Researchers at Disney have designed the ultimate retro video game experience: a way to play a 360-degree 8-bit version of Super Mario with eight players in total.

Developed by researchers F. Zünd, P. Bérard, A. Chapiro, S. Schmid, M. Ryffel, M. Gross, A. H. Bermano and R. W. Sumner, the team presented its work at the 12th annual European Conference on Visual Media Production held in London a few weeks ago on Nov. 24 and 25.

WIth a goal of producing an interactive and immersive VR version of classic 8-bit games, the group linked a classic NES to an upscaler (as well as custom hardware that "time-multiplexes" each input per player) and transferred the video feed to a computer, where frames were then sutured together with an algorithm. The algorithm itself helped create an enveloping, "panoramic texture" — AKA a 360-degree projected screen.  

The result? A "nostalgic appeal of the 8-bit game era," according to a video posted on Dec. 2 by the Disney research team.

"With this system, side-scrolling games unfold across the walls of the room to encircle a large party, giving the feeling that the entire party is taking place inside of the game's world," the team promised.

The system was launched at a large event space (AURA) in Zurich for the Eurographics 2015 conference dinner. A VR version is also available via Oculus Rift if a multi-player/360-degree projection option is, for some reason, not available.

Check out the 360-degree projection in action in the video clip below.

 

Via: The Next Web