Category: Against Gravity

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Rec Room Becomes VR’s Most Important App With PSVR Launch

Rec Room Becomes VR’s Most Important App With PSVR Launch

Seattle-based Against Gravity is working on what is perhaps VR’s most important app.

Rec Room connects players across all headsets that make use of two full motion hand controllers, including Rift, Vive, PlayStation VR as well as headsets from Acer, Samsung, Lenovo, HP and Dell. Some VR software like Altspace and EVE: Valkyrie have enabled cross-play before across several headsets, but Rec Room’s multiplayer is likely to have wider reach being free and offering access to a whole bunch of fun and easily accessible activities — like paintball, charades and questing.

The game is in a beta testing phase and on Steam it carries an “overwhelmingly positive” rating after more than 1,800 reviews. Its launch on PSVR (PlayStation store link), and coming soon to the Windows Store, represents an important moment in VR’s road toward mainstream. Rec Room can become the free VR meeting place that brings together friends who bought different headsets. VR often gets criticism for being a solitary experience, but part of the reason for that is there’s no easy way for people inside different headsets to experience something fun together. Fun social VR can be one of the most compelling reasons to use a VR headset and Rec Room’s availability for free on so many devices can help lots more people have those experiences together. In other words, with Rec Room, VR headset owners have more reasons to use their gear.

Rec Room launches in open beta on the PlayStation Store today in North America, South America and the EU. It does not require PlayStation Plus to play. Against Gravity will be running an AMA on r/PSVR starting at 10 am today.

Update: Additional context added.

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‘Rec Room’ Goes into Open Beta for PSVR Today, Available Free Worldwide

In comparison to the various PC VR platforms and even mobile VR headsets like Samsung Gear VR, PlayStation VR has been at a bit of disadvantage when it comes to the depth and breadth of social VR spaces available. That’s changing soon though with Against Gravity’s Rec Room on PSVR, a landmark social VR experience that moves into open beta today.

Update (11/21/17): ‘Rec Room’ is available on PSN today in North and South America regions as well as: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK, and Ukraine.

Original article (11/10/17): Since the app was initially released on Steam in summer 2016, the lovably cartoony Rec Room has certainly grown from the early days when it only offered a few casual sports and a single hub, something like you’d see at a YMCA.

With the more recent inclusion of games like paintball, laser tag and a host of co-cop Quests—which are awesome games in their own right—and the ability to have your own private room where you can invite friends, the game has proven to be a place worth revisiting time and time again, if only to see what’s new.

Rec Room has been in closed beta since October, allowing players connecting from North and South America to try out the game in preparation for launch. There’s still no firm launch date for the ‘full game’ as such, but I can’t imagine that’ll matter to anyone if everyone can play in the beta.

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Why New Social VR App 'Rec Room' Makes You Smile

Against Gravity maintains that PSVR support will include cross-play with Rift and Vive at launch, and just like the PC VR version, will be entirely free. That includes no ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions, paid rooms, or micro-transactions of any kind.

Rec Room will be available for download on PSN November 21st. Check out the game’s PSN listing here.

The post ‘Rec Room’ Goes into Open Beta for PSVR Today, Available Free Worldwide appeared first on Road to VR.

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Rec Room PlayStation VR Open Beta Launch

Increasing numbers of companies and developers are turning their attention towards making virtual reality (VR) into more of an inclusive, social experience. Ahead of the curve on that front is developer Against Gravity, creators of the popular social VR experience Rec Room. It was announced a short time ago that the title was heading to the PlayStation VR, and now players will have a chance to try it out with the upcoming open beta.

Last month saw the launch of a limited closed beta for certain PlayStation VR users in North and South America. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog by Against Gravity Community Designer Shawn Whiting, the response was sufficiently impressive and positive that the developers have decided to launch an open beta on the PlayStation Store from 21st November, 2017.

Rec Room is described as a ‘VR social club’ which allows users to get together in the same VR space and engage in various social mini-games, such as paintball, disc golf or charades, as well as more adventurous epic quests and adventures, or more creative endeavours such as maker pen or sandbox machine.

Rec Room pirate quest

Customisation is a key feature, with players able to style and customise their avatar to their preference, other items such as paintball guns can also be customised, and PlayStation Plus members will receive an exclusive assault rifle paintball gun skin.

The developers have also confirmed that the open beta and the full release will both feature cross-platform compatibility, so PlayStation VR users will be able to interact with friends who own a HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, a feature that was missing from the closed beta.

For Rec Room users who enjoy engaging with the quests, Against Gravity have said that a new pirate-themed co-operative quest will go live at some point in early 2018. The development team engage closely with the community, and there are regular chances for players to make their voices heard at the Developer Q&A events held every two weeks.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Rec Room as it becomes available.

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Rec Room Gets Limited Beta Launch on PlayStation VR

Last month developer Against Gravity announced that its popular social platform Rec Room – where players from across the world can come together to engage in multiplayer games – would be launching the title on PlayStation VR this year. At the time the studio said it was looking for PlayStation VR owners to become beta testers prior to release and that’s now happened, just in a very limited fashion.

Making the announcement over on Reddit, Against Gravity said: “For the first time, Rec Room is available to PSVR players! For now, it’s a very limited beta, and they are not yet mixed with the “general population”.” This means that players testing the title won’t be able to join their VR brethren on Oculus Rift or HTC Vive just yet. Also the beta was solely limited to PlayStation VR users in North or South America.

The PlayStation VR update does include a bunch of new additions as well for players to test out. For new users there’s a revamped tutorial, teaching the handshake (add friend), fist bump (party up), and Stop (mute/ignore/report) gestures, the  Code of Conduct is highlighted more prominently and the keyboard now has shortcuts for common email addresses.

In terms of gameplay additions, in the popular paintball bows are now in custom games, there are new toys in the sandbox machine, Quest has been tweaked changing the way teams advanced through the level, and the weekly challenges have been slightly altered: “we’re going to release just one skin per week, but focus on making that skin a little more special,” notes the studio.

Then Against Gravity releases details on the full official launch, VRFocus will let you know.

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Social Multiplayer Rec Room Confirmed for PlayStation 2017 Launch

One of the most popular social experiences on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive is Against Gravity’s virtual reality (VR) social club Rec Room, allowing players to hangout, chat and play a multitude of videogames together. Now the studio has confirmed a PlayStation VR version is in the works, due for release by the end of the year.

Making the announcement via Reddit, Against Gravity is looking for PlayStation VR owners to become beta testers prior to launch, with applications now open for anyone who’d like to test run the title so long as they live in North or South America. Other stipulations include one application per PlayStation VR headset and that you won’t need PlayStation Plus to participate – if you get chosen.

Rec Room screenshot 1

Just like the PC version, Rec Room for PlayStation VR will support cross-platform gameplay at launch, so players will be able to compete against Oculus Rift and HTC Vive users – the function won’t be available for the beta. The studio also states that the console version won’t ‘have any ads, in app purchases, subscriptions, paid rooms, etc,’ being completely free.

Originally released on HTC Vive back in June 2016, Rec Room is still a Steam Early Access title seeing plenty of updates over the last year. Players can customise their appearance, team up to play multiplayer games like Paintball, 3D Charades, and Disc Golf, or head off on four player co-op adventures.

As further details are released on the PlayStation VR version, VRFocus will keep you updated.

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‘Rec Room’ is Coming Soon to PSVR, Applications for Beta Testing Now Open

Rec Room (2016), the popular social VR app for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, is coming soon to PlayStation VR. Production studio Against Gravity announced Rec Room‘s PSVR release via the PSVR reddit page, saying that the game is slated to arrive by the end of this year.

Rec Room offers a slew of active social games using the respective systems’ motion controllers. With the specific aim to get you up and out of your seat, the app features co-op ‘Quests’ that take you on battles through classic sci-fi and medieval settings, and has a number of group activities like paintball, disc golf, and 3D charades. Whatever it is, Rec Room always seems to give you a reason to come back, and it’s such an excellent experience (when not chocked full of ankle-biters, but hey, who would’ve thought kids like games too) that we put it on our ‘Top 5 Games for HTC Vive’ list.

Against Gravity maintains that PSVR support will include cross-play with Rift and Vive at launch, and just like the PC VR version, will be entirely free. That includes no ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions, paid rooms, or micro-transactions of any kind.

The studio is currently taking applications for its beta, which they say will be on a closed, PSVR-only server during the testing period. Only players connecting from North and South America can apply, something Against Gravity says has to do with the available PSVR regions Sony is currently allowing them to use prior to launch. The studio says regions could be added in the future however, and will push a separate form if Sony allows it.

There’s no firm date yet for the beta’s starting point, but Against Gravity Community Designer Shawn Whiting says it should kick off in “weeks, not months.”

The post ‘Rec Room’ is Coming Soon to PSVR, Applications for Beta Testing Now Open appeared first on Road to VR.

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Rec Room Get New Multiplayer Quest

Virtual reality (VR) has a slowly growing collection of experiences which are designed to be best experienced with others. From more traditional passive style social media such as Facebook Spaces through to more active titles such as Rec Room by developer Against Gravity, which has just introduced a new Group Quest titled The Curse of the Crimson Cauldron.

The Rec Room was originally released into Steam Early Access for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in 2016, where it received considerable praise from critics and consumers. The title was designed to be a type of online VR social club where people could mingle and play mini-games together, such as 3D Charades, Disc Golf and Paintball. Since then, the developers have expanded the title to include RPG-style quests, which feature storylines to follow and cosmetic items to unlock.

The latest quest lets players take on the Goblin hordes, who are serving a new, mysterious master after the downfall of the Goblin King. Players must discover the secret of the powerful Curse of the Crimson Cauldron and defeat the new ruler of the goblins. Completing the quest allows players to unlock two new outfits, Witch Hunter and Wizard.

Some other new tweaks and fixes have also been added in the new update, including a prompt to import Steam or Oculus friends who play Rec Room. Creators of private games now have moderator powers so can mute or kick guests and give host powers to other guests where needed.

Rec Room is free to play on Steam, and the developers have been keen on continuing to add new features and fix problems, regularly introducing new features and bug fixes through updates. An official full release for the title has not yet been confirmed.

A trailer for the new update is available to view below.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Rec Room as it becomes available.

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‘Rec Room’ Update Adds New Quest, ‘Curse of the Crimson Cauldron’

The impressive content of popular social VR game Rec Room has once again expanded, with this week’s update introducing a brand new Quest titled ‘Curse of the Crimson Cauldron’. Developer Against Gravity believes their third co-op VR mini-adventure is the longest and most challenging to date.

As described in an entry on the game’s Steam news page, Rec Room’s third co-op Quest ‘Curse of the Crimson Cauldron’ is now available, alongside a few extra features and fixes. This includes improved powers for event hosts, a new eraser marker, and a watch prompt to import new friends.

Image courtesy Against Gravity

Against Gravity explained to Road to VR that they believe it is the most difficult quest they’ve created to date, as well as the longest, as illustrated by the quest’s elaborate map (right).

This is a result of the ‘new dynamic encounters’ with more ‘unpredictable’ enemies, along with new challenges which include ‘puzzle solving’ and ‘environmental hazards’. The mode also introduces a new magic wand and crossbow, and ‘double damage potions’ to deal with the stronger enemies.

Image courtesy Against Gravity

With ‘The Quest for the Golden Trophy’ in February and ‘The Rise of Jumbotron!’ in April, along with many other updates to features and content, Rec Room’s development continues at a relentless pace. Against Gravity are seemingly unafraid to make rapid changes to environments and gameplay features, as they have the ability to react to feedback from the highly active community just as quickly. Their approach is clearly successful, with Rec Room becoming one of the most popular social VR platforms. The injection of funding announced early this year has ensured the game continues to be free, although the team will surely have to explore monetisation options in the future.

The post ‘Rec Room’ Update Adds New Quest, ‘Curse of the Crimson Cauldron’ appeared first on Road to VR.

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‘Rec Room’ Studio Raises $5M “to continue to build the future of Social VR”

Seattle-based VR studio Against Gravity has today announced they have received $5M in seed funding to continue to build Rec Room, the studio’s social VR platform.

Only launching last summer, the app has quickly become a success story, winning over fans on both Steam and Oculus Home with high marks. Rec Room seems to have found a winning formula with its over-the-top, YMCA-style social space, which gives you the ability to do everything from playing leisure sports to fist bumping, letting you create a ‘team’ so you can stay together as you tour the app’s many activities.

Rec Room is markedly more emotive than other social VR platforms, plastering your avatar with a melange of cute emojis that seem to cycle at a nearly human-level. Even if the emotes aren’t tied to your actual facial position though, you really can’t help but smile at them (really, it’s all in your brain).

rec room

Against Gravity maintains they’ve raised the $5M “to continue to build the future of Social VR.” Investors include of Sequoia, First Round, Acequia, Vulcan, Maveron, Anorak, Betaworks, The Venture Reality Fund, and many angel investors including investor and new Against Gravity board member Charles Fitzgerald.

The studio says that over 100,000 users visited Rec Room in the second half of 2016, having played over 1 million games, exchanging over 1 million high fives, and firing nearly a billion paintballs at each other—just one of their many games including dodgeball, 3D charades, disc golf, and zero-G paddle ball.

Future improvements to the platform include streamlining the UX and refining systems that can help minimize trolling and harassment. “We want to make it easier to find your current friends and to make new ones. We also plan to give you more ways to interact with those friends, both inside VR and out (oh my!).” writes Against Gravity CEO Nick Fajt in a recent blogpost. “With your help, we’ll be improving and extending both active and passive systems that let you manage specific situations based on your personal preferences, and that help us understand broad community trends to minimize bad interactions in general.”

Fajt formed Against Gravity after working as the Principal Program Manager on the HoloLens team at Microsoft, building the studio with previous HoloLens Creative Director turned CCO Cameron Brown. Fajt maintains the company will be keeping Rec Room free to download, “so anyone can join our community.”

 

The post ‘Rec Room’ Studio Raises $5M “to continue to build the future of Social VR” appeared first on Road to VR.