Vulcan, Alberta Launches the Next Generation in High-Tech Adventure Tourism

Vulcan's space tourism universe uses virtual reality to create a Star Trek experience.

Vulcan, Alberta (PRWEB) May 13, 2007 -- The town of Vulcan, Alberta is creating an innovative tourism experience with the launch of a high-tech virtual reality game. The latest star in Vulcan's space tourism universe, The Vulcan Space Adventure (http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/vsa.html) , launches June 8, 2007 on the first day of Galaxyfest, Vulcan's annual Star Trek convention.

Famous for its name and events like Galaxyfest and Spock Days, Vulcan will celebrate June 8 to 10th with this exclusively designed game. The "Vulcan Space Adventure" uses GestureTek's patented "multi-camera" technology which, combined with holographic images, light and sound effects and even a transporter, creates a virtual reality experience that puts visitors squarely into the black boots of Starfleet officers.

Up to 3 Trekkers at a time can enter the Star Trek inspired world of "Starflight Academy", where they are tutored via video by the man himself, 'Captain Krock", before stepping through the Swishing doors and onto the bridge of a Starship. From here they launch into the ultimate adventure. Using the revolutionary GestureTek "point & click" gesture-based computer interface, players (aka Starflight Trainees) face a large holographic screen on which they receive instructions from command, and fight off alien invaders by moving their hand through thin air to point and shoot their weapons.

GestureTek's technology has been available to users in public and private installations around the world since well before the movie "Minority Report" popularized the concept of gesture control. The "Vulcan Space Adventure" is one of only 2 such GestureTek installations in Canada, and a first opportunity for Western Canada to see and experience this technology in action.

During Galaxyfest (http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/events/galaxyfest.html) fans can dress in costumes from any of the Star Trek series and have their photos taken with cardboard cutouts of their favourite Trek characters. Trekkies can also visit the gift shop for Trek and Vulcan memorabilia.

The Official Launch of the sprawling "Vulcan Space Adventure" attraction, which takes up almost a third of the town's Tourism & Trek Station, marks the next generation of Vulcan's homage to Star Trek and Science Fiction. It follows in the wake of the opening of the Tourism & Trek Station (http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/about_station/index.html) - the town's spacey tourist information centre in 1998; the unveiling of the 5-tonne Vulcan Starship FX6-1995-A in 1995; and the town's first Star Trek Convention held back in 1993.

This year's Star Trek convention is highlighted by two special guests from the Deep Space Nine series, Nog (Aron Eisenberg) and Rom (Max Grodenchik). The weekend celebrations include an artwalk, parade, costumes and an evening banquet and cabaret. Also included throughout the weekend is an autograph signing and Q & A Session, a Video conference with the Canadian Space Agency, a Friday night Meet & Greet Reception (and "Official Launch" of the Vulcan Space Adventure game), Star Trek vendors, and the Telus World of Science Star Lab (a portable planetarium). The town's Trek Station will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2008.

Vulcan is just an hour's drive from Calgary and Lethbridge and the short journey promises to deliver a unique space tourism experience that can not be found anywhere else in Alberta… or maybe even the universe.

The "Vulcan Space Adventure" project was funded by the Town of Vulcan, with matching funds from the Alberta Lottery Fund.

For more information contact:

Dayna Dickens

Tourism Co-ordinator

Vulcan Tourism

Box 1161

Vulcan, AB

T0L 2B0

Tel: 403-485-2994

Fax: 403-485-2878

dayna @ vulcantourism.com

Website: www.vulcantourism.com

Game page: http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/vsa.html

Article: http://www.town.vulcan.ab.ca/vsa-media-release.html

Heather Egger

Travel Alberta In-Province

10949-120 St.

Edmonton, AB

T5H 3R2

Tel: 780-732-1646

Fax: 780-423-6722

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