The Apprentice 2016: Lord Alan Sugar invites candidates into virtual reality boardroom for video game task

The business competition goes all futuristic as the participants design VR games
BBC
Ben Travis2 December 2016

Lord Sugar is no spring chicken, but the Amstrad man is always looking for the future of business.

The latest episode of The Apprentice sees him embrace the latest technology to challenge the remaining candidates.

Yes, the show is dipping a toe into the shiny new waters of Virtual Reality – which, with the launch of the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PS VR, has finally entered the home in 2016.

The best way to experience VR is to actually try it – so instead of inviting the candidates to a London location, Lord Sugar sets up the latest task in the basement of the Apprentice house.

Putting on HTC headsets, the business hopefuls find themselves in a digital boardroom with a virtual (but no less scary) Lord Sugar setting out the rules.

Cue ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the candidates as they see the computerised environment.

“Welcome to the future,” virtual Sugar says. “This is my virtual boardroom.

“For this task, you’re going to design a new virtual reality game. But as important as the game will be the brand that you create.

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“To succeed, you’re going to have to push your imagination and design skills to the maximum.”

Then things get more than a little trippy – as the boardroom falls apart, leaving Lord Sugar floating around in space. I, for one, welcome our new intergalactic business overlord.

Of course, this is The Apprentice – so don’t expect the candidates to go and make the next Skyrim any time soon.

BBC One, 9pm

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