VR startup plans to bring Norse mythology to life with theme park plan
POSTED 29 Jun 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Yggdrasil GO, along with the Yggdrasil story – which is being created by Peter Würtz in consultation with famed Danish fantasy author Josefine Ottesen Credit: Yggdrasil
Plans are underway in Denmark to develop a travelling virtual reality fantasy exhibition based on Norse mythology, which if successful will eventually be turned into a fully-fledged theme park unique to Scandinavia.
Known as Yggdrasil, the concept is rooted in the region's cultural heritage and folklore, with the startup initially developing an exhibition to go alongside a VR experience called Yggdrasil GO.
Scheduled for Q3 2018, the attraction will be centred around the VR experience telling the Yggdrasil story, with the accompanying exhibition explaining how the fantasy story matches up with Viking history and Norse mythology.
“If you look at Denmark’s existing heritage attractions, they are mainly strictly based in factual history. No one is telling the folklore that is still a part of Denmark today,” said Yggdrasil co-founder Peter Würtz, speaking to Attractions Management.
“The Yggdrasil GO experience will not only tell the story we have created, but it will also educate our visitors about Norse history and folklore. We want to teach them about the stories that not even some modern Danes may be aware of.”
One example of this is the story of the Daughters of Aegir, which is told as part of the VR experience in Yggdrasil GO. In Norse mythology the God Aegir had nine daughters, whose names have been used as poetic terms for different characteristics of ocean waves. Aegir’s eldest daughter Bølge has over hundreds of years become the official Danish word for wave.
“We’re trying to open up this cultural heritage and storytelling from our region of the world, which has been so heavily influenced by the Vikings,” said Würtz. “With our mobile GO setup, we want to add value to Denmark’s existing visitor experiences and possibly even Europe or the rest of the world. This can go not only to existing museums, but also festivals, malls and other visitor attractions. Viking footsteps are all over the northern hemisphere, this has the potential to have a global appeal.”
Yggdrasil GO, along with the Yggdrasil story – which is being created by Peter Würtz in consultation with famed Danish fantasy author Josefine Ottesen – will act as the foundations of a permanent Norse Mythology theme park. Additionally, the Yggdrasil story will be used as the backbone of an entire project, which will aim to branch out into avenues such as books, film, television and gaming.
“It’s quite a large investment,” said Würtz. “We believe that we have something quite unique thanks to our strong narrative backbone. The project will primarily develop into our planned theme park, but we believe it also has significant commercial potential.”
According to Würtz, the theme park, which will include a blend of VR experiences and rides in its first phase, has the potential to draw an initial 500,000 visitors annually. Following a second phase of development, adding accommodation and restaurants, that number will increase significantly.
“We are focused on Yggdrasil Go right now,” said Würtz. “We’re planning to open that by the end of next year. We’re seeking an attraction design team to develop our masterplan for the park. Our ambition for this project is high.”
The travelling Yggdrasil GO concept is envisaged for existing museums, festivals, malls and other attractions Credit: Yggdrasil
The travelling concept will be the foundations of a fully-fledged theme park project Credit: Yggdrasil
The theme park would be the only one in Scandinavia themed on Norse mythology Credit: Yggdrasil
PROJECT PROFILE:
Yggdrasil Plans are underway in Denmark to develop a travelling virtual reality fantasy exhibition
based on Norse mythology, which if successful will eventually be turned into a fully-fledged
theme park unique to Scandinavia.
Russian virtual reality startup Anvio VR has set its sights on establishing multiple worldwide
attractions after launching its debut product, a free-roam multiplayer zombie shooter which tracks the
entire human body.
Fox’s interactive entertainment division has announced plans to develop a free-roaming
multiplayer virtual reality game based on iconic sci-fi horror franchise Alien.
Cornell University’s Organic Robotics Lab has created a new method of delivering haptic
responses in virtual reality – using a flexible rubber sheet on a handheld controller with a
pneumatic response system to provide tactile feedback.
Multi-player virtual reality startup The Void has opened its doors for the first time in two
new locations, with the immersive experience now available in Utah and Dubai.
Numbers from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, (ALVA) show that Royal attractions
saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
VR startup plans to bring Norse mythology to life with theme park plan
POSTED 29 Jun 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Yggdrasil GO, along with the Yggdrasil story – which is being created by Peter Würtz in consultation with famed Danish fantasy author Josefine Ottesen Credit: Yggdrasil
Plans are underway in Denmark to develop a travelling virtual reality fantasy exhibition based on Norse mythology, which if successful will eventually be turned into a fully-fledged theme park unique to Scandinavia.
Known as Yggdrasil, the concept is rooted in the region's cultural heritage and folklore, with the startup initially developing an exhibition to go alongside a VR experience called Yggdrasil GO.
Scheduled for Q3 2018, the attraction will be centred around the VR experience telling the Yggdrasil story, with the accompanying exhibition explaining how the fantasy story matches up with Viking history and Norse mythology.
“If you look at Denmark’s existing heritage attractions, they are mainly strictly based in factual history. No one is telling the folklore that is still a part of Denmark today,” said Yggdrasil co-founder Peter Würtz, speaking to Attractions Management.
“The Yggdrasil GO experience will not only tell the story we have created, but it will also educate our visitors about Norse history and folklore. We want to teach them about the stories that not even some modern Danes may be aware of.”
One example of this is the story of the Daughters of Aegir, which is told as part of the VR experience in Yggdrasil GO. In Norse mythology the God Aegir had nine daughters, whose names have been used as poetic terms for different characteristics of ocean waves. Aegir’s eldest daughter Bølge has over hundreds of years become the official Danish word for wave.
“We’re trying to open up this cultural heritage and storytelling from our region of the world, which has been so heavily influenced by the Vikings,” said Würtz. “With our mobile GO setup, we want to add value to Denmark’s existing visitor experiences and possibly even Europe or the rest of the world. This can go not only to existing museums, but also festivals, malls and other visitor attractions. Viking footsteps are all over the northern hemisphere, this has the potential to have a global appeal.”
Yggdrasil GO, along with the Yggdrasil story – which is being created by Peter Würtz in consultation with famed Danish fantasy author Josefine Ottesen – will act as the foundations of a permanent Norse Mythology theme park. Additionally, the Yggdrasil story will be used as the backbone of an entire project, which will aim to branch out into avenues such as books, film, television and gaming.
“It’s quite a large investment,” said Würtz. “We believe that we have something quite unique thanks to our strong narrative backbone. The project will primarily develop into our planned theme park, but we believe it also has significant commercial potential.”
According to Würtz, the theme park, which will include a blend of VR experiences and rides in its first phase, has the potential to draw an initial 500,000 visitors annually. Following a second phase of development, adding accommodation and restaurants, that number will increase significantly.
“We are focused on Yggdrasil Go right now,” said Würtz. “We’re planning to open that by the end of next year. We’re seeking an attraction design team to develop our masterplan for the park. Our ambition for this project is high.”
Russian virtual reality startup Anvio VR has set its sights on establishing multiple worldwide
attractions after launching its debut product, a free-roam multiplayer zombie shooter which tracks the
entire human body.
Fox’s interactive entertainment division has announced plans to develop a free-roaming
multiplayer virtual reality game based on iconic sci-fi horror franchise Alien.
Cornell University’s Organic Robotics Lab has created a new method of delivering haptic
responses in virtual reality – using a flexible rubber sheet on a handheld controller with a
pneumatic response system to provide tactile feedback.
Multi-player virtual reality startup The Void has opened its doors for the first time in two
new locations, with the immersive experience now available in Utah and Dubai.
Numbers from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, (ALVA) show that Royal attractions
saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.