Google Cardboard To Deliver Free VR Headsets to Over 1 Million New York Times Subscribers, How to Get in on the Action

The New York Times is about to give away Google Cardboards to its one million print subscribers for its "NYT VR," a virtual reality project in collaboration with Google. The American newspaper will distribute the headsets to its patrons via home delivery along with the copy of their broadsheet on the weekend of Nov 7-8.

The New York Times Company has yet to offer, Times insider and some of the Times digital members are also set to receive promo codes on their emails to redeem their free Google Cardboard viewer. The firm is eyeing to let a lot of people experience the virtual reality through their smartphones.

The NYT VR film's first project is called "The Displaced," this will tell the story of "three extraordinary children" trapped in the middle of war. The spread's official website added that they also worked together with Chris Milk's Vrse to create the 3D movie, which will let the viewers experience what it feels like to be caught in the "global refugee crisis."

According to the Fast Company, the Times plan to release a number of virtual reality films through its application. "Our readers look to the Times for innovative and powerful storytelling, and this is the Times at its best," Dean Baquet, executive editor, said in a statement.

"Our Magazine team has created the first critical, serious piece of journalism using virtual reality, to shed light on one of the most dire humanitarian crises of our lifetime." Additionally, Advertising Age cited that films from GE and Mini will also premiere on the app.

GE's movie was created by New York Times' in-house agency, T Brand Studio, with the help of the creative studio, Framestore. "[It will tell] a story of how design in industry and technology takes cues from nature," the statement added.

Meanwhile, PCWorld noted that the Cardboard is a "lightweight virtual reality system" made of folded cardboards with attached lenses. Users can experience the virtual reality apps with the use of their Android phones or Iphone.

The site added that purchasers are allowed to move their heads to have the glimpse of the virtual world in different angles. Google's virtual reality hardware might be as low-tech as it gets but it can fancy new input of methods coming from Oculus and Valve in a stark contrast to the slick headsets.

And with the help of Times, Google is making the Cardboard free for a lot of subscribers by slipping it with the newspaper.