Make [Real] are likely a familiar name to VRFocus readers. They created virtual reality (VR) videogame Loco Dojo and are a regular fixture around the VR scene in Britain. Sam Watts, Director of Immersive Technologies at Make [Real], has been heavily involved with VR in Brighton thanks to VRlab; as well as helping Roto VR allow developers to integrate native support and control over the VR chair’s motion directly into VR apps. Since then Make [Real] have also been creating various training simulations, as seen at the Great British VR event last year. They’ve also been supporting Immersive VR Education to bring their experience Apollo 11 to Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream from the Oculus Rift. VRFocus spoke with Watts about a new project for the studio – their new VR title Pastimes for Pirates at XR Connects, London.
So, you’re a pirate – swashbuckling merrily away on the seven seas. People hear tales of your escapades but only the parts where you’re boarding boats and plundering foreign lands. But what happens when you’re just trying to go from point A to point B? Well, besides the risk of getting scurvy, it’s all fun and games it turns out. Pastime for Pirates immerses you into that world of pirating (not the scurvy part) and re-invents it into a completely functioning pirate galleon, which you can fully explore in VR. You can either play online or offline, explore distinct areas of the ship and play various pub like games with friends or AI crewmates.
Taking a satirical twist on the ever-popular theme of pirating, Pastime for Pirates will give players a social space to explore and play in. Various mini-games exist on different parts of the ship. You’ll be able to throw darts, play a game of shuffleboard, skittles, try some knife or axe throwing and challenge your friends. Not only will you hear the ocean and the evil cackle of crewmates as they challenge you, but you can also just choose to just enjoy the ocean view.
Winning the mini-games you’ll be able to rack up various achievements and wealth, enabling you to spend on fancy, customisable wardrobe attire for your pirate avatar from hats and buckles to wooden legs. Pastime for Pirates will make use of 6DoF tracking motion controllers, a vibrant graphical style and plenty of seafaring sound effects.
To find out more watch the video below.