Last year, Phil Tippett, the special effects director who created the original Holochess scene from Star Wars: A New Hope, launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for an augmented reality (AR) version called HoloGrid: Monster Battle. With Star Wars day fast approaching (May 4th), videogame studio HappyGiant and Tippett Studio will mark the occasion with a tournament.
Beginning at 12:01 am EST, 4th May, and ending at midnight EST Sunday, 7th May 2017, the three-day event will give participating players a chance to win prizes such as t-shirts and vintage prints signed by Tippett. All they need to do is accumulate the most multiplayer match victories where they’ll be placed into a pool to receive prizes. To join in sign up here.
“It’s been a dream come true to work with Phil Tippett, who inspired myself and so many others,” said HappyGiant CEO and Creative Director Michael Levine. “AR and VR tech has given us a whole new playground in which we can interact and create our own vision and worlds that previously only existed in fiction. We can’t wait to see what people think of HoloGrid in VR!”
While originally an AR experience with players having to purchase a physical pack of cards, the studio then launched a virtual reality (VR) version for Samsung Gear VR a couple of weeks ago. This was in time for the new Gear VR controller which the title supports. HoloGrid: Monster Battle is compatible with Gear VR Avatars as well.
As an extra bonus, HoloGrid: Monster Battle can now be purchased from the Oculus Store at a discounted rate. For a limited time players will be able to download the title for $2.99 USD/ £2.29 GBP rather than $4.99. Or for the AR mobile version head to the Happy Giant website or Amazon for $24.99.
In the future HoloGrid: Monster Battle might be coming to more platforms, with HappyGiant and Tippett Studio revealing support for Microsoft HoloLens and Google Tango are also being explored.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of HoloGrid: Monster Battle, reporting back with further updates.