The future has arrived

Movistar+ and Samsung, with the collaboration of LaLiga, offered a group of lucky fans the chance to watch the first live virtual reality transmission of a sporting event using the technology Samsung Gear VR, and we were there to try it out first-hand during FC Barcelona v Real Madrid. It was a 'futuristic' experience... the future had arrived!

The Samsung Gear VR goggles made you feel like the stands of the Camp Nou, 612 km away, were right in front of you, and made you feel as if you actually there inside the ground to experience one of the greatest sporting spectacles on the planet.

It wasn't a case of simply watching a screen and enjoying a game. You turn your head to watch the action you want to see. It's an immersive experience that allows you to be more than a spectator in the stadium, you become the producer as well, as you can choose whcih part of the game you want to watch, changing the point of view yourself.

The broadcast uses three different cameras to follow the game. One has an overall view from a virtual reality standpoint which gives you a panorama of the stadium, allowing you a 360 degree view. The other two are situated behind the goals allowing you to follow the action from closer in.

To move between the different views you simply look at the camera icons in the different parts of the stadium. Whichever view you choose, you don't miss out on the action as there are screens on both sides of your field of vision with the standard television signal. You also get close-up replays, a live commentary with the Movistar signal and the background sound of the stadium to make you feel even more immersed in the event

To complete the experience you have a set of tools that give you further control over the interaction. There is a screen with the teams and statitics which you can consult during the game, while not missing out on any of the action. The sets are comfortable to wear, the design allowing you to adjust the straps to the best setting per individual. You can also adjust the vision settings.

Virtual Reality provides a unique and completely immersive way to enjoy a football match as if you were really there at the game. The future has arrived, and the reality, in this case virtual, is better than fiction.