Evasion’s new Killstreak Update Adds a More Competitive Edge

Archiact launched its dynamic first-person shooter Evasion several months ago for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. Having released a couple of updates since then, today the studio has announced the rollout of its biggest content update yet, adding a more competitive edge to the multiplayer experience.

Evasion

Called the ‘Killstreak Update’, what Archiact has done is introduce an arcade-style scoring system for players, as well as a leaderboard for every mission and difficulty Evasion has to offer. As the campaign allows up to four players to cooperatively complete every mission, with the new additions they can now compete to see who’s the best, with points awarded for Base Kills, Lash Kills, Surge Kills, Assists and more.

And to celebrate the update release, Archiact will be holding a challenge event this weekend. So from 4pm PT on Friday 15th February until 6pm PT on Sunday 17th February, you will be able to fight side by side with the developers to challenge their skills. Top-scoring players form each platform will then be awarded prizes.

A frantic sci-fi shooter that can be played in either single-player or co-op multiplayer modes. Evasion allows gives you the option to choose from four character classes (Striker, Surgeon, Engineer and Warden) each having their own unique strengths, weapons and abilities, which you’re then able to customise as they level-up.

Evasion

Featuring an action-packed story campaign as well as a Survival Mode, the studio paid particular attention to the locomotion aspects of the title. Movement plays a very important role in any FPS, so Archiact has been keen to ensure players are as comfortable as possible whilst in VR. There’s a big range of movement customisation options available to suit every need. Whether that’s teleportation, smooth locomotion, snap turning or anything in between. Additionally, the PlayStation VR version also comes with support for the PlayStation Aim controller, although this does mean you can’t dual wield.

Evasion was one of VRFocus’ favourite VR shooters of 2018, making it onto our ‘Best HTC Vive Games of 2018‘ list.  VRFocus will continue its coverage of Archiact and Evasion, reporting back with any further updates.

A Field Guide To Surviving VR Bullet Hell – Evasion

The release of Archiact Interactive’s new virtual reality (VR) title on PlayStation VR, Evasion, is coming very soon. In anticipation of the release, the PlayStation Blog has delivered a guide on how best to survive the fast-paced action of the VR first-person shooter.

Evasion is a VR sci-fi shooter which can be played either solo or as co-operative multiplayer. Players can choose from one of four classes, each having its own weapons, abilities and strengths to match a variety of play styles.

Evasion PS VR - Co-op battle - GIF

The Blog details a number of tips on how players can make the most of the gameplay of Evasion. The first tip calls to mind the name of the videogame, as it says simply ‘Move or die’ as standing still is a recipe for being mown down.

It also warns that the Optera, the enemies of the title, are relentless are will come at players from all angles, so getting to cover is a vital part of surviving. Keeping an eye on your blaster is also important, as the blaster has three energy levels, with max level obviously having the most punch so keeping blaster power at max as much as possible is a winning tactic.

Sound is also important, as some enemies are sneaky and tend to be heard before they are seen, so a good pair of headphones or speakers is a good idea for keeping an ear out. Players are equipped with a Tether, which can be used for a variety of uses, such as healing teammates and performing class-specific buffs.

Each hero has its own special attack, known as the Surge Attack. This can be activated when the player’s health and energy level are at maximum. Learning when to unleash this devastating attack is an important step towards victory.

Evasion - PSVR Screenshot

Evasion will be coming to PlayStation VR on 9th October. The launch trailer is available to view below. For future coverage of Evasion and other upcoming VR titles, keep checking back with VRFocus.

New Screenshots Released For Evasion On PlayStation VR

Developer Archiact have released a number of new screenshots for their upcoming virtual reality (VR) title Evasion which was announced back in October 2017. The VR first-person shooter (FPS) is designed specifically for high intensity cooperative multiplayer combat putting players in the heart of intense, visual spectacles of virtual alien warfare.

Evasion - PSVR Screenshot

Following on from the recent announcement that the title will be coming to PlayStation VR alongside the release on PC for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, come a number of new screenshots for the PlayStation VR release. Easily described as a VR FPS bullet-hell of a shooter, Evasion will test players to act fast and shoot faster.

“Use your Tether Lash to snatch enemies out of the air and hurl them against buildings, snipe at targets from behind cover, or charge up your blaster and unleash a unique, class-specific Surge Attack. Evasion offers a myriad of ways to take down the Optera swarms.” Explains Archiact in their PlayStation VR annoucement. “Evasion invites you to jump in solo or team up to save an embattled human colony from swarms of invading Optera. PlayStation VR gamers will experience a campaign filled with intense action and AAA-graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4. Built for locomotion and featuring four unique playable classes, Evasion is the authentic FPS experience VR fans have been waiting for!”

Evasion - PSVR Screenshot

The power of the Unreal Engine 4 shows in how much is unfolding on screen at any given time within Evasion. From the colourful shoots and explosions that fill the environment to the designs of the enemies that attack the players. The world is full of interesting elements that will only help to support the gameplay and raise the level of enjoyment that players have.

Though the title is still some way off being release it is clear that the team at Archiact are having a lot of fun working on Evasion, making it the best title it can be. In a recent interview with VRFocus last month it was clear how much the team were commit to the title and Archiact even provided a guest article on the development of the enemies of Evasion.

Evasion - PSVR Screenshot

VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham got a chance to preview Evasion on the HTC Vive Pro saying: “The action is fast and fluid – very much like Halo – with a range of aerial and ground based enemies to deal with. Gun accuracy was spot on so that distance shots didn’t feel like a roll of the dice. And it was nice to see some destructible scenery, with enemies hiding behind concrete blocks that could be chipped away at.”

Evasion is still in development and a release is set for fall 2018 according to the official Steam store page. With a release on PlayStation VR and on PC with support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive there will be plenty of ways for people to jump into the action once the title finally releases. For more on Evasion in the future, make sure to stay tuned to VRFocus for all the latest in the run up to release and beyond.

Out-think. Out-fight. Be Outright Victorious. Archiact Are Bringing Evasion To PlayStation VR & The PlayStation AIM Controller

When Archiact announced their next virtual reality (VR) project back in October 2017 you would have been forgiven for responding with a knowing nod and a slight roll of the eyes. “With Evasion, the team is using everything we’ve learned and weaving our experience into a truly genre­-defining AAA title.” Said the press release at the time. “With innovative locomotive movement and intense bullet hell gameplay, we’re convinced Evasion will prove a stand­out VR experience and we can’t wait gamers to play for themselves.” It’s a nice statement that says all the right things for announcing a first person shooter videogame. But come on. We’ve been here before, right?

Evasion - PSVR ScreenshotSo, it was a pleasant surprise indeed for VRFocus when we got a chance to preview the title on the HTC Vive Pro headset at this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) and found that not only does Evasion’s alien landscape look amazing in VR but the gameplay was pretty impressive as well. Archiact seemed to not just be saying all the right things they were doing all the right things too. As Peter put it in his Evasion preview last month “it looked so crisp and vivid that it’s was easy to forget this demo was being held in GDC” and the developer clearly wanted the title to be as welcoming as possible, Evasion being stuffed “with just about every conceivable locomotion option available”.

In fact, it became pretty obviously when we spoke to Archiact at the time, that they were having an absolute blast making the title. The team even produced for us a pretty definitive guest article on the development of the enemies of Evasion, that you can tell when reading it, that they had to reign themselves in a bit. As they could of quite happily continued to tell you stuff about the title for as long as you wanted to hear about it.

All this is excellent news indeed for PlayStation VR owners who it has been announced today will be joining HTC Vive and Oculus Rift owners on PC in getting to experience the intensity of the sci-fi bullet-hell shooter when it comes out later this year.  The release date is currently slated as being Fall 2018.

Evasion PS VR - Enemies Close Up - GIF “Evasion invites you to jump in solo or team up to save an embattled human colony from swarms of invading Optera. PlayStation VR gamers will experience a campaign filled with intense action and AAA-graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4. Built for locomotion and featuring four unique playable classes, Evasion is the authentic FPS experience VR fans have been waiting for!” Explains Archiact in their announcement. “Use your Tether Lash to snatch enemies out of the air and hurl them against buildings, snipe at targets from behind cover, or charge up your blaster and unleash a unique, class-specific Surge Attack. Evasion offers a myriad of ways to take down the Optera swarms.”

The title contains both solo campaign and two-player co-operative gameplay, a replayable survival mode full body avatar animations by IKinema, and – PSVR owners will be delighted to hear – will include support the PlayStation AIM Controller right out of the gate.

You can see a trailer for the PlayStation VR announcement below. VRFocus will be bringing you more about the title very soon.

Archiact is Having a Blast Making VR FPS Evasion

If you’ve been following VRFocus’ coverage of Evasion, an upcoming virtual reality (VR) first-person shooter (FPS) by Archiact Interactive, then you’ll know we’ve developed a fondness for the title after a couple of separate previews. Offering something VR enthusiasts didn’t think was possible only a short while ago, Evasion is turning into a AAA shooter for VR. Catching up with the team during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2018 VRFocus found out further details on the experience.

Evasion

Archiact announced its latest title back in October 2017, going for a sci-fi, bullet hell gameplay style that would support both single-player and co-op multiplayer modes. With four character classes to choose from Evasion allows up to four people to play as a team, traversing destructible environments, completing objectives and facing off against giant bosses.

Each of the four classes (Striker, Surgeon, Engineer and Warden) have their own unique strengths, weapons and abilities, with players able to customise their class as they level-up.

With a frantic paced shooter like Evasion Archiact has been keen to ensure players are as comfortable as possible whilst in VR. So there’s a big range of movement customisation options available to suit every need. Whether that’s teleportation, smooth locomotion, snap turning or anything in between.

Evasion Screenshot #6

When VRFocus previewed Evasion at GDC 2018 Archiact was demoing the experience alongside the new HTC Vive Pro, to which we said: “Having used the HTC Vive since launch and being accustomed to its visual fidelity there was certainly a ‘wow’ moment stepping out into Evasion’s alien world, it looked so crisp and vivid that it’s was easy to forget this demo was being held in GDC. Screenshots of VR titles can sometimes look far better than what’s actually presented, this was like being inside a screenshot.”

Talking to Archiact Interactive’s Senior Producer Jennifer Dowding, VRFocus learnt that the Evasion build was specific to GDC 2018, unlocking more content and giving taste of the co-op action. Check out the interview below and for any further info on Evasion keep reading VRFocus.

Neon Carnage Comes to PlayStation VR With Blasters of the Universe

Wave-based shooters maybe commonplace on virtual reality (VR) headsets yet every so often one pops up that makes you take notice. That occurred last year when Secret Location fully launched Blasters of the Universe for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, having spent the previous 12 months in Early Access. Today, PlayStation VR owners get to play the bullet-hell experience for themselves, transporting themselves into a neon rich, 80s inspired universe.

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_3

Much like other wave shooters such as Space Pirate Trainer, Blasters of the Universe is all about surviving an onslaught of enemies by ducking, dodging and deflecting their way through several challenging levels. One place where Blasters of the Universe differs is through the weapon customisation system. There’s no dual wielding guns in the videogame, instead you have an upgradable shield in one hand and upgradable gun in the other.

There are over 130,000 ways to customise and tweak loadouts to match offensive or defensive preferences, with the gun in particular offering different ammo clips, rapid fire, shotgun, or grenade style projectiles and much more. Alongside the normal single-player campaign Secret Location has added a new Casual mode giving players a far less abrasive and difficult experience. While true opposition addicts can also play the strenuous Endless mode in a race to high-score heaven.

“We’re huge fans of bullet hell and wanted to make a game that encapsulates its infamous mayhem and difficulty through modern VR,” said Josh Manricks, Technical Director and Project Lead at Secret Location in a statement. “VR adds layers of challenge by making players use quick full-body reactions to survive the relentless barrage of enemies. It’s also a great way to hash out lingering resentment over bullies from the past – if anyone needs to be put in his place, it’s Grand Master Alwyn.”

Blasters_of_the_Universe_PSVR_Screenshot_2

Blasters of the Universe is available now on PlayStation VR for $14.99 USD with limited time discounts from 27th February through 6th March, 2018. PlayStation Network users in the Americas can purchase the videogame for 10 percent off, while PlayStation Plus users in the Americas and Europe get a 15 percent discount. For any further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Bring Archiact’s Penguins into the Living Room with Waddle Home AR

Videogame developer Archiact Interactive first entry into the world of consumer virtual reality (VR) came by way of a cute puzzle platform called Waddle Home, initially released for Samsung Gear VR back in 2015. The title then scampered onto HTC Vive and then PlayStation VR in 2016. This week sees the videogame make its biggest leap yet, all the way into augmented reality with an iOS experience called Waddle Home AR.

Waddle Home AR

Just like its VR siblings, Waddle Home AR is about saving a family of penguins who’ve been abducted by robots. So it’s up to you to help them navigate slippery ice floes by toggling blocks, opening doors, and escaping the ever-patrolling Guard robots. For an added challenge, lead the penguins to collect the three pink Bonus Eggs in each level for a high score.

Built using Apple’s ARKit, Waddle Home AR can now be taken wherever your iPhone or iPad goes so long as its an ARKit compatible device. These include iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, SE, 6s, 6s Plus, iPad and iPad Pro.

Waddle Home AR is a free to start title, so it includes all 40 levels just like the original with the first 16 playable for free. The other 24 can be unlocked through an in-app purchase.

“We first showed our experimental AR experience Roll Home to a conference audience early this year and got an enthusiastic response. Once we published that experiment, we became convinced that mobile AR will play a major role in mobile entertainment. Now with the release of Waddle Home AR, we can finally show AR enthusiasts what we can do with this technology,” said Archiact Interactive’s, Studio Head Kurt Busch in a statement.

Waddle Home AR 2

Lastly, Archiact Interactive also created a little something special for customers: a fully animated iMessage sticker pack, featuring Waddle at his sassiest. You can download the full sticker pack for $1.99 USD, or just download Waddle Home AR and receive 3 stickers.

As Archiact continues to to release more VR and AR content, VRFocus will keep you updated on the latest releases.

Smashbox Arena Launches Today for PlayStation VR

Previously a success on the HTC Vive, developers BigBox VR have launched multiplayer arena shooter Smashbox Arena on to the PlayStation VR today.

Smashbox Arena was designed specifically for virtual reality (VR). The project began as a way to explore VR and its capabilities and limitations, but once BigBox VR founders Gabe Brown and Chia Chin added guns and multiplayer, they discovered how much fun it was, and the genesis of Smashbox Arena began.

Originally launched on HTC vive on Oculus Rift, it became a highly-rate multiplayer VR title and its players logged over 43,000 of gameplay. The developers announced in May that there were plans to release the title on to PlayStation VR, and Smashbox Arena is now available on the PlayStation Store for $29.99 (USD).

Smashbox Arena Screenshot 1

Smashbox Arena is a physics-driven title. Players must rapidly learn the layout of the arena in order to dodge and seek cover from enemy fire before finding the best way to launch their own assault. The power-ups that are periodically made available are over-the-top items such as giant boulders.

“A team deathmatch-style, extreme dodgeball game gets as competitive, and high-spirited as you’d imagine” said Eric Hine, executive producer at Archiact, “Smashbox Arena shows how designing a VR game around competitive team play makes for an over-the-top entertaining experience with a surprisingly high skill ceiling and great re-playability. We’re thrilled to have partnered with the talented BigBox VR team to bring all this fun to PlayStation VR fans.”

You can watch the PlayStation VR launch trailer for Smashbox Arena below.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Smashbox Arena as it becomes available.

The VR Job Hub: Climax Studios, CSIRO, Archiact

Whether you’re an experienced designer, programmer, engineer, or your’re looking for a move into the exciting worlds of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) – whatever the case, welcome once more to the VRFocus’ Job Hub. The jobs listed here are located worldwide, from major game players to humble indie developers – the one thing they all have in common is that they are all jobs in VR.

Featured on this week’s list are: Google is looking for an Interaction Designer for their top VR product on the market so far; Hasbro interestingly are looking for designers for AR development; PlayStation continue to shake up and look for new people to join their team in London with an opening for Graphics Programmer; CognitiveVR is looking for a Software Engineer; and Climax Studios, based in the South of the UK, is looking for a long list of desirable programmers, designers, artists, and producers.

View the new listings below for more information:

LOCATION

COMPANY

JOB

LINK

CSIRO

Click here to apply

London, UK & Remote

Curve Digital Entertainment

Junior – Standard Level Programmers (5 Months)

Contact: vrjobs@kuju.com

Portsmouth, UK

Climax Studios

Senior Producer

Contact: stu@climaxstudios.com

Vancouver, CAN Archiact Software Engineer, Unreal VR

Click here to apply

 Vancouver, CAN  Archiact  Senior Engineer, Unreal VR

Click here to apply

 Vancouver, CAN  Archiact  Core Tech Engineer

Click here to apply

 

You can always look back at last week’s post as well for additional listings. Check back with VRFocus at the usual time next Sunday for the latest positions in one of the world’s most progressive industries.

Hidden Fortune is Revealed on Gear VR

Canadian-based developer Archiact has announced the launch of treasure hunting puzzle game Hidden Fortune on the Gear VR.

Hidden Fortune is an adventure puzzle videogame that stars a young sorcerer who must use their magic to go on a mission to rescue their family, solving puzzles to collect magical trinkets that can aid them along the way. Exploration is key, with many secrets and treasures scattered around for players to discover.

The title is set to be released in an episodic format, with the first, titled ‘Outcast Cove’ being out now at a price of $3.99 (USD). Further instalments are expected to be released ‘soon’. Each new chapter will add new locations, quests and collectables.

The title is planned to feature full support for the newly unveiled Gear VR controller. The developer says they are hoping to bring a new twist to the puzzle/hidden object genre. Ed Lago, Senior Producer at Archiact says: “We wanted to make a game that we knew we’d have a blast in, and would make players laugh. Hidden Fortune combines everything we love most in games—zany humour, colourful art, fun quests—and delivers it in an immersive VR experience.”

You can watch the launch trailer below. Further information is available on the official Hidden Fortune website.

Archiact is the studio behind penguin-themed puzzler Waddle Home, originally launching on Samsung Gear VR before expanding support to PlayStation VR. Earlier this year the studio announced a partnership with indie developer E McNeill, bringing his award-winning mobile title Darknet to PlayStation VR. Darknet will also be coming to HTC Vive at some point.

VRFocus will bring you further updates on Hidden Fortune and other Gear VR titles as they come in.