[VIDEO] Did Doc Brown And Tony Hawk Just Troll The Internet Using "Real" Hoverboards?
If you’re looking for a well-crafted (but ultimately very fake?) video about hoverboard technology, you've come to the right place.
By Sadho Ram — 05 Mar 2014, 01:29 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Christopher 'Doc' Lloyd Lied To You About Hoverboards... All For An Autographed Prop Giveaway
Funny or Die, the makers of numerous internet shenanigans, just posted a video with actor Christopher Lloyd apologizing for the HUVr, though Lloyd did not go so far as to explain what the project was really about.
gizmodo.com
Peering into the camera, a despondent Lloyd says he was "blinded by all belief" that the production — which featured professional skater Tony Hawk, musician Moby, and others floating on a hoverboard — was a spoof.
theverge.com
The new clip shows behind-the-scenes footage of the production where you can clearly see the wires and rigs used to haul the actors off the ground.
slashgear.comAs a consolation prize, Funny or Die is giving away a replica of the HUVr board signed by Lloyd and the rest of the crew to one random Facebook commenter.
Signs that the production was faked cropped up almost immediately after the video was released, though it was surrounded by an air of mystery thanks to an excessively cryptic website and a Facebook page that denied claims it was a ruse.
theverge.com
Nonetheless, actors in the project mentioned it on their resumes — including the "MIT researcher" who turned out to be actor Nelson Cheng — and special effects errors were spotted in the video almost immediately.
gawker.com
Seemingly Out Of Nowhere, A Major Promotional Campaign For A "Real" Hoverboard Known As HUVr Has Launched Online Today
It all began with a pair of bizarre video clips featuring testimonials from celebrities including Tony Hawk, Moby, and Back to the Future's own Christopher Lloyd.
techcrunch.com
Dubbed the HUVr, a team claims to have cracked the hover technology and enlisted a number of personalities include the aforementioned Hawk, Moby, and ScHoolboy Q to take them for a spin during an event in Los Angeles.
highsnobiety.com
One Clip Shows Lloyd Delivering The HUVr To Hawk, Followed By Demonstrations That Are "Completely Real". Watch, here:
The Tagline Is That The “Future Has Arrived,” When In Fact It Hasn’t
Aside from being a clear (though still technically impressive) fake, the website for this demo and fake company also shows a counter with December 2014 as the projected “destination time” for whatever’s going on here.
techcrunch.com
They're calling themselves HUVr Corp and claim to have a staff filled with "materials science, electricity & magnetism experts who've solved an important part of one of science's mysteries: the key to antigravity."
gawker.com
Another Video Attempts To Explain How This Miraculous Feat Of Technology Actually Works
Along with the YouTube videos, HUVr has also popped up across social media with accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Obviously the product we're seeing here is bogus — despite some convincing video trickery.
theverge.com
There Is No Record Of Such A Company Existing Or Any Trademarks Filed For HUVr. So, Who Or What This Viral Stunt Is Actually Promoting?
Is it all a carefully crafted teaser for another Tony Hawk game? Perhaps an Oculus Rift-style virtual reality title (HUVr)? Or is this viral campaign meant to stir up early anticipation for another Back to the Future film?
slashgear.com
Or Let's Just Hope Some Chinese Company Thinks It's Real And "Copies" It To Make One That Actually Works
