4 years being a part of it
what a great short video. Well done
Great doc! See ya at tonight’s rave. Also, looking forward finding community in VRchat.
This is beautiful!
Honestly, I've been apart of this community since 2018 and started getting into clubbing just last year on VR. It's so nice seeing a positive outlook on this, I've met a family in the clubbing community and my current partner. We're looking into moving in together within the next year. Honestly, Vr has been not only an escape but another reality we can have. Meeting new people experiencing things we only dreamt of experiencing in a sense. Fundamentally it's another way to make connections that many strive for in life
This was produced very well, can’t wait till it gets the exposure it deserves.
Super wonderful documentary, you did an amazing job jojo ❤❤❤
Super cool insight into this community, I officially need a PC now!!
this is so cool! i was the first dj to introduce live streaming in world to clubs such as ddvr, dirty dancers, was one the founders of elysium and first opening dj for rizumu ! my stream is featured on the display screen at 7:23! Aliquem is an awesome individual and im glad you interviewed them for this video.
Thank you so much for shedding such a positive light on our amazing community. This scene is such a special place for so many of us to express ourselves and share our creativity and its really great to see you guys showcasing VRChat for what it really is. Come visit us at TUBE next time, we'd love to have you
I've seen so many cool videos on TUBE and I haven't been yet. I'm so excited to come. -josef
Im not crying, you are ;-;
It's a pleasure to see a documentary that good on the vrchat rave scene, thanks a lot, hope to see you on the 7th to thank you in person :+1:
Yes I'll be there! talk then - Josef
Finally, somebody did it right.
Big respect. Hope to see you on the dance floor soon! 🤘😎
Really appreciate this video my man. The VR space has been getting a bad name because of the lack of understanding behind it, both from a casual and corporate standpoint.
I have played vrchat for about 4 years and this community has been one where I’ve felt most accepted and which offered something to come back to each and every time. At home, there is nothing close by where I can feel expressive (especially when it comes to music).
I hope people take note of your video and start to get a better understanding of what the VR Rave scene really is.
This is great journalism, and it's wonderful to see this weird little community of ours get portrayed in such a positive light. Excellent work!
As someone who is going completely broke paying for drinks in irl clubs i see this as a total win
Excellent documentary! Lots of people I recognise in this video :D
omg you talk about so much good stuff 10/10 video !!
I appreciate you Trevor -Josef