It's a long time coming but it's very well-deserved: Vice on HBO just featured Syrmor, VRChat's best embedded virtual reporter. (Ignore the title dubbing him the "Dr. Phil of VR", which is notably dumb; maybe the caption writer hasn't seen any interviews by Errol Morris, which Syrmor is way more like.) If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time a major media outlet has profiled a celebrity whose fame is based on what they created within this generation's iteration of VR.
The segment itself gives us a good glimpse of Syrmor's real life in Toronto, and also, his evolution from capturing the most trollish part or VRChat to doing the in-depth, poignant interviews that made him beloved. As he told me last February:
“When I first started my channel,” he acknowledges, “it was more just funny compilations.” After all, he once recorded interviews and on-the-street protests in real life. “My real passion was creating stories so the idea of just making gaming videos didn't interest me too much.
"However, as it grew I realized it had potential and I wanted to take it more seriously...”
“I'm legitimately interested in hearing strangers share their stories so I think my interest shines through and makes them more excited to share,” Syrmor says. “Also in VRchat there isn't as much social anxiety cause you can just leave the conversation without consequence whenever you like.”
More Syrmor coverage on NWN below:
- Watch: Adorable Bird In VRChat Flies From Korea To Meet Fellow Avatar In Canada, Proves Power Of VR To Create RL Connections
- Watch: Bullied Teen With ADHD & Social Anxiety Is Eloquent & Perceptive Through His Kermit The Frog Avatar In VRChat
- Watch: How Virtual Worlds Like VRChat Make It Possible For People To Share Tremendous Real Life Pain
- Watch: Syrmor's First Interview With A Female VRChat Player, A Brazilian Girl Yearning For A Better Life
- Watch: Syrmor Interviews A Man With ALS Reflecting On Life While A Talking Mushroom In VRChat
- Syrmor Rising: VRChat's Virtual Reporter Attracts Massive Community, Real World Meet-Up With Worldwide Attendance
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