New ‘Pinball FX2 VR’ Tables From ‘Back to the Future’, ‘E.T.’, & ‘Jaws’ Now Available on All Platforms

Pinball FX 2 VR (2016), the VR pinball simulator, is getting a host of new tables in a paid DLC pack, brought over from its flatscreen sequel, Pinball FX 3 (2017). Tables based on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jaws (1975) and Back to the Future (1985) first became available on the Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, and Gear VR back in May, and are now available through the PSVR and SteamVR (Vive) versions of the game.

Update (6/26/18): Pinball FX2 VR owners on any platform can now access the new ‘Universal Classics’ DLC, priced at $20 on tethered headsets, which brings three new tables based on iconic movies from the ’70s and ’80s. The title, and the new DLC, is now available on Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, Gear VR, PSVR, and SteamVR (supporting Vive and Rift). Prior DLC packs for the game offer up an additional six tables, over the base game’s three original tables.

The SteamVR version of the game is currently on sale for $6, a 60% discount over the usual $15 price, and the prior DLC packs are on sale at the same discount.

Original Article (5/15/18): The tables, licensed by Universal, come along with immersive environments including the forest behind Elliot’s house (E.T.), a beach villa looking out to an Amity Island sunset (Jaws), and Hill Valley’s historic town square (Back to the Future).

A few other goodies await too, says developer Zen Studios, including “a curious E.T. peeking at your table to see how you’re doing, a shark fin circling around your Jaws table, and the classic DeLorean flashing across the Back to the Future table.”

“Everyone seemed to really love what we did with the non-VR version of Universal Classics Pinball (we’re especially flattered by the 90 on Metacritic for the Xbox One version). The Pinball FX2 VR version features every bit of film-adapting gameplay that resonated so well with critics and fans alike, from E.T. collecting candy in a cornfield to Marty McFly showcasing his skills at arcade shooting and players braving the open waters in a shark cage for an exciting multi-ball mode.”

There’s no word yet when/if either the Steam version, which supports both Rift and Vive, or the PSVR version, will get the update. [See update above]

The post New ‘Pinball FX2 VR’ Tables From ‘Back to the Future’, ‘E.T.’, & ‘Jaws’ Now Available on All Platforms appeared first on Road to VR.

Hollywood Director and Effects Pioneer Douglas Trumbull to Speak at FOIL

Virtual Reality (VR) can be used for many things and in many different ways; for work, for entertainment and for education. One aspect that continues to be investigated is VR’s capacity as a creative medium for the cinema, and as recently as yesterday VRFocus brought you news of Steven Spielberg’s opinions on the matter via comments made as the legendary director presented Ready Player One at San Diego Comic-Con. A film that actually focuses on VR but as its use as a means for people to escape a dystopian future world.

Image via creativecow.net

Spielberg is not the first Hollywood representative to be active in VR or comment on VR’s potential role in the industry and he won’t be the last either. As revealed today was that American film director, and man responsible (in full or in part) for some of the special effects in a variety of classic science fiction movies, Douglas Trumbull, would be the guest of a keynote fireside discussion at Future of Immersive Leisure (FOIL). Trumbull, who directed the film Silent Running and contributed effects to films such as Blade Runner, the first Star Trek film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and Spielberg’s own Close Encounters of the Third Kind will be “Taking A Wide Angle View Of Next-Generation Immersive Entertainment” at the event taking place in Las Vegas from September 13-14th 2017.

Trumbull will be bound to have some interesting views on VR, having previously worked on interactive theatre simulators and served as Vice Chairman of the IMAX Corporation, a firm which already has a number of ties to the VR industry. Trumbull also worked with Universal to develop the iconic theme park ride for Back to the Future and Trumbull’s own company Trumbull Studios has already revealed details they will be utilizing immersive technologies in their new MAGI cinematic format, which will no doubt be discussed in-depth during the fireside which will be conducted by VRFocus‘ own Kevin Williams.

VRFocus is a media partner for FOIL and will be bringing you more news and updates about the conference in the run-up to its debut.