Resolution Games has one of the biggest back catalogues of any virtual reality (VR) developer, having released Blaston, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels, Bait!, Angry Birds VR, and most recently Demeo. Helping strengthen its position within the industry, today, Resolution Games has announced the successful closing of a $25 million USD Series C funding round.
Co-led by Qualcomm Ventures LLC and BITKRAFT Ventures, the round also saw Knutsson Holdings AB, GV, MizMaa, GP Bullhound, Partech, Creandum, Initial Capital, Bonnier Ventures and Sisu Game Ventures all participate. This now brings Resolutions Games’ total funding to $38.5 million. The announcement also sees Boaz Peer, Senior Investment Director, Qualcomm Ventures Europe and Israel at Qualcomm Israel Ltd., joining the board of directors, and Malte Barth of BITKRAFT Ventures, becoming a board observer.
Resolution Games plans on using the funds to continue its push into live VR videogames, scaling its business and teams to build new titles. The studio will also continue to support its existing roster of videogames, dedicating more resources to this endeavour. Most recently, Resolutions Games released the Realm of the Rat King expansion for turn-based dungeon crawler Demeo. The title has become a massive hit surpassing the multi-million dollar mark in revenue.
“Six years ago, Resolution Games was one of the first studios focused on VR and AR. We’ve learned a lot, worked in a time with limited technology, survived a small market, and have continued to think big-picture and long-term,” said Tommy Palm, CEO of Resolution Games in a statement. “We see vast potential in VR and that the market is maturing. We want to up the game and standard for quality to ensure VR users have the best possible experience, and that VR games not just meet – but surpass – the potential from what we’ve seen on other platforms like PC and console.”
“The VR market is growing at an accelerated pace, and we expect this trend to continue in the next few years,” said Peer. “Resolution Games has demonstrated it can create world-class IP, compelling immersive experiences and has shown great leadership across the market. We are excited to invest in Resolution Games to support the growth of superior mobile VR and AR experiences.”
Resolution Games currently has 14 videogames currently on the market for VR and augmented reality (AR) devices and as that roster continues to grow, VRFocus will keep you updated.
It’s coming up to the season of giving and what better way to start the celebrations early than with a competition where you can win some videogames. Today’s giveaway is a double bill, with Resolution Games’ Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigsand Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! up for grabs.
Rovio’s iconic Angry Birds franchise came to VR in 2019 with a selection of core levels which have been expanded upon over time. One of the major updates to the bird flinging experience was the addition of a level builder late last year, followed by online sharing to massively enhance the gameplay possibilities.
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! on the other hand, is a purely multiplayer experience. One person is in VR controlling a tree trying to protect its golden acorns from a bunch of thieving squirrels. All the squirrels are controlled by players on mobile devices – via a free app – who are able to select characters with particular traits such as burrowing short distances underground. All making for a fast and entertaining party game.
Most recently, Resolution Games released a Halloween update for both titles, adding new levels as well as spooky themes to get into the spirit of the season as a lot of developers like to do.
So onto the competition. VRFocus has got six codes to give away, three for Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs and three for Acron: Attack of the Squirrels, both for the Oculus Quest platform. There are multiple ways to enter the giveaway with the standard prize draw entry rules applying: Follow us (or already be following us) on Twitter or alternatively, visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel to get an entry for each. Winners will receive a single randomly drawn code. The competition will be open until 11.59 pm GMT on Monday 26th October 2020. The draw will be made shortly thereafter.
Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs is getting Slimy Slopes, a new area featuring 13 levels for players to tackle. Players will once again battle with Dr. Frankenswine and his evil machinations. This addition now means the videogame has 91 base levels to play. Plus there’s the new level builder which brought community sharing earlier this year.
As for Acron: Attack of the Squirrels there’s a new Halloween themed level called Sulky Swamp, as well as updated gameplay features. These include 1v1 gameplay, with the tree facing off against a singular squirrel. The challenge can then be increased by adding in bots.
“Since we expanded the level builder tool to online this summer, players have been spending more time than ever building, playing, and sharing their own levels in Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs,” said Tommy Palm, CEO of Resolution Games. “We hope that fans enjoy our latest spooky update, and continue to build and share their latest creations with the Angry Birds community.”
“While Acron is great to experience locally, the cross-platform functionality has made this the perfect game to connect with friends both near and far over the last few months,” Palm continued. “Now with the launch of the Quest 2, we’re excited to give players a special Halloween treat in the form of new content and updated gameplay mechanics to try out with their friends and family over the upcoming holiday seasons.”
Both updates are free for owners. Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs supports Oculus Quest and Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality and PlayStation VR, retailing for $14.99 while Acron: Attack of the Squirrels works with Oculus Quest and PC VR headsets. It retails for $19.99 with the iOS or Android app free to download. For further updates on Resolution Games’ latest titles, keep reading VRFocus.
As an educator focused on the implementation of virtual reality (VR) in the classroom, most of my VR app downloads over the last four years have been educational ones. That’s not to say that I don’t ever download videogames (as if I wasn’t going to hammer Beat Saber along with everyone else) but on the whole, the amount of non-educational content I purchase is limited. Last year though, with the launch of Viveport Infinity, I found myself in a position where I could download hundreds of titles with complete freedom. Whilst I continued to grab educational content, I also started grabbing a lot more videogames.
Obviously many of the most accomplished developers produce experiences exclusively since videogames tend to attract a wider audience. I’ve had the opportunity to try some truly stunning VR title but it’s always hard for me to remove my teacher’s hat. As such, I found that as I played, I kept noticing elements of various games that I thought had great potential to enrich educational VR experiences. So I thought why not pull out some of these features that I was seeing in VR games and explain why I think they could be applied effectively to educational experiences. Who knows – maybe I’ll help spark an idea for the next great educational VR app?
Game: Beat Saber
Feature: Shallow learning curve
There’s a lot to love about Beat Saber but one thing that I think makes it so powerful (and so successful) is the fact that anyone can pick it up and get the hang of it within a couple of minutes. So many educational experiences have overly complex UI or a lengthy tutorial-style opening section. Being able to have students engage with a new VR experience without a lot of input or support is very useful and reduces the impact on learning time.
Game: Waltz of the Wizard
Feature: Fully interactive environments
The sense of freedom to interact with absolutely anything you can get your hands on in Waltz of the Wizard is wonderfully engaging. I find that many edu apps limit this type of freedom to explore a space and instead prefer to deliver a linear experience where you are directed from one point of interaction to another. More freedom, more interactive content and more Easter eggs would not only add to the sense of presence but also encourages exploration within the educational space. This type of approach is what helps foster a love of learning.
Game: Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
Feature: Parallel access on mobile devices
I recognise the fact that some multi-user apps like Rec Room allow access from mobile devices but Acron: Attack of the Squirrels offers something more unique in the way that the mobile users take on a complementary role within the experience. One of the real issues for schools in terms of VR adoption is still price and therefore schools tend to have access to a limited number of headsets. I’ve shared numerous ideas in the past for handling this issue so that students are not waiting for turns but the use of parallel access on mobile devices seen in Acron: Attack of the Squirrels would be a real plus here. By allowing students with mobile devices to interact and engage with another student using a VR headset, a larger group can be involved in an experience despite limited amounts of hardware. Massive potential here folks.
Game: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Feature: Parallel access for analogue players
In a similar way to Acron: Attack of the Squirrels, the way Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes makes a single VR user collaborate with non-VR teammates (with the bomb-defusing instructions) is something that could really benefit schools with limited hardware. Transpose this exact videogame to a chemistry experiment scenario and it would make a great opportunity to develop practical science skills as well as valuable soft skills like communication and collaboration. What about having an experience wherein the analogue players have a physical map of a virtual world which they need to use geographical knowledge to interpret and guide the VR player? Lots of potential here…
Game: Summer Funland
Feature: Curated activities
When I first downloaded Summer Funland for my daughter, I didn’t expect much and I definitely wasn’t prepared for the wealth of experiences built into this one app. From carnival games to rollercoasters to puzzle-filled mazes and even Batmobile rides – it really does give the sense of being at a huge virtual theme park. There is just so much here in the same space – and this is something I wish we saw more within the VR education space where often an app includes a short activity and little more. Or multiple experiences are split into separate apps to force multiple downloads/payments. I do appreciate that in some cases this may be to keep file sizes lower but multiple experiences could still be housed within one core hub and then users cache experiences that they engage with.
Game: Rec Room
Feature: Junior accounts
The addition of junior accounts in Rec Room was a brilliant move. Limiting youngsters’ access to communicate within this social VR platform may seem somewhat detrimental to the experience as a whole but by prioritising child protection and digital safety, Rec Room definitely earned a gold star in my book. The junior accounts feature could be applied to educational experiences in a range of ways. I’ve had to shelve plans to use platforms like Within and some historical apps with younger learners due to some more mature content Having the ability to switch to a junior mode would allow apps to reach a broader range of students but ensure that the content is age-appropriate.
Game: Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
Feature: A sense of humour!
Learning should be fun. So many educational experiences are deadly serious and lack a sense of humour. Being able to make students laugh a little will make them enjoy the experience even more. Whilst I’m obviously not advocating for that special blend of risqué Roiland/Harmon humour found in Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Accounting or Trover Saves the Universe, in content aimed at children but there’s definitely scope for more fun and whimsy in educational VR. It wouldn’t always be appropriate (e.g. within a historical experience it may not be suitable) but there are definitely some educational experiences which would have benefited from a less-serious tone.
Game: Quanero
Feature: Time manipulation
I was tempted to put Superhot here to be honest but this lesser-known title from a couple of years back is still my favourite example of time manipulation within VR. The player can slow down time, reverse it or stop it completely to allow them to explore scenes as they try to solve a crime. Imagine this same mechanic applied to a chemistry experience, allowing students to view a reaction from multiple angles, or a history experience, walking through key events and finding additional details. I’d love to see more dynamic time controls in educational VR. The best I can think of right now is the ability to make spatial recordings in Engage – which can then be replayed, paused, scrubbed and walked through as if you were there. It’s definitely something you need to try if you haven’t already.
Game: The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Feature: Freedom of Choice
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is awesome for a lot of reasons but its clever use of choice and consequences make it unique to each player and very rewarding. This is another feature I’d love to see integrated into educational experiences more often, as a part of a shift away from the linear, follow-the-path experiences. One of the real benefits of VR in education is that it can remove the fear of failure since things can be rest and retried multiple times. Bringing in more choice and branching narrative type mechanics could really supplement this and help forge deeper learning opportunities.
Game: Half-Life: Alyx
Feature: Engaging narrative
It would be remiss of me not to include the recent smash hit that is Half-Life: Alyx and whilst there is so much to love about this AAA title, for me, it is the powerful narrative that makes it so impressive and engaging. It’s by no means the only VR videogame that boasts a great narrative, with Torn, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and A Fisherman’s Tale being other good examples. Wrapping a learning experience in an interesting, well-structured narrative is a great way to immerse learners in the content more deeply. Just look at how Operation Apex blends learning about marine biology and conservation with a hunt for a giant shark. The story draws you in and makes the learning both more authentic and more subtle.
Oculus Quest has been the standout success of 2019, with consumers eager to buy the headset and developers equally eager to supply the standalone device with content. Not only does the device have its own dedicated store but thanks to Oculus Link all of Oculus Rift’s content is also available. For this roundup of the best Oculus Quest videogames, VRFocus is purely going to concentrate on those made for the headset, allowing you to enjoy untethered VR gaming freedom.
Oculus Quest may have only been available for seven months but it has already made an impact on the VR scene. The store may be highly curated but there are plenty of videogames worth your time across a range of genres and skill levels.
The Best Oculus Quest Games of 2019:
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
You could almost say this is three videogames in one, but as each is roughly around 45 minutes long and you need to play all of them to unravel the full story. While Star Wars fans will certainly get the greatest joy out of playing Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Seriesthanks to its story being canon material, even those that aren’t bothered about the franchise should still have fun playing with lightsabers and using the force.
Beat Saber
While the popular rhythm-action title couldn’t be included in VRFocus’ PlayStation VR ‘Best of 2019’ list, Beat Saber can most certainly be included here, as it was a launch title for Oculus Quest. Leading its genre Beat Saber needs little introduction as its simple yet addictive gameplay cutting cubes with a sword has struck a chord with VR gamers across the world.
There’s a reasonable selection of included songs plus a load of DLC tracks available to expand the selection. Beat Saber is one of those titles which has become a de facto addition to most gamers libraries no matter the platform and the Oculus Quest version is no different.
Pistol Whip
Another rhythm-action videogame, this time from the studio behind The Gallery puzzle series, Cloudhead Games. Only released in November, Pistol Whiphas already garnered quite the reputation as a non-stop action shooter inspired by the likes of John Wick.
You can choose to shoot or melee enemies whilst dodging incoming bullets like a badass, all to a thumping soundtrack and some intense visuals. Modifiers help to change the gameplay, adding dual-wield weapons or removing the aim assist to increase the score multiplier. If Beat Saber isn’t quite your thing then Pistol Whip could well scratch that gaming itch, a first-person shooter (FPS) with flair.
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
A small side project by Apex Construct developer Fast Travel Games, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a cute puzzler with light challenges designed for all ages.
It may have only got three-stars in VRFocus’review but that does mean to say its not worthy to be on this list. While The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is a little short, the design and ideas employed are definitely worth a look, each level a small diorama to be spun around, peered into and investigated. Charming and cute, The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets will put a smile on your face.
Gadgeteer
Another puzzle-based experience, Gadgeteer is a far more elaborate affair than others on this list. Gameplay mechanics revolve around Rube Goldberg machines, using a series of gadgets to build elaborate contraptions. Offering a single-player campaign to teach you the ropes, the sandbox mode is where most players will spend their time, offering free rein to create whatever machines you so please with the 50+ items available.
VRFocussaid in its review: “Gadgeteer isn’t going to be for everyone, much like being a watchmaker. It’s finicky, time-consuming and puzzling all at the same time. They’re also the reasons why Gadgeteer is a puzzle gem for Oculus Quest.”
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
So far this list has purely been about single-player VR videogames so let’s change that with Acron: Attack of the Squirrels by Resolution Games. Multiplayer only, Acron: Attack of the Squirrelsis at its best with a few friends and family over, all playing locally.
The Oculus Quest player takes the role of a tree trying to protect several golden acorns while everyone else is a mischevious squirrel trying to steal them. The non-VR players join in via a free mobile app and up to eight can team up at once, offering some highly entertaining gameplay, with everyone laughing and shouting as they succeed and fail.
Shadow Point
More puzzling escapades, this time from Coatsink with Shadow Point. With a story narration by the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart, this British studio has previously released some excellent VR videogames and Shadow Point continues that trend.
Trying to unravel the mystery of a missing schoolgirl you head to Shadow Point observatory before being whisked to the heavens, tasked with solving evermore elaborate puzzles which play with light and shadows.
If you’ve tried The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets and want greater depth and difficulty then Shadow Point is a good step to take, providing a solid few hours of entertainment (depending on whether you get stuck of course).
Journey of the Gods
If you’re looking for a Legend of Zelda-like VR experience on Oculus Quest then Journey of the Gods is worth a look. With a bold cel-shaded style, there are big monsters to fight, people to save, weapons to upgrade and lands to explore. Everything that you could want or need in a VR adventure.
VRFocus noted in its review of Journey of the Gods: “Showcasing what’s best about VR adventuring, the title is ideal for those who want to make the most of their new headset purchase, with decent gameplay, narrative and fantasy feel.” Not one to be missed this festive season.
Thrill of the Fight
There are quite a few ways to burn calories in VR as this list very well proves and Thrill of the Fightoffers the most intensive workout here. Boxing fans will find a barebones experience with training and career modes available. There are no flashy gimmicks here, you need to block, watch your footwork and time those punches for maximum effect – no waving your arms wildly hoping for success.
Do a couple of fights back to back and you’ll soon start to notice if you don’t work out much. Thrill of the Fight is very much a videogame which relies on roomscale, as you’ll need a minimum of 2m x 2m to play. More is preferable, otherwise, during the heat of a match, you’re likely to hit a wall.
Originally a PC VR title released in 2016, Thrill of the Fight has translated well for those wishing for an energetic experience.
Synth Riders
Noticing a theme here? Yes, here’s another rhythm-action videogame for those that love to expel some energy. Synth Ridersdifferentiates itself from Beat Saber and Pistol Whip with Synth Wave tunes for that retro 80s feel.
This might be another arm swinger but its still great fun, and there are several modes and modifiers to change the gameplay mechanics. There’s a little more of a cheese factor with Synth Riders which is fine by VRFocusas the tunes just make you want to bop along.
Synth Riders might not be as well known as the other two but that’s no reason to dismiss it, plus its the cheapest of the three.
Resolution Games’ latest virtual reality (VR) title Acron: Attack of the Squirrels may well look cute with all those adorable squirrels running around but this week the team is embracing the spooky season with a new update. Dubbed ‘Haunting Horrors’ the update not only reskins the characters and environments, but it also adds a new level.
For starters, the Haunting Horrors level is divided into 3 parts: a spooky-themed tree enclave, cemetery, and mausoleum. These areas are connected by 3 paths comprised of an old bridge, graveyard road and broken cliffs. The level is completely free for all players.
The new skins, on the other hand, won’t be free. This Halloween skin pack is available as an in-app purchase for $1.99 USD, featuring:
Were-Zip: Awoo! It’s Zip, but much, much hairier. Don’t worry, she doesn’t bite!
Doug-o-Lantern: Doug’s Halloween look is cute AND spooky. We’re not sure how he got the pumpkin on his head.
Count Chunk-ula: What avoids sunlight and garlic? Count Chunk-ula! Large coffin not included.
Sim-ply Awful: Sim has been mummified for your convenience! Some might say this was a grave error…
Resolution Games also has two non-Halloween-themed skin packs coming in the update:
Jungle Boogie Pack ($0.99) – Let your animal instincts take over with this totally wild skin pack (note: players can test out the Cheetah skin that’s a part of this pack for free!)
Mobster Madness Pack ($2.99) – You’ll feel like the big capo with this waste management business skin pack.
Released back in August, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels is a multiplayer, cross-platform party title where one player is in VR as a tree trying to protect its acorns while up to eight other players on Android or iOS phones are the squirrels, all trying to steal those acorns.
VRFocus gave Acron: Attack of the Squirrelsa commendable 4-star rating in our review, saying: “There really isn’t much to dislike about Acron: Attack of the Squirrels as its such an amusing videogame. Resolution Games has stuck with its tried and tested playful design, whilst bringing some multiplayer mayhem to the table, making it an ideal choice for Oculus Quest owners who like to take their headset out and about.”
For further updates on the videogame, keep reading VRFocus.
Virtual reality (VR) is an awesome entertainment medium which has dramatically improved over the last few years. While the original entry point wasn’t exactly cheap or necessarily practical for a lot of people the launch of Oculus Quest has opened up the technology to a much wider user base. Its portability, inside-out tracking and 6DoF controllers allow for instantly immersive gameplay, but for those fresh to VR choosing the right experience can mean the difference between a lifelong passion or instant nausea and dislike. Which is why VRFocus has chosen the following selection to start newbies off.
The important variables to consider are whether the title offers enough of that VR spark without causing any discomfort. So that pretty much means no locomotion to begin with or maybe some light teleportation, coupled with lots of interactive elements. Below are ten videogames which not only fit the bill but also happen to be some of VRFocus’ favourites.
Pinball FX2 VR
Released only a few short weeks ago, Zen Studios’ Pinball FX2 VR offers a beautiful mix of graphics, gameplay and an easy difficulty curve when it comes to controls. With highly detailed tables that you can peer into and explore their complex mechanisms, the simple gameplay is highly addictive with that old-fashioned highscore goal great to challenge friends with. Given a full five-star rating in VRFocus’original review, Pinball FX2 VR retails on Oculus Store for £10.99 GBP.
Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs
Rovio Entertainment’s classic mobile title got a revamp this year by Resolution Games, Creating Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigsin the process. Featuring over 50 levels, the experience allows you to teleport around the 3D buildings to fixed locations to unleash those destructive birds. Another simple yet very engaging videogame Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodesby Steel Crate Games was one of the earliest examples of local social VR multiplayer, highlighting the fact that VR doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. The VR player has to diffuse a bomb, unfortunately, they have no idea how to as each bomb is made up of different modules that have to be solved individually. To do this all the non-VR players have a bomb manual and must guide the person in VR to the correct solution. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Racket: Nx
Racket: Nx takes the classic contained sport of squash and gives it a futuristic twist. Players find themselves inside a giant dome with hexagonal wall panels which light up according to the mode and difficulty. Great for those who wish to extert some energy without the worry of nausea thanks to staying on the spot, Racket: Nx can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99.
Electronauts
Developed by VR powerhouse Survios, Electronauts allows you to unleash your inner musician even if you’re tone-deaf. With two sticks in hand like a composer, the title gives players a massive array of sound-altering options to choose from. Record loops, sequences, layer filters and more (there are even musical grenades), to twist and distort a variety of songs across genres such as EDM, hip hop and dubstep. Achieving a five-star review, Electronauts can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99.
Bait!
Another Resolution Games title, this was the studio’s first big success. A casual fishing videogame with a basic storyline to keep you catching fish, there are a selection of lakes each with their own particular fish to hook. What makes Bait! an instant purchase on Oculus Store is the fact it’s free.
Space Pirate Trainer
Originally released for PC VR headsets back in 2016, Space Pirate Trainerthe only first-person shooter (FPS) on this list offering a range of modes and gameplay options. With a selection of weapon loadouts from shotguns to lazer beams, the title is another one to get you moving dodging energy bolts from the flying robot enemies. For those that like shooting stuff Space Pirate Trainer can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Moss
The most expensive title on VRFocus’ list, Polyarc’s Moss is a single-player, third-person puzzle adventure involving pint-sized heroine Quill. A great evil once befell her land and so all the mice now live deep in the forest, hidden away from danger. Of course, the situation arises where Quill finds herself chosen to go on a quest to help save her family and everyone else. You play a benevolent being that not only controls Quill and her actions but the environment as well. This adorable little puzzle solvercan be found on Oculus Store for £22.99.
Beat Saber
One of the most popular VR videogames of the moment, Beat Saber is a rhythm action title where you slice cubes with light sabers. Fast, frantic and great for burning a few calories is one of those videogames where you instantly have to have ‘one more go’ to either try a new song, to beat your previous score or challenge yourself to a higher difficulty level. Another title which has received a five-star reviewBeat Saber can be found on Oculus Store for £22.99.
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
The newest videogame on this list, Acron: Attack of the Squirrelsis a purely multiplayer experience, great for when friends and family are round. The VR player takes the role of a tree trying to protect its acorns from hungry squirrels. Up to eight players can then join in on mobile devices trying to steal those acorns and get them back to base. A really fun and exciting local gameplay experience where you can swap between VR and mobile, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99 (the iOS and Android part is free to download from their stores).
Curious about how we livestream the way we do? Then look no further than this handy guide for general tips and this guide specific to our Oculus Quest setup. For today we’re playing Acron: Attack of the Squirrels and giving out FIVE copies of the for Steam LIVE while streaming.
We’re back again with another livestream planned for today 8/30/19 @11:00AM PT on the UploadVR YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Mixer.
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels just released this week as the latest VR party game that aims to pit friends against one another. To find out more about why we’re such big fans, make sure to read and watch our review here. In short, it’s just simple fun. The VR user plays as a animated tree that throws sap and explosive pine cones at squirrels who are controlled smartphone users connected to the game wirelessly. The goal is for the squirrel players to steal acorns and for the VR tree player to stop them. Each squirrel has a different special ability and it results in some chaotic and crazy matches.
For the giveaway, you’ve got to watch along life and type !raffle into the chat once the giveaway starts and then respond if your name is announced as a winner. That’s it!
The stream is planned to start around 11:00 AM PT today and we’ll aim to last for about an hour or two. We’ll be hitting YouTube, Twitter, Mixer, and Facebook all at once. You can see the full stream embedded via YouTube right here down below once it’s up:
Embedded livestream coming soon
You can see lots of our past archived streams over in our YouTube playlist, as well as various other gameplay highlights. There’s lots of good stuff there so make sure and subscribe to us on YouTube to stay up-to-date on gameplay videos, video reviews, interviews, and more original content!
And please let us know which games or discussions you want us to livestream next! We have lots of VR games in the queue that we would love to show off more completely.
Yesterday Resolution Games released its eighth virtual reality (VR) title in the form of social multiplayer Acron: Attack of the Squirrels. Supporting a range of headsets one of the best to play the videogame on is Oculus Quest thanks to its wire-free portability. And thanks to our friends at Resolution Games VRFocus just so happens to have several Acron: Attack of the Squirrels codes for Oculus Quest to giveaway.
While Acron: Attack of the Squirrels does have online capabilities to play people around the world its true genius is in local multiplayer mode. Only one person plays in VR, in the role of a tree who needs to protect its golden acorns from thieving little squirrels. The VR player can do this by grabbing and flinging the squirrels away when they’re close enough or by lobbing various balls of foliage to knock them out.
Naturally, the squirrels are wiley little critters which dash all over the place proving to be hard targets. There are four characters to choose from, each with their own unique ability such as burrowing or running really fast. Just to make matters worse for the VR player up to eight people on mobile phones can join in the action. either on iOS or Android devices.
VRFocus gave Acron: Attack of the Squirrelsa commendable 4-star rating in our review, saying: “There really isn’t much to dislike about Acron: Attack of the Squirrels as its such an amusing videogame. Resolution Games has stuck with its tried and tested playful design, whilst bringing some multiplayer mayhem to the table, making it an ideal choice for Oculus Quest owners who like to take their headset out and about.”
So onto the competition. Today VRFocus is giving away several codes for Acron: Attack of the Squirrelson Oculus Quest. There are multiple ways to enter the giveaway with the standard prize draw entry rules applying: Follow us (or already be following us) on Twitter or alternatively, visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel to get an entry for each. Only one code is available per person, each drawn randomly. The competition will be open a week. Beginning today and ending at midnight UK time on Friday 6th September 2019. The draw will be made shortly thereafter. Best of luck.
Everyone likes a good party game to build some atmosphere – who wants to just sit around a talk nowadays? – and there are a few choice virtual reality (VR) titles available which fit the bill. Resolution Games is a VR developer which has generally stuck to single-player experiences (Bait!, Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs) until now, creating what could well be one of the best social VR videogames in Acron: Attack of the Squirrels.
What we have here are frantic three-minute rounds of absolute mayhem involving a pack of squirrels and a tree. Sounds completely normal right? Resolution Games has created a 1 vs 2-8 player brawl using a VR headset and mobile phones that’s all about teamwork for the squirrels and a lot of arm (branch) waving for the tree.
As you may have guessed the player in VR takes the role of the rather defensive tree, which is looking to protect its golden acorns. Armed with three different projectiles all you need to do is stop the mobile players running off with your prized possessions. As the squirrels, the mobile players will need to team up, select their preferred character and aim to get four acorns back to home base within the allotted time.
Playing as the tree offered the most exciting aspect of the gameplay due to the fact there’s so much going on and you’re on your own. With up to eight players to monitor as well as their own unique abilities aiding their squirrel cause, anyone who dons the headset is in for a fight. The projectiles on offer can slow opponents down or knock them out completely, making them drop an acorn. Subsequent hits draw the acorns back to base. You can also grab the squirrels if you’re quick enough when they come into range and throw them out of the level – for some reason that’s particularly satisfying, especially in sudden death.
On the squirrel side, there are four characters classes to choose from, offering the usual mix of strategies – one is really fast, one can build tunnels while the big tough squirrel can help defend the others. The great thing is because players can join in using a mobile phone it means pretty much anyone can play. Death is irrelevant as you can keep respawning, trying each character in turn to find a favourite. Create a strategy to win or simply go full bore and see what happens, that’s what so enjoyable about Acron: Attack of the Squirrels the fast, think on your feet gameplay.
Ideally, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels is best enjoyed as a local party experience with a few friends and family together. Everyone may be looking at their phones which doesn’t seem social but you’d be surprised the amount of talking and cheering going on with every success and failure. When no one is on hand then Acron: Attack of the Squirrels does have an online mode with built-in voice chat. It works well with no issues but lacks the group ambience. Plus you can’t keep swapping the headset which is a big part of the overall experience.
With the matches being so short and sharp it does quickly become apparent that overall content is a little lacking. After a half-hour play session you’ve soon seen everything Acron: Attack of the Squirrels has to offer like the six locations to play in and the four squirrel characters. Which means longevity could become an issue if you do play the videogame solidly. If you’re just playing for a couple of hours on a Sunday then most will be too engrossed to notice.
There really isn’t much to dislike about Acron: Attack of the Squirrels as its such an amusing videogame. Resolution Games has stuck with its tried and tested playful design, whilst bringing some multiplayer mayhem to the table, making it an ideal choice for Oculus Quest owners who like to take their headset out and about. When it comes to VR party games, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels should be top of your list.
Beat Saber
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The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
Gadgeteer
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
The important variables to consider are whether the title offers enough of that VR spark without causing any discomfort. So that pretty much means no locomotion to begin with or maybe some light teleportation, coupled with lots of interactive elements. Below are ten videogames which not only fit the bill but also happen to be some of 
