Inside Syfy’s ‘Magicians’ Hall of Magic – TechCrunch

Syfy’s Fantasy Show magicians kicks off its second season tonight, but for the next few days, New Yorkers also have the chance to explore a real-world installation tied to the show.

I stopped at magic room last week, where each room offered a different type of fantasy-themed experience. Some of them just provided fun gimmicks, like the ability to take a photo that made it look like you were levitating. Others were a bit more impressive – like a battle room where you can point at different objects and watch them respond to your magical energy, or a classroom where you can enter a mental contest with your friends to push a ball over. a table.

Naturally, it’s actually the technology that powers these experiences – like the Kinect sensor that can tell where your hands are pointing, or the Muse headbands and magnets used in this mental ball contest. Eric Fleming of mash studiowho created the Hall of Magic, credited the technology with allowing his team to “do so many crazy things so cheaply and so quickly,” although he added, “We don’t don’t just do flashy tech for tech’s sake. We never start with tech, we start with the experience we want to create.

NBCUniversal’s Alexandra Shapiro added that while a Hall of Magic-like facility will only reach a small audience compared to the show (especially since it’s only open until January 29), Syfy sees promotions like this as a way to authentically connect with fans.

“‘If it’s done well, if it’s done authentically, if you pay attention to detail…greatness is rewarded,'” Shapiro said. , this dynamic, this interaction is how the fandom is built.