Category: GNOG

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GNOG Is Free On The Epic Games Store Until August 15

Diorama puzzle game GNOG is free on the Epic Games Store until August 15.

The puzzle game is for sale on from most storefronts already — including releases on GOG, itch.io, Oculus, Steam, iOS, and PS4 — but if you haven’t played it yet then you can grab it for free via Epic’s storefront.

We rated the game’s diorama puzzles 7/10 back in 2017, describing its design as encouraging “you to feel things out and let the puzzles unravel on their own.”

Developer KO_OP made GNOG. They are now working on a new game for Apple Arcade called Winding Worlds.

GNOG joins a growing collection of titles with VR support making their way onto more PC storefronts. Epic recently became the exclusive storefront for Tetris Effect on PC, at least for a time, with play modes for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

GNOG originally released on PC in July 2018. Here’s the game’s official description:

“GNOG is a 3D puzzle game set in a tactile world of toys and secrets. Point, click, grab, poke, spin, pull, and play with uniquely charming monster heads as you explore the hidden worlds inside them. Filled with eye-catching designs, playful interactions, and a rich, reactive soundtrack, the hand-crafted heads come to life in either standard play or in VR.”
“Inspired by real-world toy designs, every GNOG head is a miniature world to discover. Grab a bookcase and spin it to reveal a hidden pile of coins, slide levers to navigate a damaged ship through outer space, crank a wheel to cook a stew on the stove – each playful interaction generates lively feedback and surprising consequences. Set to a relaxing and dynamic soundtrack that evolves with each level, the surreal worlds and joyful puzzles of GNOG will have you turning heads.”

The post GNOG Is Free On The Epic Games Store Until August 15 appeared first on UploadVR.

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Something For The Weekend: Sunny Oculus Store Discounts

Time for another entry in Something for the Weekend, the weekly series where VRFocus bring you a number of deals on virtual reality (VR) titles. It’s time to visit the Oculus store once more and see what deals their are on Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and Gear VR titles. Below you’ll find a number of hand picked discounts that offer a variety of experiences. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

Robo-Recall-Keyart-&-Title

Robo Recall

Starting this week off is Robo Recall from Epic Games. This action-packed first-person shooter with visceral touch gameplay and an in-depth scoring system will put your skills to the test as you battle against endless waves of robots to earn the highest score. Teleport through the streets and rooftops in an awe-inspiring ballet of bullets. Shoot, punch, even grab and use your enemy as a weapon in this action-packed onslaught. If you want to test your reflexes and unleash an arsenal of weaponry, then this is the title for you.

Robo Recall is available now for £14.99 (GBP) down from the usual £22.99 for Oculus Rift.

Carly and the Reaperman

Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld

From Developer Odd Raven Studios comes a co-operative platforming adventure that is designed as a VR couch co-op experience. Master the platforming to avoid dangers, solve puzzles and build your way through the Underworld on an epic adventure. One player takes on the role of Carly on the computer screen in classic platforming gameplay with player two stepping into the shoes of the Reaperman and using VR to help build paths and solve puzzles. With over 40 levels and hours of gameplay players will find plenty to enjoy in this title.

Carly and the Reaperman: Escape from the Underworld is currently available for £10.99 (GBP) down from £18.99 on Oculus Rift.

République VR

“République VR is a well-designed VR experience that sits well on Oculus Go, and certainly showcases how good the lenses are on the headset. The puzzles may not be the most difficult with the main challenge purely resting on evasion, yet there’s enough to keep you engaged for many hours.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of République VR.

République VR is available now on for £5.99 (GBP) down from £7.99 for Oculus Go and Gear VR.

Cat 'S' Trophy

Cat ‘S’ Trophy

“In Cat ‘S’ Trophy cats have races in honour of the ruler of the internet – the Cat God. Conveniently, all five cats in the game can turn into vehicles when the race begins. The gameplay of Cat ‘S’ Trophy consists of two parts; Part One is track drawing. The player draws the track where the cats will race. Part Two is the actual racing. In order to win the race, players need to gather “star crystals” around the track and the lucky cat to gather the most star crystals from the track wins.”

Cat ‘S’ Trophy is available now for £2.79 (GBP) on sale from the usual £3.99 for both Oculus Go and Gear VR.

Everyday Golf VR

EVERYDAY GOLF VR

Looking for an immersive way to enjoy a round of golf all while improving your skills in some exciting gameplay then look no further than EVERYDAY GOLF VR. With recent updates improving the overall look of the title and reducing motion sickness, the title is a comfortable way for anyone to play golf no matter the weather.

EVERYDAY GOLF VR is only £15.99 (GBP) down from £22.99 for Oculus Rift.

GNOG-screenshot2

GNOG

“GNOG is an excellent title and well worth anyone’s time. It takes excellent advantage of the PlayStation VR functionality to produce something beautiful and striking, both visually and aurally. While it could potentially benefit from some extra puzzles and a bit more polishing, it is still a solid title and worthy addition to your PlayStation VR library.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s PlayStation VR review of GNOG.

GNOG is available now for £6.99 (GBP) down from £7.99 for Oculus Rift.

Lilas Tale VR screenshot

Lila’s Tale

When Lila’s brother suddenly entered a mysterious dungeon, all that was fun and games took a different turn. Although Lila is afraid of the dark, she found the courage to enter the dungeon and find her brother. Players will immerse themselves in a fantastic and magical experience inside a puzzle adventure title with environments specially crafted for VR. Explore the dungeon, find all the mysteries hidden within and solve numerous puzzles to help Lila save her brother.

Lila’s Tale is currently £2.29 (GBP) down from £3.99 for Oculus Go.

The Wizards: Trials of Meliora

The Wizards – Trials of Meliora

“Become a powerful wizard and test your mettle as a defender of the Realm of Meliora! Based on the award-winning spellcaster The Wizards, this game is a completely new magical adventure set in the same fantasy world, developed from the ground for Oculus Go and Gear VR.”

The Wizards – Trials of Meliora is currently on sale for £2.79 (GBP) down from £2.99 for Oculus Go and Gear VR.

Sky Duel: Tournament

Sky Duel: Tournament

Welcome to the future where you participate in the battle of cyborgs throwing combat disks to destroy the enemy. Target and send your disc directly to the enemy all while defending yourself from incoming discs. With multiplayer battles featuring up to four players, this intense futuristic combat title will need all your concentrating if you want to be on the winning side.

Sky Duel: Tournament is currently available for £0.79 (GBP) down from £1.49 for Oculus Go.

Budget Cuts

“Budget Cuts is a great title, with substation story and meaty, challenging gameplay, and an entertaining style, but it does suffer from some significant performance problems that do detract from the experience. Budget Cuts could be elevated from good to utterly brilliant if it is given a little more time in the oven to bake in and correct the issues.” – Read VRFocus’ Staff Writer Rebecca Hills-Duty’s preview of Budget Cuts.

Budget Cuts is available for only £19.99 (GBP) right now on sale from £22.99 for Oculus Rift.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.

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Charming Puzzler GNOG now Supports HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

After launching colourful puzzle title GNOG for PlayStation VR just over a year ago developer KO_OP had planned on launching a PC version with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift support in November 2017. That didn’t occur for an undisclosed reason, but today that delay has come to an end.

Gnog 4

GNOG is a 3D puzzle game set in a tactile world of toys and secrets. Designed as a type of puzzle box, where each level is self contained players explore a series of colorful worlds with vibrant visuals and a dynamic soundtrack. Each puzzle is a monster head which players can point, click, grab, poke, spin, pull, play and more to unlock the level’s mysteries.

Each of the nine Gnoggin‘s hide a multitude of secrets so it’s all about getting hands on with each puzzle. Grab a bookcase and spin it to reveal a hidden pile of coins, slide levers to navigate a damaged ship through outer space, crank a wheel to cook a stew on the stove – each playful interaction is all part of a chain that has knock on consequences.

For the launch indie studio KO_OP has collaborated with Double Fine Presents (Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin) who’ll be publishing the title. The PC release will also feature an all new VR mode with tactile interactions that will allow players to get up close and face to face with each GNOG.

GNOG-screenshot2

VRFocus reviewed the original GNOG for PlayStation VR, giving it a four-star rating and saying: “GNOG is an excellent title and well worth anyone’s time. It takes excellent advantage of the PlayStation VR functionality to produce something beautiful and striking, both visually and aurally.”

GNOG will release for PC and Mac with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift support, via Steam, Oculus Store, Itch.io, GOG, and Humble Bundle today. For any further updates fro KO_OP, keep reading VRFocus.

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AR Version of GNOG Out Now on iOS

Earlier this year, developer KO_OP released unusual virtual reality (VR) puzzle title GNOG on PlayStation VR. After the release of Apple’s ARKit, the developer announced that the title would be getting a port to augmented reality (AR). The AR iOS version is out now.

GNOG is inspired by the colourful miniature toys of the 1990s, such as Polly Pocket and Mighty Max. The videogame is divided into various different puzzles, which are represented by blocky monster heads, each of which contains its own unique diorama. Players need to manipulate the puzzle heads in various ways, pushing, poking, moving and sliding things to solve the puzzle and animate the diorama scene.

The iOS version appears to be quite similar to the PlayStation VR, though with controls that have been modified for use with touchscreen controls. Users can play GNOG iOS on an iPhone or iPad screen, or can activate the optional AR mode to transform a flat surface such as a table top into a virtual toy box, letting players interact with the monster puzzle heads in a new way. The iOS version also contains other new features such as iMessage stickers featuring animated GNOG themes.

KO_OP also announced that the planned Steam version of GNOG was delayed. This version was announced back in October, 2017 and was originally planned for release in November, 2017 and would be compatible with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and OSVR. The developers say the delay is due to the development team add more new VR features and new controls. KO_OP now anticipate a January 2018 release date.

The VRFocus review for the PlayStation VR version said: “GNOG is an excellent title and well worth anyone’s time. It takes excellent advantage of the PlayStation VR functionality to produce something beautiful and striking, both visually and aurally.”

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

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Puzzle Title GNOG Coming To PC VR

Quirky virtual reality (VR) puzzle title GNOG will soon be headed to Steam for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive according to a tweet from developers KO OP. The title had previously been released on the PlayStation VR, with some hints at plans for a ARKit-powered version for iPhone.

GNOG is a brightly coloured puzzler inspired by the type of miniature diorama toys that were popular in the 80s and 90s, such as Polly Pocket and Mighty Max. Each ‘level’ is a separate diorama or puzzle-box type arrangements which resemble monster heads. Each ‘head’ has various interactive elements that can be manipulated to perform certain action, ultimately resulting in a very pleasing tune when a puzzle is completed.

Replay value is created by the multitude of secrets, Easter eggs and achievements that can be found by performing various, sometimes very unusual, actions on or in the various puzzle boxes. The title features a dynamic soundtrack that reacts to the player’s actions, with the music along with the environment guiding the player with subtle clues to the solution of each puzzle.

As the VRFocus review for the PlayStation VR version said: “GNOG is an excellent title and well worth anyone’s time. It takes excellent advantage of the PlayStation VR functionality to produce something beautiful and striking, both visually and aurally.”

The PC version of GNOG will be headed to Steam sometime in November, 2017, and will be compatible with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and OSVR. A precise release date and price point have yet to be confirmed. Further details and updates can be found on the Steam Store page.

VRFocus will bring you further new on GNOG as it becomes available.

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KO_OP’s Puzzler GNOG is Coming to AR for iPhone

Yesterday Apple took the tech spotlight – as if you didn’t know – with a special event to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. The company unveiled a new iWatch, iPhone 8 and 8s, plus the iPhone X. Hardware aside, on the software front – more importantly augmented reality (AR) – Apple showcased several apps and videogames built using ARKit that consumers would see once iOS 11 launches next week. While VRFocus knows of a few AR apps being created using ARKit, Unity Technologies has now revealed several more, one of them being PlayStation VR puzzler GNOG by KO_OP.

At present the studio hasn’t announced plans to bring the virtual reality (VR) version of GNOG to other headsets, so it’s surprising to see it go in the direction of AR. GNOG levels are designed as a type of puzzle box, where each one is self contained. Players can spin the box around to find all sorts of brightly coloured components that are linked with various levers and switches. With the AR version, players will now be able to put these puzzle boxes on a table in front of them.

Unity has only given sneak peek into GNOG’s AR development so it’s unclear if it’s an AR port of the VR version or something entirely fresh.

GNOG on ARKit

GNOG isn’t the only AR videogame being made with Unity that’ll be coming to Apple’s mobile devices. Cabbibo and Viacom Next have created ARQUA! an AR aquarium creation tool where players can add fish, kelp, coral, crystals and other rainbow objects to their world.

Then there’s The Walking Dead: Our World AR videogame being made by Finnish developers Next Games – which VRFocus reported on last month. Or how about RAC7 Games’ puzzle title Splitter Critters – currently available as a non-AR videogame for iOS and Android – which will have AR exclusive levels. Or lastly Mammoth Mini Golf from Ezone.com, a caveman-themed world of mini-golf.

None of these videogames have a confirmed released date just yet, but Unity expects to see them arrive this fall.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Apple and ARKit, reporting back with the latest AR projects.

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Boom Shake The Room: VRFocus Return To The Mini Worlds of GNOG

Those of you who grew up in the 90s might remember the pocket-sized objects that contained a tiny world with miniature characters to play with, such as Mighty Max or Polly Pocket. GNOG takes that concept of interactive dioramas and brings it into the vivid world of virtual reality (VR).

GNOG was announced back in 2015 by developers KO_OP for the PlayStation VR, and its recent release saw it receive some praise from the VRFocus official review.

In the latest gameplay video, Rebecca reutrns to the neon bright world of GNOG to take on another puzzle, this time getting to grips with the PURP-L level. Resembling a retro ‘boom box’ music player, the level is themed around sounds and music. Can Rebecca solve the puzzle and make her way to the next stage? Watch below to find out.

VRFocus will return with more gameplay videos throughout the week. Keep checking back for more.

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Swamp In Your Pocket: Watch VRFocus Take On The Puzzling World Of GNOG

Imagine a world full of colour. Dancing, pulsating colour. Then add loud and equally pulsating music to it. When you’re done there add a series of self-contained puzzle boxes with those boxes filled with micro worlds for you to explore in the style of Polly Pocket or Mighty Max – and then put it into virtual reality (VR) for good measure. Complete that recipe and you’ve pretty much got GNOG.

Supporting Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE’s) PlayStation VR, GNOG was initially announced by developers KO_OP back in 2015 and its recent release saw it score well on VRFocus‘ official review.

For today’s video we’ve another part of Rebecca’s recent PlayStation VR Twitch livestream, in which we see her first enter the world of GNOG and take on her first puzzle box ‘FRG-Y’; a swamp filled world full of frogs (or frg-s) and moths (mth-s?). The latter ideally an excellent dinner for the amphibians. How will Rebecca work her way through the world? Watch below to find out.

VRFocus will be back with part two very soon, look out for daily gameplay videos from us at 7:30PM UK time throughout Monday to Friday.

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New PSVR Releases For Week Of 04/30/17

New PSVR Releases For Week Of 04/30/17

It’s another quiet week on the PSVR front while we wait for Farpoint to bring the pain later in May. This week’s sole release is an obscure little gem that won’t appeal to everyone, so it might be worth keeping your money where it is and checking back in next week if it’s not your cup of tea.

If you missed last week, you can see those new releases here. Also, UploadVR has launched the ‘UploadVR PSVR Community’ on PlayStation 4! Join up, find other gamers to play with, and engage in discussions with them.

Also, don’t forget to check out our list of the

Gnog, from KO-OP
Price: $14.99

This week’s lone PSVR release is a curious little oddity. GNOG is a strange puzzle game about fixing monster heads, though what’s actually wrong with them and how to solve their issues is often just as much of a mystery. You poke and prod at various aspects of each puzzle until you figure out what to do in order to progress. It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that it was made under the Double Fine Presents label.

Recommendation: We quite like GNOG, but it certainly isn’t for everyone. If the art style attracts you and the weird puzzles have you interested then it may be worth diving in.

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Review: GNOG

The words ‘Double Fine have brought out a new game’ are usually enough to make most gamers take an interest. Although Double Fine are the publishers in this case and not the developer, they have cultivated a reputation for knowing good quality when they see it. The is certainly the case with GNOG.

GNOG (pronounced during the title sequence as ‘gun-ogg’) is a puzzle game on the surface. Each level in the game is a box resembling the head of some kind of monster creature, which contains a huge variety of buttons, lights, dials and levels that can be poked, pulled and prodded into doing something. The boxes themselves can be turned in every direction by using a combination of the DualShock trigger buttons and right analogue stick. Everything else is controlled with the left analogue stick and the X button. Curiously, it doesn’t use any motion controls, which is something of a lost opportunity.

The heads/boxes turn out to be little dioramas filled with complex worlds, which may remind children of the 90’s of Polly Pocket or Mighty Max toys. Everything you can interact with reacts to your actions, often with changes in the music and sound effects, resulting in the box-worlds playing a rather excellent tune when a puzzle is solved. The soundtrack in general is amazing, multi-layered and dynamic and really best enjoyed over headphones. Unless you happen to be lucky enough to have an excellent 5.1 surround sound set up.

GNOG-screenshot2

The graphics are amazing. Developer KO_OP has done an excellent job in creating a very distinctive visual style that makes everything look like it was built out of neon and candy. It’s very crisp and smooth, but the myriad colours can be a little overwhelming after a while.

Solving the puzzles inside the boxes/heads requires logic whilst following subtle clues from the environment. There are secrets and hidden trophies which can be found by performing some slightly esoteric actions within each level. There is occasionally something of a frustration in the trial and error style gameplay – especially when something that should work doesn’t the first time – such as during a sequence with the mother bird (this could have been a bug or a simple mistake).

A downside to GNOG’s visual spectacle is that it’s very short, with almost all the puzzles completed in a single sitting. While there is replay value to be gained from going back to find hidden trophies and easter eggs, there’s really not enough for puzzle fans. There are some other flaws as well, some of the levels feel like they could’ve been developed further, the aforementioned possible bug and the lack of motion control is really inexplicable in a title that relies on moving an object around.

Gnog 4

GNOG is an excellent title and well worth anyone’s time. It takes excellent advantage of the PlayStation VR functionality to produce something beautiful and striking, both visually and aurally. While it could potentially benefit from some extra puzzles and a bit more polishing, it is still a solid title and worthy addition to your PlayStation VR library.

80%

Awesome

  • Verdict