Techniques for immersive virtual reality experiences

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, the method comprising:

receiving a media content item;

receiving content metadata associated with the media content item, wherein the content metadata specifies a character effect in which a character watches the media content item in a 3D virtual environment and, while watching the media content item, automatically interacts with a user in the 3D virtual environment by at least one of providing commentary about the media content item to the user, asking the user a question, or responding to the user based on at least one of a sound, a movement, or an input by the user;

generating at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata; and

displaying the media content item and the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment on a display associated with a virtual reality device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content metadata further specifies an environment effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of an environment type or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment; and

applying the environment effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a character type or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the character effect; and

applying the character effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a color effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a color value or a starting time; and

applying the color effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a screen size effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a size type or a starting time; and

applying the screen size effect to a virtual screen included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a 3D object effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of an effect type, a starting time, a duration, or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the 3D object effect; and

applying the 3D object effect to a 3D object included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment includes a virtual screen, and wherein displaying the media content item includes overlaying the media content item on the virtual screen.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment includes a 3D object that is related to the media content item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a description of the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment in a first format; and

translating the description of the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment into a second format that is native to the virtual reality device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, by performing the steps of:

receiving a media content item;

receiving content metadata associated with the media content item, wherein the content metadata specifies a character effect in which a character watches the media content item in a 3D virtual environment and, while watching the media content item, automatically interacts with a user in the 3D virtual environment by at least one of providing commentary about the media content item to the user, asking the user a question, or responding to the user based on at least one of a sound, a movement, or an input by the user;

generating at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata; and

displaying the media content item and the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment on a display associated with a virtual reality device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies an environment effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of an environment type or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment; and

applying the environment effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a character type or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the character effect; and

applying the character effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a color effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a color value or a starting time; and

applying the color effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies an environment vibration effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a motion type or a starting time; and

applying the environment vibration effect to the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a screen vibration effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a motion type or a starting time; and

applying the screen vibration effect to a virtual screen included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a screen location effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a location type or a starting time; and

applying the screen location effect to a virtual screen included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a screen size effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of a size type or a starting time; and

applying the screen size effect to a virtual screen included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content metadata further specifies a 3D object effect, and wherein generating the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata comprises:

receiving a first parameter that includes at least one of an effect type, a starting time, a duration, or a uniform resource locater (URL) associated with the 3D object effect; and

applying the 3D object effect to a 3D object included in the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the first parameter.

19. A computing device, comprising:

a memory that includes a three-dimensional (3D) object/effects generator; and

a processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the 3D object/effects generator, is configured to:

receive a media content item from a content management server,

receive, from the content management server, content metadata associated with the media content item, wherein the content metadata specifies a character effect in which a character watches the media content item in a 3D virtual environment and, while watching the media content item, automatically interacts with a user in the 3D virtual environment by at least one of providing commentary about the media content item to the user, asking the user a question, or responding to the user based on at least one of a sound, a movement, or an input by the user, and

generate at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata.

20. The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the processor, when executing the 3D object/effects generator, is further configured to:

receive a description of the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment in a first format; and

translate the description of the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment into a second format that is native to a virtual reality device,

wherein the memory further includes a native virtual reality engine, and the processor, when executing the native virtual reality engine, is configured to display, via the second format, the media content item and the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment on a display associated with the virtual reality device.