Category: Gadgeteer

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The VR Game Launch Roundup: Frighteningly Puzzling

VR Game Roundup 21052021

With May drawing to a close lets have a look at what’s going to round out the month. There are going to be fights in store for Steam users whilst those on PlayStation VR will be getting a rather excellent Rube Goldberg machine building title. So check out five exciting titles due to arrive this coming week.

Gadgeteer - PSVR

Gadgeteer – Metanaut

If you love puzzles and building things in VR then Metanaut’s Gadgeteer should be right up your street if you own a PlayStation VR. The title has already on most other VR platforms so this week’s launch nicely rounds things out. The core campaign features 60 pre-made puzzles and once you’ve finished them it’s onto the Maker Mode where you can let your imagination run riot. Plus, with an online sharing feature, you can upload and download your and other people’s Gadgeteer creations.

  • Supported platforms: PlayStation VR
  • Launch date: 25th May

Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife – Fast Travel Games

Fast Travel Games’ new horror Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife saw an early exclusive launch for Oculus headsets last month and this week it’s coming to Steam, expanding support to HTC Vive and Valve Index. Set within the World of Darkness universe, you take on the role of Ed Miller, a photographer who dies during a seance at the luxurious Barclay Mansion. Stuck between the living world and the afterlife, you have to roam the hallways looking for clues as to what happened. However, being dead doesn’t mean to say you’re entirely safe. As a wraith, you can walk through walls and pick items up at a distance but you must also avoid Spectres. These are spirits of wrath and vengeance. With no way to defend yourself from them, you must tread carefully and hide.

Open Brush

Open Brush – Icosa Gallery

Google dropped support for its painting Tilt Brush earlier this year whilst opening the software to developers by making it open source. That’s allowed Icosa Gallery to create Tilt Brush derivative Open Brush. What’s even better for Steam users is Open Brush is free whilst Tilt Brush still costs £14.99 GBP. So get 3D painting for free next week.

ForeVR Bowl – ForeVR

Oculus Quest owners looking to get their bowling fix will be able to this week with ForeVR Bowl the first VR title from ForeVR. Practice those bowling skills in single and multiplayer modes, where you can play across six locations with up to four players online. There will be a massive amount of different balls to unlock each with their own stats. The studio has created what it calls Real Feel Throw technology that should provide an accurate experience, all in your own home!

ForeVR Bowl

Boxed In – Red Chain Games

One more puzzle title for PlayStation VR to round the week out. Making you feel like you’re inside the very puzzle you’re trying to solve, Boxed In puts you in a chequered room with colourful cubes to clear. Depending on the mode the difficulty is turned up a notch when the cubes start moving, increasing the chance of crushing you before you’ve managed to clear them all.

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Gadgeteer Launches May 25 For PSVR

Metanaut announced that Gadgeteer will release May 25 for PSVR.

Gadgeteer is already available for PC VR and Oculus Quest and was still in Early Access up until August last year.

It was revealed last December that Gadgeteer would be coming to PSVR in Q1 2021. It’s slightly missed that first-quarter window, but it’s not long to wait now – there are less than two weeks until PSVR players can go virtual hands-on VR’s best Rube Goldberg machine simulator.

Metanaut confirmed on Reddit that it would cost $14.99 on PSVR and support both DualShock 4 and Move controllers as input methods.

Gadgeteer is the ultimate Rube Goldberg machine simulator, allowing you to create some truly crazy contraptions in VR. It has a full campaign and a sandbox mode, both of which involve creating and solving puzzles using marbles, dominoes, wooden blocks and various other gadgets. The campaign takes you through the basics and teaches you the mechanics, but the sandbox mode is where you take what you’ve learned and really unleash your creative potential.

There’s also online level sharing available, which means that after you’ve finished the campaign and messed around in sandbox mode, there’ll be plenty more content to go through. You can create your own puzzles and upload them for others to complete, or browse the vast library of existing creations from other users.

Gadgeteer is available now for PC VR and Oculus Quest. It launches May 25 on the PlayStation Store for PSVR for $14.99, compatible with both PS4 and PS5 consoles. To read more about how to connect your PSVR to a PS5 console, check out our guide.

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Gadgeteer PlayStation VR Release Date Confirmed for May

Gadgeteer

When it comes to building puzzles and intricate rube goldberg machines then Gadgeteer has to be one of the best virtual reality (VR) titles for that job. Currently available for most headsets, only the PlayStation VR is missing out. Developer Metanaut is about to sort that out, announcing a May launch date for the videogame.

Gadgeteer - PSVR

VRFocus has heavily covered Gadgeteer over the last couple of years, seeing the title grow from an early access, single-player videogame on Steam to a multiplatform puzzler where you can build your own machine and share it with the community and vice a versa.

Gadgeteer is split between two gameplay modes Puzzle and Maker. The Puzzle Mode is the best place to start offering over 60 pre-made puzzles which gradually introduce new players to the various mechanics. Of which there are many, the videogame has a massive selection of gadgets to play with and four tools to create, clone, paint, and destroy those elaborate machines you plan on building.

That’s where the Maker Mode comes in. Free from any restrictions you’re given free rein to create twisting domino runs, towering marble runs or a mash up of both – all without the real-world fear of setting a sequence off early. As mentioned, with Online Sharing you can showcase your designs, whether that’s a machine or a devilishly difficult puzzle.

Gadgeteer

Reviewing the Oculus Quest version in 2019, VRFocus said: “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.”

Gadgeteer is set to arrive for PlayStation VR on 25th May 2021. To celebrate the launch date Metanaut has released a cool new trailer with an elaborate machine and plenty of nods to the PlayStation platform. For continued updates for Gadgeteer, keep reading VRFocus.

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Best Puzzle VR Games Available For Oculus Quest 2

Looking for some mind-bending puzzle games to play through on Quest 2? Here are our picks.

The Oculus Quest library is only growing larger and stronger by the day with a few options available in most genres. For puzzle fans, we’ve put together this list of some of the best in the genre available on Quest. Some are inventive and creative, some are mind-bending and challenging, but there should be something for everyone.

Here are our picks for the best puzzle games available on Oculus Quest.

A Fisherman’s Tale

Before its more recent game Maskmaker, Innerspace released the acclaimed A Fisherman’s Tale on Quest in 2019. It’s a short yet incredibly charming puzzle game, with ingenious puzzles will make you rack your brain until you finally reach that critical ‘a-ha’ moment that feels so satisfying.

A Fisherman’s Tale was nominated in our Best of VR 2019 Awards for the Best PSVR Game/Experience, Best Quest Game/Experience, Best PC VR Game/Experience, and overall Overall Best VR Of 2019. You can read more in our review.

Cubism

Cubism is a deceptively simple game. Each level features a 3D wireframe shape into which you have to fit different Tetris-like block pieces. The puzzles get harder and the pieces more complex – it’s a slow and measured puzzle experience.

Even better, the game’s recent updates include 120Hz and hand tracking support. The latter in particular is a near-perfect fit for Cubism – all you’re doing is picking up pieces and placing them into the wireframe, but it’s enough to create a sublime hand tracking experience. This isn’t a ranked list, but if it were, Cubism would be my personal #1.

You can read our review of Cubism here (written before hand tracking support was added) and read our impressions of the hand tracking update here.

Floor Plan 2

Floor Plan 2 feels like a VR episode of The Muppet Show, not just in the hilarious absurdity of its world but also in the constant, invigorating ingenuity of its puzzles. It is a logic-based puzzle game in a completely illogical world and one of the best recent releases on the Quest platform.

Read more in our Floor Plan 2 review.

Puzzling Places

This game takes the staples of 2D jigsaw puzzles and brings them into VR with a new element — all of the puzzles are 3D models of real-life places, brought to life through highly detailed photogrammetry captures. The 16 included puzzles range from landscapes to individual objects, each with accompanying ambient sounds that build up as you solve. It’s a slow, meditative but also appropriately challenging puzzle game that offers a similar yet fresh take on traditional jigsaw puzzles.

You can read more in our review.

 

A Rogue Escape

This is a tough, short (1-2 hours), claustrophobic puzzler that will set you stuck in the cramped confines of a submerged submarine. There’s no hand-holding here, resulting in an immersive yet excruciatingly slow set of submarine-based puzzles. If you’re looking for an incredibly short but difficult experience, then this might be the best option.

You can read more in our A Rogue Escape review.

Tetris Effect

If you’re a fan of Tetris, then Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s Tetris Effect is an absolute must-play. It launched first on PSVR and PC VR before finally making its way over the Quest platform in 2020.

It is exactly what it sounds like – it’s Tetris in VR. However, it’s matched with a spectacular, powerful and at times hypnotic amount of visual and audio flair. While these visuals have had to be pared down slightly for the Quest release, we still deemed it the definitive version of the game across all platforms – the lack of tethered wires on Quest remains priceless.

You can read more in our Tetris Effect Quest review.

I Expect You To Die 2

Five years on from the release of the original, I Expect You To Die 2 is a game that executes a specific style of grueling puzzle game incredibly well. It’s a trial-and-error affair where you’ll spend an hour testing things, only to realize that the solution was obvious and right in front of you the whole time. It’s the mark of a quality puzzle — one where the solution is hidden not through obscure design, but through your own short-sightedness — but it can also mean a slow burn and periods of heavy frustration.

You can read more in our review.

The Room VR: A Dark Matter

The latest installment in The Room series is also its first installment in VR. This isn’t a mobile or PC port either – The Room VR: A Dark Matter is made entirely for VR from the ground up.

Developer Fireproof hasn’t lost its penchant for incredibly clever and creative puzzles in the transition. Read more in our review.

Myst

This seminal PC game made its way over to the Oculus Quest late last year. It’s an upgraded and all-around solid port of the original PC title that will have you reaching for a notebook or a friend to help work your way through the tough puzzles.

It’s a game everyone should play once and the Quest 2 port provides you with a modern but faithful way to do so. You can read more in our review.

Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs

While the Angry Birds franchise started on mobile, its first foray into VR is a completely natural transition and results in an extremely fun VR puzzle game. It’s an intuitive VR title that’s perfect for VR beginners and veterans alike.

The campaign levels do veer slightly to the easy end of the spectrum, but it’s also a game primarily targeted at kids. This isn’t to say it’s not enjoyable for all ages though, and the custom level builder and online sharing functions mean that you’ll be able to create and play more levels long after you’ve finished the campaign.

You can read more in our review.

What are your favorite puzzle games on Quest? Let us know in the comments.

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Puzzle Sandbox VR Game Gadgeteer Coming To PSVR In Q1 2021

Gadgeteer is rolling its way onto one more platform. PlayStation VR users will be able to put together the Rube Goldberg machine of their dreams when Gadgeteer arrives on PSVR in 2021.

The game is developed by Metanaut and is currently available for PC VR and Oculus Quest. Up until August of this year, it was still in Early Access but now its come out as a full release with a wealth of features and an open-ended gameplay system that has endless combinations. Metanaut CEO Peter Kao announced on Reddit that PSVR users will no longer be left out, as the game will release on the platform in the first quarter of 2021.

Gadgeteer has a full campaign and a sandbox mode, both of which involve creating and solving puzzles using marbles, dominoes, wooden blocks and various other gadgets. It’s essentially a limitless Rube Goldberg machine game in VR, allowing you to create contraptions that are bigger and better than real life. The campaign takes you through the basics and teaches you the mechanics, but the sandbox mode is where you take what you’ve learnt and really unleash your creative potential.

As part of the full release, Gadgeteer also launched with online level sharing capabilities. So not only can you upload your own creations, but you can play through loads of others’ creations as well.

Gadgeteer is available now for PC VR and Oculus Quest. There’s no precise release date for the PSVR version of Gadgeteer just yet, but we know it’ll be coming sometime in Q1 – so sometime between January and March.

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‘Gadgeteer’ Brings Its Rube Goldberg-inspired Contraptions to PSVR Today

Gadgeteer, the Rube Goldberg-inspired physics VR game, left Early Access on PC VR headsets and Oculus Quest back in August of last year, although it wasn’t certain when PSVR users would get a crack at gadgeting. Now developer Metanaut says it’s coming to the PSVR platform on May 25th.

Update (May 25th, 2021): Gadgeteer is now available on PSVR, priced at $15. The game includes support for both DS4 and Move controllers. It arrives with 60 puzzles, around 100 gadgets to play with, and the ability to share and download puzzles created by users on all supported platforms.

The original article detailing the game’s release from Early Access follows below:

Original Article (July 31st, 2020): The game’s developer Metanaut says players can expect their “most requested features in the full release.” One of the most requested without a doubt has been the ‘Online Sharing’ function, which will let users share and play other people’s machines.

Online Sharing will also include the ability to ‘Like’ and bookmark a machine, filter between Puzzle and Sandbox machine types, and sort through ‘Hot’, ‘Popular’, and ‘New’ categories, Metanaut says.

Another feature coming to the 1.0 release is ‘Puzzle Designer’,  which lets players create and share puzzles both locally and online. It basically sounds like Super Mario Maker, but with a crazy assortment of physics-based objects.

Metanaut says ‘Puzzle Designer’ will let you create obstacles, limit the number of usable gadgets, and test solutions for machines before uploading them online.

SEE ALSO
'Gadgeteer' Early Access Review – Tinker to Your Heart's Content

One of the other big features to arrive with the game’s full launch is 40 new gadgets, which are currently being tested in the open beta.

The studio is offering up beta access of the 1.0 version of Gadgeteer at some point in mid-August, which will be available to owners of the game. If you own a PC VR headset, you can fill out this form if you want to go hands-on with the new features before they go live.

You’ll find Gadgeteer on Steam (PC VR), and the Oculus Store for Rift and Quest, priced at $15.

The post ‘Gadgeteer’ Brings Its Rube Goldberg-inspired Contraptions to PSVR Today appeared first on Road to VR.

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Puzzle Builder Gadgeteer Leaves Early Access in August, Adding Online Sharing

Gadgeteer

Metanaut launched its first virtual reality (VR) title Gadgeteer into Early Access a little over a year ago, adding new features like the recent Color Toolhead. Now the studio has announced v1.0 of the videogame is nearing release, arriving next month with a bunch of requested gameplay options.

Gadgeteer

When the update lands it’ll finally add a feature Metanaut has long talked about and fans have been looking forward to, Online Sharing. They’ll be able to upload their creations and play everyone else’s, whilst having the ability to ‘Like’ and bookmark their favourites. Players can find news ones by filtering between Puzzle and Sandbox types as well as browsing Hot, Popular and New categories.

Another new feature is Puzzle Designer. Capable of providing an endless stream of challenges from the community, players have the ability to create obstacles in their levels or limit what gadgets can be used. They can also test solutions for their machines before uploading them online.

There will also be a bunch of cool new gadgets to play with, 40 in fact, such as the rubber ducky, bowling ball, and slippery soap bar which are being tested in the open beta.

Gadgeteer

“We set off to create a charming VR game with endless possibilities and infinite replayability. With the full release of Gadgeteer, I’m happy to say we’ve reached our goal of creating the ultimate puzzle and sandbox game for VR,” said Peter Kao, CEO of Metanaut in a statement.

VRFocus reviewed the Oculus Quest version last year, saying: “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.”

Gadgeteer will leave Early Access on Oculus and Steam on 27th August 2020, retaining its retail price of $14.99 USD. For any further updates on the title, keep reading VRFocus.

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Add Some Colour to Your Puzzle’s in Gadgeteer’s Next Update

Gadgeteer

For those who like to build as well as solve puzzles, Metanaut’s Gadgeteer is a great example of what can be achieved in virtual reality (VR). Since its launch late last year the studio has released several updates to improve the experience. Next week the largest update yet will arrive, adding new gadgets as well as a tool which can drop some colour into the title.

Gadgeteer

First up is the “Color Toolhead” which does exactly what it says. While the core mechanics of Gadgeteer allow you to create all sorts of crazy contraptions, they do look a little bland. That’s all going to change with the option to choose from 60+ colours to brighten up those machines.

“We trusted our gut and made the risky decision to develop a feature nobody asked for,” said Peter Kao, co-founder and CEO of Metanaut in a statement. “We saw passionate players build these incredible machines—but no matter how different they were mechanically, they all looked the same. We think the Color Toolhead is an important addition because it leads to our upcoming online sharing feature, allowing players to personalize their machines and discover unexpected machine types.”

In addition to the “Color Toolhead”, Metanaut will also introduce two new gadgets called “Start Cube” and “End Cube.” Allowing players to remotely start their machines the cubes are the first step towards puzzles that can be uploaded and shared in the upcoming online sharing feature.

Gadgeteer

The feature has been talked about since Gadgeteer‘s Early Access launch a year ago, so that players worldwide can showcase their designs to the community. The introduction of online sharing is expected to take place in August which is also slated to be a massive update, Metanaut is currently hoping to double the gadget count which already sits at over 50.

If you own Gadgeteer and are interested in testing the online sharing feature and playing with the new gadgets then the studio is running a closed beta which you can sign up here for.

Not tried Gadgeteer yet? Then take a look at VRFocus‘ review which said: “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.”

To see the new update in action check out the video below. As for further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

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VR Physics Puzzler ‘Gadgeteer’ to Get Biggest Update Since Launch Soon

Gadgeteer, the physics-based VR puzzler inspired by the whimsical machines of Rube Goldberg, is slated to get the biggest update since its launch into Earl Access last year.

The update is said to include a number of new devices such as a new color toolhead with 60+ colors to choose from, and two new gadgets, the Start and End Cube, which lets you remotely start and stop your contraptions.

The update will be available starting June 11th on all supported platforms including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Windows VR headsets. Another update, slated for release in August, is said to let users upload and share puzzles in an online sharing feature.

SEE ALSO
'Blade & Sorcery' to Get Major 'U8' Update on June 4th, Trailer Here

Road to VR contributor Gabriel Moss got a chance to play Gadgeteer in our Early Access review, saying it’s both “a fantastic Rube Goldberg-style reaction machine builder and, at its most gripping moments, a true example of VR Presence—where the act of building and testing a machine becomes so engaging that you forget you’re playing with code instead of physical toy dominos.”

Developing studio Metanaut also released a new trailer highlighting a machine that wasn’t possible to build before, making use of tracks, rails, and catapults to create one of the hottest non-sport sports to come to 2020: marble racing.

The post VR Physics Puzzler ‘Gadgeteer’ to Get Biggest Update Since Launch Soon appeared first on Road to VR.