The Virtual Reality Show
| The Virtual Reality Show | ||
|---|---|---|
 The current logo, designed by Lumi | ||
| Years Active | 2020 - present | |
| Start Date | February 17, 2020 | |
- "Hey guys, and welcome back to The Virtual Reality Show where we talk about any and all things related to virtual reality inside...virtual reality! I'm your host, PHIA!"
- ―Opening catchphrase of TVRS
The Virtual Reality Show (abbreviated as TVRS) is a web series created by Sophia Bollinger, also known as PHIA. The channel specializes in teaching its viewers about virtual reality, while the host, herself, is in virtual reality. The primary format of delivery is through YouTube while also providing virtual reality and gaming streams on Twitch.
A typical episode takes place within either VirtualCast or VRChat. PHIA speaks to the viewers via a PHIA model, a character that she created based off of her real-world appearance. Episodes cover various topics relating to VR including general virtual reality knowledge, philosophy, technological implications, how VR works and much more. Episodes sometimes feature guests who are specialized in certain fields relating to VR. PHIA conducts interviews with guests within VRChat.
History
PHIA's passion for virtual reality originated upon receiving her first headset, an Oculus Rift S, on Christmas Day of 2019. Using the headset for the first time changed her perception of reality forever, sparking an obsession with all things virtual.
On February 15th, 2020, PHIA came up with the idea of TVRS during her drive to her college classes. The rest of the day was spent scripting, recording, editing, and creating "The Virtual Reality Show" YouTube channel. The first episode was uploaded to the channel a little past midnight, marking February 16 as the upload date of the first TVRS episode.
The channel had humble beginnings, hitting 100 subscribers on February 27, 2020. However, it saw a major increase in when on March 18, 2020, the EDM artist Porter Robinson posted "meeting a very inspiring fan of mine in VR" to all major social media platforms. PHIA had helped Porter Robinson set up a custom avatar in VRChat as a means of helping him interact with fans after the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of many of his live performances.
TVRS saw another major surge in growth when on June 22, 2020, PHIA was featured in an interview with the virtual reality channel Disrupt. Many followers of Disrupt would subscribe to PHIA's channel resulting in the 10,000 subscriber milestone being achieved on June 25, 2020.
Eventually, PHIA would upgrade her virtual reality headset from an Oculus Rift S to a Valve Index on June 30, 2020. She had ordered the Valve Index on April 13 meaning she had waited several weeks. The Valve Index is currently experiencing logistical issues when it comes to shipping, but once PHIA obtained the new headset, the quality of her streams and movement tracking saw a significant increase.
TVRS continues to show healthy growth with a Discord server with over 2,000 members and more than 30,000 subscribers on YouTube as of August 2020.
On March 25, 2021, The Virtual Reality Show YouTube Channel was rebranded as "PHIA" to better communicate PHIA's intent towards more diverse content beyond TVRS itself. This was announced with the video The Virtual Reality Show is over. which detailed her future plans.
Community
The primary social outlets that community of The Virtual Reality Show makes use of are the PHIA Discord server and PHIAbunny Twitch channel.
Discord
- Main article: PHIA Discord server
The PHIA Discord server is a place where users can chat with one another across multiple text and voice channels. Different channels are specialized for different discussion topics which include general discussion as well as getting assistance with setting up a VR headset or becoming a vtuber.
Twitch
- Main article: PHIAbunny Twitch channel
The PHIAbunny Twitch channel is where PHIA conducts her livestreams. Users who are watching her live can chat with her or with others. PHIA streams a variety of content from VRChat, community games like Jackbox Party Pack or creating content with VRoid Studio.
Patreon
- Main article: Patreon
There is also a Patreon page for The Virtual Reality Show which can be found here. Patreon supporters get a wide variety of benefits depending on which tier they subscribe to. One of the benefits is a meetup for Patreons supporters where attendees get to meet PHIA, Protostar, the TVRS moderators and other members of the community.
You can use this tool to track the date of the next Patreon meetup.
Credits
Main staff
The main staff are directly involved in the production of videos for the YouTube channel.
- PHIA - Host, Writer
- Lumi - Art direction
- Protostar - Audio, Management
- EXXOmixin - Twitch Highlights editing
- Cat - Main episode editing
Support staff
The support staff maintains supplemental projects to TVRS.
- Festive - Protophia Kingdom server operator
- Krayfishkarl - TVRS Wiki webmaster, TikTok video editing
- Ventus - Twitter ad video editing, TikTok video editing
Moderators
- Main article: Moderator
The moderators are volunteers who help answer questions about TVRS as well as maintain civility in both the PHIA Discord server and the PHIAbunny Twitch channel.
Guests
Guests are individuals that were interviewed for TVRS.
Episodes
Main episodes
- Projekt Melody (Virtual CamGirl?!)
- Reaching Eternal Life
- What is Hololive?
- The History of Oculus
- The Future of Fashion is Virtual! (Chloma)
- Creating Worlds in VR
- Experience Studio Ghibli in VR
- Is Your Online Avatar the Real You?
- Which VR headset is best in 2020?
- How VRChat can be Therapy for Social Anxiety
- How people 'DO IT' in VRChat!? (ERP)
- Vtubers: The 2 Sides of Self Discovery
- Impossible Geometry will change VR forever
- How to be a Virtual Youtuber! Complete 2020 Guide
- How to FEEL TOUCH in VR (no haptics)
- OCULUS RIFT S vs VALVE INDEX : Is it Worth the Upgrade?
- Psychedelics & VR: Layers of Reality
- Pokémon in VR is OFFICIALLY Here!! (BE FAST: it's limited time)
- FACEBOOK IS TAKING OVER VR!! Should you still buy an Oculus...?
- VR Avatars Help Multiple Personality Disorder (DID)
- This headset is about to change VR forever
- The Future of VR: Neuralink = Full Dive? (ft. Virtual Dreamers)
- OCULUS QUEST 2 vs VALVE INDEX: Should You Start Small or Dive All in?
- What is VR? An Introduction to Virtual Reality
- VR Buying Guide - Holiday 2020: Best VR Headset for You!
- You can go to ACTUAL school in VR! The future is here!
- Is the Future of Virtual Reality Finally Here?
- I went to a VR music festival... here's what happened.
- Apple's new VR HEADSET!!! (and it's coming sooner than you think!)
- What is XR?
- The Virtual Reality DATING Show
- Affordable Full Body Tracking for VR is here!! Tundra Tracker
Vtubing tutorials
- Virtual Cast: Getting Started in Vtubing for FREE! (Tutorial)
- Virtual Cast: Importing Custom Models! (Tutorial)
- Virtual Cast: Multiplayer + Vtubing with Friends! (Tutorial)
- VRoid to VRChat EASY BEGINNER GUIDE (Tutorial)
- Make a custom Vtubing model with VRoid Studio for FREE!
- How to use Luppet- the best Vtubing Program!
- How to make and upload a VRChat Avatar QUICK & EASY!!!
- How to Import VRoid to VRChat for Quest (EASY BEGINNER GUIDE)
- VRoid Hair Tutorial ★ In-Depth Guide (Easy)
- How to do Facial Motion Capture with VRoid!
- Set up Oculus Quest 2 Hand Tracking in VRCHAT!
- Top 10 VRoid Tips & Tricks! (FREE avatar maker!)
Twitch moments
- Second Sky Island DISASTERS!! (Animal Crossing)
- vtuber gets bullied in minecraft
- Second Sky
- Monstercat artist builds me a DJ stage in Minecraft!
- I AM A RUTHLESS SLAYER~!! Minecraft Server Opening
- DON'T SLAY MY BUNNIES (FaceCam)
- SPICEY Vtuber Moments (chat pranks me)!?
- My Epic Quest to Slay the Ender Dragon... In a Maid Outfit?!
- Why did I say THIS on twitch stream....?!
- I HAVE A TOTAL MELTDOWN IN FNAF: HELP WANTED
- Meeting my ex-husband in VRChat... is he the father?!
- I showed you my booty please respond
- The Scariest VR Game I've Ever Played
- Among Us ruined my relationship?!
- The VRChat Scare Zone
- Best of PHIA 2020
- he served me WHAT?! (VRChat)
Virtual vlogs
Virtual Frontier
Miscellaneous
- Thank you, Porter Robinson.
- 5,000 Subscribers!! Thanks + Some Updates
- PHIA's Japanese Final Project
- Q&A with a Virtual Girl!
- Thank you for 10k!! Update (Meetup + Bloopers)
- Finally got a Valve Index, why does it smell like FISH???
- Quest 2 Revealed!! Complete Recap of Facebook Connect
- My "Quest 2" Unboxing Went Terribly Wrong...
- 50k Sub Special - Q&A with a Vtuber!!
- These 4 VRChat Developers Made Something Terrifying
- FREE + EASY custom avatars for VRCHAT!! Ready Player Me
Contact
For inquiries regarding TVRS as well as video suggestions, the best way to reach out is to send an e-mail to alex@thevirtualreality.show. It is best to refrain from pinging PHIA directly and to instead refer to one of the moderators.
Any questions about the Protophia Kingdom Minecraft server or the wiki should be directed towards Festive and Krayfishkarl respectively. They can both be pinged via Discord or discussed in the dedicated channels of #protophia-kingdom-chat and #wiki-chat respectively.