Kevin Joyce - Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

August 14, 2016

New Alice VR Screenshots Reveal Out-of-this-World Locations

Following the announcement of an official release date for Klabater and Carbon Studio’s forthcoming Alice VR, a brand new selection of screenshots taken from the videogame have been revealed. Alice VR is currently in development for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and OSVR, and is set to launch later this year.

Alice VR throws the player into a deep space adventure, where the mission to acquire fuel quick unravels into a much bigger story. Players will be invited to explore Speculo, one of the very few colonies where a vital resource for interstellar travel can be mined, and uncover the mysteries behind the downfall of the city of Mirabilis.

Set for release in October 2016, Alice VR is currently expected to be made available for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and OSVR simultaneously. Alice VR will be present at Gamescom, Cologne, this week and VRFocus will be in attendance to bring you all the latest details. In the meantime, check out the brand new selection of screenshots below.

Alice VR screenshot

August 14, 2016

How to Play No Man’s Sky in VR on Oculus Rift & HTC Vive

Since the initial unveiling of the PlayStation VR and the gaining of hype for the recently released No Man’s Sky, there’s been a great debate as to whether or not the videogame would see a virtual reality (VR) compatible release. Rumours fuelled by developer Hello Games’ own public interest in the medium didn’t help with the expectation, but the launch has come-and-gone without even a whisper of VR compatibility. However, that hasn’t prevented third-parties jumping on the bandwagon.

No Man's Sky screenshot

Though the expectation was that the PlayStation 4 version of No Man’s Sky would be VR compatible through PlayStation VR, it’s actually the PC release that is first to benefit from the technology. A word of caution however, as Hello Games did not design No Man’s Sky with the intention of being played in VR (for a comfortable experience a number of design changes would need to be implemented) and as such the below information is intended for experienced VR gamers only.

In order to enable No Man’s Sky for VR gameplay you will need an external third-party application that provides stereo-driver injection, headlook adaptation and more. Most widely recommended is VorpX, and so this is what VRFocus will use for the below example.

Download and install VorpX.
Launch No Man’s Sky and adjust the in-game settings. Recommended are setting the ‘On-Foot Field of View’ to 100 degrees, the ‘Flight Field of View’ to 100 degrees and the ‘Max FPS’ to 60.
Close No Man’s Sky to apply these changes. Do not Reboot.
Launch VorpX.
Launch No Man’s Sky, but do not enter the videogame. Instead, immediately hit the Del key to access the configuration options for VorpX.
Access ‘Image Settings’ and adjust the ‘Aspect Ratio Correction’ to ‘Letterbox 2’.
For additional comfort further options can be tailored to suit the individuals’ needs. For example, you may wish to adjust the ‘Separation Value’ and ‘Image Zoom’ properties.
Exit VorpX’s configuration menu, No Man’s Sky and VorpX.
Reboot VorpX and No Man’s Sky, now fully playable as an external application with the Oculus Rift.

Additional Note: These instructions will also make No Man’s Sky playable on HTC Vive, though additional steps are required. When booting SteamVR, ensure that ‘Steam Overlay’ and ‘Use Desktop Theater’ options are disabled.

No Man's Sky screenshot

Whether or not No Man’s Sky will receive native VR support down the line is anyone’s guess at present, but for now this is your opportunity to experience the videogame as many have desired. VRFocus will keep you updated with the future potential of an official release for VR support with Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky.

August 14, 2016

Final Fantasy XV Delayed – What Does this Mean for Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience?

Recent reports suggest that a forthcoming announcement will confirm a delay in the release of Final Fantasy XV for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Earlier this year at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) press conference, the latter was confirmed to be receiving a virtual reality (VR) tie-in release: will this also be impacted by the delay?

Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience screenshot

The current belief is that Final Fantasy XV was set to launch ahead of Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience, given that the videogame title was originally due to arrive on 30th September 2016, while the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD) itself would not arrive til two weeks later. However, now that Final Fantasy XV has the suggested release date of 29th November, according to Gamnesia, will Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience’s release date be affected?

While there was no confirmation of the intended release strategy for Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience, it was assumed by many that those who purchase Final Fantasy XV would receive a pack-in code with physical copies of the videogame (distributed via PlayStation Network inbox for digital purchases) that would later allow them to download Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience upon release. However, given that Final Fantasy XV now looks set to arrive after the launch of the PlayStation VR HMD, it could well be that Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience is also delayed until November, with the two launching in tandem.

Of course, what this could also mean is that Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience remains on-track for PlayStation VR launch and could be released according to the originally assumed schedule, acting as a primer for the full Final Fantasy XV release.

No official information has yet been issued regarding the delay in Final Fantasy XV’s release, and thus neither has there been any talk about the release of Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience being affected. VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details on the launch of Final Fantasy XV: VR Experience as well as other VR titles coming from Square Enix.

August 13, 2016

GoPro’s First Official 360 Degree Camera Rig Launches This Month

GoPro has been associated with 360 degree video for some time, having been used by many commercial video production companies and ‘prosumers’ for a number of years. Aside from a partnership with Google got the JUMP initiative however, the company has been mainly concerned with developing an improved pipeline for content creators. That all changes this month with the release of the GoPro Omni.

GoPro Omni rig

The GoPro Omni is a six-camera rig designed specifically for GoPro camera and associated with a proprietary content creation ecosystem. Built around the HERO4 Black model, the GoPro Omni includes a synchronisation mechanism that allows commands to be issued to all six cameras without the need for independent input. Changes in mode and capture can be input once and applied instantly to all six cameras.

Furthermore, the cameras can be synchronised to ‘pixel-level’, meaning that each camera will capture within exact alignment with one another. The GoPro Omni rig itself features an aluminium frame specifically draws heat away from the cameras for improved run time, while the flexibility of the design allows compatible with an external battery pack (included within the retail package).

Finally, the GoPro Omni software includes the recording of metadata onto each file and SD card allowing the user to simply plug the card into the SD card slot on their chosen editing platform and find the content already aligned in the correct order.

GoPro Omni bundle

The GoPro Omni rig is available for pre-order now, ready to ship on 17th August 2016. A listing on Amazon.com for the GoPro Omni prices the device at a staggering £2,114 USD, however GoPro’s official website has the ‘rig only’ package for $1,499 and a complete solution, including the six GoPro HERO4 Black cameras, priced at $4,999 . VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest 360 degree video initiatives from GoPro and the company’s partners.

August 12, 2016

D-BOX Discuss The Virtual Reality Company Partnership in Financial Report

D-BOX Technologies has revealed its first quarter results, announcing revenues of $7.7 million for the quarter ended 30th June 2016. This represents a 7% increase in comparison to revenues of $7.2 million for the quarter ended 30th June 2015. However, the more interesting part of the announcement comes in the detailing of a partnership with The Virtual Reality Company.

The Martian: VR Experience screenshot

With the advent of modern virtual reality (VR) technology D-BOX aim to leverage their expertise in immersive motion and true-to-life simulation, actively developing new applications for VR and other key markets. This new and upcoming market will bring significant changes to the entertainment sub-markets (i.e. home and commercial theatres), in addition to obvious immediate applications for simulation and training. D-BOX has stated their intention to be part of the new trend as the size of the VR and augmented reality (AR) markets may soon reach billions of dollars according to numerous industry sources.

As revealed in the financial results press release, D-BOX Technologies will partner with The Virtual Reality Company to collaborate on ‘numerous upcoming projects’. The Virtual Reality Company is a Los Angeles based virtual reality (VR) content studio production company, and through this partnership, D-BOX will be ‘part of the movie-creating process’.

Commenting on the first quarter achievements, Mr. Claude Mc Master, President and Chief Executive Officer of D-BOX, declared: “Over and above these financial results, the latest quarter was characterized by the implementation of new strategic alliances and the concretization of our presence in China. Furthermore, considering our strong financial situation, we are in an excellent position to accelerate penetration of our main markets and pursue our growth. [sic]”

The Martian: VR Experience screenshot

The first product to be released in the partnership between D-BOX and The Virtual Reality Company will be The Martian: VR Experience, which VRFocus confirmed for consumer release earlier this year. No further details on D-BOX’s partnership with The Virtual Reality Company nor the company’s own internal VR applications are currently available. VRFocus will of course keep you updated with any further announcements on either of these projects.

August 12, 2016

D-BOX Discuss The Virtual Reality Company Partnership in Financial Report

The Martian: VR Experience screenshot

August 12, 2016

HoloLens Enterprise Edition Now Available

Following the launch of the HoloLens into retail channels, exclusively via the online Microsoft Store, Microsoft has announced the HoloLens Commerical Suite, a new package for the head-mounted display (HMD) aimed directly at enterprise users. Announced earlier this month, the HoloLens Commerical Suite is now available for purchase.

HoloLens

Following in the footsteps of HTC with the recently revealed HTC Vive Enterprise Edition, Microsoft has added various new features to the HoloLens Commerical Suite edition of the device, including a new warranty service. In addition, new software for the HoloLens Commerical Suite includes a Kiosk mode, which can limit which apps to run to enable demo or showcase experiences, BitLocker data encryption and secure boot and access to a private enterprise store containing only your company’s apps for your specific HoloLens usage.

Perhaps most interestingly, the HoloLens Commerical Suite adds a new accessibility profile in which anyone registered to your organisation can remotely connect to the corporate network through a virtual private network on a HoloLens.

No pricing strategy has been announced for the HoloLens Commerical Suite, with Microsoft instead asking interested parties to contact their sales team directly though the official HoloLens Commerical Suite website. VRFocus will keep you updated with the future of HoloLens and its eventual consumer release.

August 12, 2016

VRFocus to Host UK’s Biggest VR Game Jam

VRFocus is proud to announce the upcoming Virtual Reality Challenge (VRC), a new event taking place 3rd – 4th September 2016, London, the UK’s biggest ever VR Game Jam. Offering fantastic prizes to the winning team, applications to participate in the VRC are now open and are free to all.

VRFocus' VRC logo

Game Jams are a prominent part of virtual reality (VR) with numerous popular videogame titles, including #Selfie Tennis and Final Approach, having originated from such humble beginnings. VRFocus is ready to aid developers looking to create their next entertainment masterpiece through hosting the UK’s biggest ever VR-only Game Jam, VRC, in London next month. Participants will have just 24 hours to develop something unique, with the winning team set to receive a HTC Vive head-mounted display (HMD) for each team member, courtesy of Valve.

Partnering with Epic Games for the VRC, the event will feature numerous mentors from established UK-based VR development studios on-hand to offer advice and guidance to participants building in Unreal Engine 4. The full line-up of mentors will be revealed in due course, however VRFocus can reveal that Climax Studios, CherryPop Games and Supermassive Games will all be lending their support to the prospective jammers.

The VRC will begin on Saturday, 3rd September 2016, at 10am BST. Participants will have time to set up their gear and get to know one another before the theme of the event is announced at 1:15pm. The teams will then be given an opportunity to brainstorm and come up with a unique VR experience based around the given theme before the VRC officially begins at 3pm. From then on the teams have just 24 hours to create something exciting, innovative and inherently unique in the VR space.

Organised in collaboration with Thomas Gere, the event will be held at Campus London, 4-5 Bonhill Street, London, with Climax Studios providing light snacks and dinner on Saturday, 3rd August 2016. Interested parties can apply to participate for free at the official VRC Eventbrite page. Of course, VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details on the VRC, including further details on the available mentors and how to be a part of the event if you can’t attend in person coming soon.

August 12, 2016

PlayStation VR Worlds Goes Gold

The PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD) is due to launch October 2016, with more than 30 titles promised for launch. One of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) key launch titles, PlayStation VR Worlds, has become the first of these titles revealed to have finalised development.

PlayStation VR worlds Case

PlayStation VR Worlds is set to act as the entry title into the world of virtual reality (VR) for console gamers. Bundling a selection of smaller experiences – including The London Heist and Into the Deep – into a single package, PlayStation VR Worlds stands to become the PlayStation VR’s Wii Sports or Sports Champions of the PlayStation VR HMD. The fact that the videogame had completed development was today revealed by a tweet from Sony London Studio’s official Twitter account, confirming that ‘master’ status had been achieved.

In the US, a PlayStation VR bundle package is available which includes PlayStation VR Worlds, PlayStation Camera and PlayStation Move controllers alongside the HMD itself. No such bundle has yet been announced for Europe, resulting in PlayStation VR Worlds being a standalone purchase only. The retail price of PlayStation VR Worlds was recently revealed in an update to the PlayStation Store.

The PlayStation VR HMD is set to launch on 13th October 2016. VRFocus has prepared a PlayStation VR launch guide and a guide to the best PlayStation VR accessories to ensure that you’re ready for that fast-approaching launch.