On October 13th 1944 at 11am in the morning, the first of a series of 15 allied bombardments fell on the small, Dutch border town of Venlo, in Limburg. The British allies were trying to push the Germans back across the border, and take out the bridge across the Maas that might otherwise allow them to regain hard won territory on the liberated (Blerick) side.

The family of the local community doctor was one of many civilian families trapped in basements and shelters across the area, as the air raids and shelling continued throughout a cruel winter.

October 13th is a user protagonist VR experience, inspired by the verbatim accounts of that doctor's family and what they remember of being children during that period. It is both a living history project seeking to keep those first-hand stories alive and accessible to a new generation and, more importantly, an exciting, visceral VR experience that aims to give a hint of what being a child in a war zone is really like.

With it I would hope to bring the relevancy of our still recent history to audiences who, in the years since the WW2, seem to have grown complacent about the possibility of seeing war in their own country or in their own lifetime; to unmask some of the forces that drive people to hide, move, and leave their homes in desperate times; and increase empathy for those suffering under such conditions now.

You, the user, find yourself in the shoes of a 9 year old girl playing outside on the morning of October 13th; one of the quiet mornings when You have been allowed above ground. Suddenly the air raid siren begins to wail. Together with your friend, Maria, You seek shelter in the nearest house; all doors being left open for people needing to take cover. An air of foreboding permeates the experience as You decide not to stay there, with the family Verbeek, but instead, make a run for home. Maria is too scared to attempt it and stays behind.

Making it home through the bombardment, You find your family, neighbours and even a young German soldier coming to shelter in the basement as well. When the all clear sounds, You return to the street, with everyone else. Dust covers everything, like snow, and as You retrace your steps You see (among other things) the Verbeek's´ house has been completely flattened - taking everyone inside with it.

Your knees go weak and You sit down in the road. The first wave of refugees begin to appear, carrying their children and few belongings, gradually growing till they stream round You, and out of the town. In the midst of this You see your mother emerge, approaching You, her arms outstretched, offering the only shelter she can - comfort and hope.

The full script is already available (2nd draft). It was read to an industry audience at VRDays Europe, where it received great feedback; both for the simplicity and effectiveness of the story idea, and the success I have had so far in scripting for immersive VR. It is currently being read by several people from different industry related specialities who have offered to give feedback from their individual perspectives.

DROP ME A LINE IF YOU'D LIKE TO RECEIVE THE FULL SCRIPT (8 MIN READ)