Wargaming, the publisher behind World of Tanks and World of Warships, has long made a commitment to preserving the WWII history that inspired their games. Their latest project is an ambitious new 360° video project: War Knows No Nation. This video rekindles the memories of three veteran World War II tankers, blending live action panorama footage with CG scenes for the very first time.
If you've got access to a VR headset, you're going to have the best experience viewing the 7 1/2 minute film embedded below. We've also included a few behind-the-scenes photos from the making of the film.
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The three veterans share their experiences from the war. Tom Sator from the USA served in the 4th Armored Division of the United States Army, and participated in battles in Belgium, Germany and Czechoslovakia. David Render is one of the last surviving D-Day veterans from the UK, who served in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, and became a tank commander at the age of 19. Finally, Aleksandr Fen is a retired major-general from Belarus, who served in the 84th separate tank brigade and 31st tank brigade, and fought in the Battle of Kursk and Stalingrad.
“We’re truly passionate about history and want to share it with the world,” said Tracy Spaight, Director of Special Projects at Wargaming. “We do it with every new historical video we produce. In ‘War Knows No Nation’, we experimented with technology and mixed live action scenes with CG scenes in 360°. This unique blend of formats creates a whole new level of immersion. You literally relive history, watching it unfold from the point of view of veterans that fought in the war.”
This new video features seven breathtaking locations across Belarus, Russia, the USA, and the UK, providing unparalleled insight into a time that shaped the past. Watch history come alive using cutting-edge technology; view locations painstakingly recreated with authentic uniforms and real tanks; experience thrilling tank battles realized in CG. All this, combined with the 360° video format, custom rigging and creative film techniques lets viewers witness history from every angle.
“War Knows No Nation was a unique opportunity to share my experiences with the world that I never thought possible,” said David Render, British Army veteran. “I adore the youth of today, because they're better educated than us. As far as future generations are concerned, we need to ensure that nothing like it (WWII) happens again. It is so easy to start a war, but very difficult to stop it. I hope, in some way, our memories help to give people a better understanding of what we faced during wartime.”
Even if you don't have a VR headset, the video is worth watching to see the reenactments of each veteran's war memories. And, don't forget: this film is also certainly a test run for what will be the next generation of virtual reality gaming.
