Cybermind Interactive Europe GmbH had bought the rights to the Elysium immersive virtual reality system developed initially as a joint venture by IBM Corp and Virtuality Group Plc. Berlin-based Cybermind also bought the European entertainment business from Virtuality last month after its trading was suspended back in February. After the agreement with IBM ended, further work carried on until Virtuality hit financial trouble this year. Newly-formed Retinal Displays Inc will not be involved in developing Elysium further, according to Ben Vaughan, one of the four people who led the management buyout of Virtuality to form Retinal Displays Inc. Cybermind was not available for comment as we went to press so its intentions remain unclear. Elysium was originally sold for around $49,000 at the back end of 1994. This kit included an IBM 486 DX4-based PC with high-end Virtuality graphics cards, head set and a hand controller.
