Stepping Into The World of Blade Runner 2049

 By Kai Charles

One of the most popular installations at San Diego Comic-Con was the Blade Runner 2049 Experience sponsored by Johnny Walker.

Guests entered the exhibit in small groups and immediately found themselves immersed in a scene straight out of the film. Smoke enveloped the room, rain pelted down from the simulated rooftops, and a variety of residents interacted with the guests.

Police Officers shouted at us to move along, city residents surrounded us trying to sell their wares or warn us of spies in our midst, and a friendly noodle shop owner beckoned us to sit at his shop.

Attendees quickly forgot their phones and focused on interacting with the cast.

After a little chat with the noodle shop owner, we were directed on a mission to gather some noodles for the shop. First however we entered BiBi’s Bar for a Johnny Walker tasting served in a tray with three test tubes containing three different types of whiskey.

Next up was a kiosk serving our mission objective: cold noodles.

The last interactive part of the event was a visit to a multi-screen advertising display.

When the base of the display was scanned with our card, all the advertisements disappeared, the names on the ID cards flashed across the screens, and a poster was released from the vending machine.

My tour was a not VR enhanced, but a select few got to experience a scene from the film in D-Box theatre seats. I was, however, very pleased with my overall experience. It was a very unique way to share a taste of the world we will be seeing on screen.