Google Spotlight Stories

Devised by Motorola's Advanced Technology And Products (ATAP) division, this is an ongoing "theatre" presenting interactive 3D films playing through the smartphone screen (packed-in on Moto X phones, but installable on other Android devices via the Motorola Spotlight Player app) as a mobile VR window in to another environment: an experiment to explore "what it means to have an experiential device."

The first Spotlight Story is entitled A Windy Day, concerning the repeated attempts of Pepe the mouse to retrieve his hat on a blustery day. The second is called Buggy Night, dealing with a nocturnal frog's gradual winnowing-away of a group of small insects. A third Story was introduced in November 2014, entitled duet, following the dovetailing of the lives of a boy and girl, and a fourth, HELP, was released on May 26, 2015 -- the first live-action Spotlight Story -- concerning itself with an alien's rampage through Los Angeles.

As with most interactive movies, player interaction is limited, primarily dealing with re-orienting the view window in the 3D space to find the new virtual location where the story action will continue -- though there are optional vignettes unfolding off-stage, should players not choose to follow the primary narrative at all times.