Despite several delays under its belt, Golem, a unique looking VR adventure title headed to PSVR, is on track to launch in 2018, affirms developer Highwire Games.
Golem was originally due to launch on the previously delayed release date of March 16th, but a week prior developer Highwire Games announced an indefinite delay to ensure the studio could “release a polished VR experience that we are proud of,” and at the time said they “don’t expect the delay to be very long.” Yet, with no update from the company in the intervening six months, some folks over at the PSVR Subreddit feared the worst—that the game may have been canceled—upon spotting that the ‘Golem’ trademark held by Highwire Games had recently expired.
We reached out to Highwire Games to learn what we could, and are happy to report that Golem is still alive and well. A spokesperson for the studio told Road to VR that the game is still on track for a 2018 release date. The lapsed trademark, which was first filed in 2015, was just due to a missed renewal deadline.
Image courtesy Highwire Games
The spokesperson further called Golem’s progress “slow and steady,” and said that the game’s content is largely complete, and that current work on the title is “almost entirely optimization.” Level streaming—seamlessly loading parts of the game’s large environments without interruption—was fingered as the primary challenge.
Characterizing the game’s structural design, the spokesperson remarked that Golem is “closest to [something like] Dark Souls in terms of structure. Not wide open terrain or totally free navigation, but a single large interconnected environment to explore.”
Image courtesy Highwire Games
Golem, which will launch as a PSVR exclusive, has been anticipated since its announcement way back in 2015—nearly a year before PlayStation VR launched—not only because it looks like a unique VR game that makes great use of scale, but also because the studio behind the game was founded by a handful of game development veterans who helped define the iconic Halo series during their time at Bungie.
The PlayStation VR has been a showcase piece for Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Los Angeles, for two years running. Last year’s media briefing featured a segment which demonstrated dozens of titles in quick succession, including big hits such as Moss and new downloadable content (DLC) for Farpoint. This year, the heat is on to raise more interest in the PlayStation VR beyond that of the early adopters.
The PlayStation VR is arguably the most successful of all the head-mounted displays (HMDs) currently available. While it may not have outsold the Samsung Gear VR, it most certainly has a much bigger active install base. But what’s next? Those who were keen to get the device early-on have already jumped in, and so SIE need to bring a big new wave of titles to convince the naysayers that now is the time to jump into virtual reality (VR).
New VR Games
We should expect a number of new titles at E3 this year as part of SIE’s media briefing, both first- and third-party. Indeed, the recent announcement of a PlayStation VR version of Archiact’s Evasion has started the ball rolling, and there’s likely to be many more on the way. Something new from Polyarc – currently assumed to be a second chapter for Moss – is expected, plus more information on the release of Blood & Truth and numerous other PlayStation VR titles that are considered missing in action.
Megalith
Originally expected in Q1 2018, Megalith hasn’t delivered any new information for some time. A new playable build at E3 2018 should be expected, plus hopefully some solid details on a release later this year. It wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to see Megalith held back for a holiday season launch.
Blood & Truth
And the same applies for Blood & Truth, also. After the hugely positive reaction to the spiritual predecessor – The London Heist featured in PlayStation VR launch title, PlayStation VR Worlds – Blood & Truth is looking set to be an influencer amongst new adopters of the PlayStation VR. SIE will undoubtedly want to time such a launch wisely, and will surely use E3 to build hype for the title prior to its launch later this year.
Golem
‘Golem will launch on 13th March 2018!’
Really? Then where is it? Nowhere, except maybe in SIE’s E3 plans. Highwire Games’ PlayStation VR adventure has been high on many early adopters ‘most wanted’ lists for quite some time, and so the rapid updating of information late last year built up the hope that it might actually see a release soon. Nearly six months later and we’ll still no closer to seeing an official launch. All we can do is hope that E3 will bring the news we want.
Usually when a game developer takes to Sony’s official PlayStation Blog to announce a game’s release date, that means it’s pretty much a sure thing — right? Well, that’s not the case with Golem from Highwire Games, an elusive PSVR-exclusive that was originally announced over two years ago at Sony’s 2015 PlayStation Experience. The game was slated for a March 13th release (that’s next week) but has now been delayed again to an undisclosed future date.
The bad news is… we’re going to delayGolem a bit longer. There’s no single reason for the delay, just a few small things that taken together make it the right thing for the game and for Highwire. We want to release a polished VR experience that we are proud of — there’s still some tuning and optimization to be done — and we’re too old for another insane death-crunch.
The good news is… we’re going to delay Golem a bit longer. The game is still coming out soon and we don’t expect the delay to be very long. In the meantime, go listen to Marty’s fantastic prequel album “Echoes of the First Dreamer” or play through Moss again. We’ll let you know when we have a new date.
I first got my hands on the game back at GDC in 2016 before the PSVR had even launched and then again most recently at PSX 2017 late last year. In my latest demo I came away with a lot of concerns, chief among them the movement system.
Instead of using teleportation or free locomotion, it’s all based off of the tilt and incline of a single PS Move controller. In my preview I said, “I’m not so sure it’s the solution we’ve all been waiting for,” and “it just doesn’t feel accurate enough and seems like a workaround for an issue that doesn’t really exist anymore.”
Time will tell if those apprehensions hold true on final release, but fingers crossed the finished product ends up better off from the extended development cycle. Let us know what you think down in the comments below!
The PlayStation 4’s virtual reality (VR) platform has entered its second year of consumer availability, and with it has brought some [link to best of 2017]fantastic PlayStation VR titles throughout 2017[/link]. However, it’s time to look ahead at some of the highlights coming in 2018.The release schedule for the PlayStation VR has never looked better, with an assortment of indie and AAA videogames coming over the next six months. Both digital-only and retail packages will lead the way to further consumer adoption, and below you’ll find some of the biggest and best titles heading to PlayStation VR in 2018.
Moss – Polyarc Games
Polyarc Games’ Moss was announced at last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Los Angeles, in June, and has since soared to the top of many PlayStation VR players’ ‘most wanted’ lists. The incidental detail in the animation of heroine Quill is nothing short of amazing, and the pacing between action and logic puzzle solving – at least in the early preview build of Moss – is almost pitch-perfect.
Moss is set for release on 27th February 2018, exclusively on PlayStation VR.
Blood & Truth – Sony London Studios
Blood & Truth is considered by many to be the evolution of The London Heist, which featured on PlayStation VR launch compilation, PlayStation VR Worlds. Developed by Sony London Studios, Blood & Truth places the player into the heart of London’s organised crime syndicate on a mission for revenge. There have been some misgivings about the nature of the player’s movement and the voiceover seen in the preview build of Blood & Truth, but hope remains high that Sony London Studios will deliver the deep mafia experience many PlayStation VR owners are hoping for.
Blood & Truth will launch at an unannounced date in 2018, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
The Inpatient – Supermassive Games
UK studio Supermassive Games have two announced titles coming to PlayStation VR in 2018, and while Bravo Team just missed out on making it into this feature, The Inpatient is arguably a more unique and involving experience. Continuing the trend of fleshing-out the hugely popular Until Dawn universe, The Inpatient takes place in the Sanitarium featured in the original PlayStation 4 exclusive and tasks the player with facing some odd goings on as they attempt to keep a grip on their sanity.
The Inpatient is set for release on 24th January 2018, exclusively on PlayStation VR.
Golem – Highwire Games
Having originally been announced back in 2016, Golem disappeared off the radar for some time. Re-emerging at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) Paris Games Week press conference, Highwire Games’ VR debut shot right back to the top of the PlayStation VR’s most anticipated list. An adventure that gives the player the opportunity to explore the ruins of the Endless City, engaging in melee combat as they wield a sword and swing it as though it were a real blade; learning how to thrust, block and parry.
One for fans of the series or the videogames industry as a whole, Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is a commentary on the rivalry between videogame consoles and the hardware manufacturers behind them. While Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is in fact an ‘enhanced’ remake of Megadimension Neptunia VII, the most significant difference is the fact that players will be able to get face-to-face with several characters from the series for the first time.
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is set to launch on 13th April 2018, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
Megalith – Disruptive Games
One of the most recently announced PlayStation VR titles, along with Blood & TruthDisruptive Games revealed Megalith at SIE’s Paris Games Week press conference. Megalith sees the player taking the role of a titan in a world with a bleak, stylised aesthetic. On a quest to become a powerful god, players will explore and destroy as they utilise powerful weapons to take out their foes.
Megalith is set to launch at a currently unspecified date in 2018, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
Star Child – Playful Corp.
Playful Corp.’s VR debut came in the form of the Oculus Rift exclusive Lucky’s Tale, a critically acclaimed platform videogame featuring a cute bouncing fox that eventually made the leap to Xbox One. This time around, Star Child presents a neon drenched science-fiction adventure for PlayStation VR. Star Child is a homage to classic side-scrolling platformers of yesteryear with the player running and jump through a world that encourages you to lean in and explore its depths with the new immersion afforded by VR technology. In a similar fashion to Paw Print Games’ Bloody Zombies, the action may be limited to a 2D plane but the player’s viewpoint is not, allowing for secrets to be discovered through observation.
Star Child is currently set to launch at an unspecified date in 2018, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
Quar: Infernal Machines – Steel Wool Studios
Aside from League of War: VR Arena and No Heroes Allowed! VR, PlayStation VR is somewhat lacking in strategy videogames. Steel Wool Studios will soon change that fact with Quar: Infernal Machines, a HTC Vive launch title that remains one of the most compelling strategy titles on the format. Players will engage in combat as they attempt to take control of the land with a variety of oddball creatures and weaponry.
Quar: Infernal Machines originally launched on HTC Vive under the guise of Quar: Battle for Gate 18, and will launch on PlayStation VR in March 2018.
The American Dream – Samurai Punk
Originally expected to launch in 2017, Samurai Punk’s The American Dream is the antithesis of the current trend for wave shooters in VR. Acting as a tongue-in-cheek examination of American gun culture – or potentially a commentary on it, should the tone be pitched correctly – The American Dream has the player using firearms to conduct even the most mundane activities. What’s better than opening a beer can with a gun? Nothing. That’s what.
The American Dream was originally intended to launch in 2017 and is currently expected to launch early in 2018 on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars – Konami Digital Entertainment
The announcement that Konami were preparing a return to the Zone of the Enders franchise came as somewhat of a shock, especially as they were developing VR compatibility as part of the package. Of course, it makes perfect sense; there are few action videogames that lend themselves to VR as well as piloting giant mechs. And while Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars looks set to be a compelling rendition of the franchise, little has yet been revealed of exactly how the videogame will play in VR.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars is set to launch at an unspecified date in spring 2018, for PlayStation 4, Steam and PlayStation VR.
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Honourable Mention: Fallout 4 VR – Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 4 VR is the ‘one that got away’. Bethesda Game Studios had a trio of VR launches over the holiday season, and while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR and DOOM VFR both graced the PlayStation VR, Fallout 4 VR currently remains a HTC Vive exclusive. The suggestion is that Fallout 4 VR will eventually come to the PlayStation VR in time, but Bethesda Game Studios has offered no official word on when that might be. Fingers crossed PlayStation VR gamers don’t have to wait too long to experience the wasteland of the Commonwealth first-hand.
Without any major VR hardware releases on the radar for this year, 2018 is shaping up to be a time for content to shine. We’ve rounded up a list of 20-something VR games launching in 2018 that we’re excited about, covering all three major VR systems: PSVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Ace Combat 7
Platform: PSVR (2018)
While Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7 is advertising “exclusive VR features” instead of straight VR support (meaning the campaign isn’t playable in VR), we’re still excited to strap into either Osean or Erusean jets as the two fictional superpowers duke it out in the skies. Who knows, maybe it’ll be wildly awesome?
ARK Park is a multiplayer adventure game based on the world of ARK:Survival Evolved (2017). While it may have been delayed by the China-based Snail Games from the previously slated late 2017 release, the mix of dinosaur-themed factual and fictional elements has certainly tickled our curiosity. Also: you can ride a dinosaur.
The world needs more fighting babies. To provide this insatiable need for post-natal, pre-toddler carnage, the immensely capable VR studio Kite & Lightning are developing a VR melee party brawler that puts ridiculously dressed infants into kart-based Smash Bros-style combat. We haven’t had a hands-on yet, but the studio has promised a 2018 release, so we’re sure to get one soon enough.
Brass Tactics
Platform: Rift (February 28, 2018)
This VR multiplayer/singleplayer real-time strategy game comes from Hidden Path Entertainment, the minds behind Defense Grid 2: Enhanced VR Edition (2016) and Age of Empires II: HD Edition (2013).Who hasn’t dreamt about bringing their favorite tabletop game to life, and ordering armies of miniature soldiers to ultimate victory?
This online 2-player co-op strategic shooter will force you to take cover as you make your way across a war-torn fictional Eastern European city. While you won’t get the free-wheeling locomotion options like many shooters, instead giving you a sort of ‘on-rails’ point-to-point automatic movement, the strength and amount of enemies will make you think twice before selecting a cover position for fear or getting shot to bits by a machine gun-welding baddies.
Budget Cuts
Platform: Rift, Vive (2018)
Already offering a wildly successful demo the ninja assassin-style Budget Cuts puts heavy emphasis on stealth combat. Set to release sometime in 2018, indie studio Neat Corporation surely picked up some important pointers when they were invited to collaborate with Valve last year—the results of which we can’t wait to see. Seriously. Play the demo now if you haven’t already.
Echo Combat
Platform: Rift (2018)
As if Ready at Dawn’s singleplayer adventure Lone Echo (2017) and free multiplayer sports game Echo Arena (2017) weren’t cool enough, the studio is also bringing out a combat-focused, zero-G game in 2018. Demos aren’t in the wild yet, but if it’s coming from the studio that produced Road to VR’s Best Rift Game of 2017, we’ll be mashing F5 on Oculus’ blog in anticipation of seeing and hearing more.
Firewall: Zero Hours VR
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Revealed at PSX 2017 recently, Firewall Zero Hour is a team-based, tactical multiplayer FPS coming exclusively to PSVR this year. The game is said to support both DualShock and PS Aim, although the developers haven’t made mention of PS Move controllers yet. Either way, this attack/defend shooter looks to fuse VR with some classic assault-style games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.
Golem
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Originally teased at PSX 2015 with a slated release for an October 2016, High Wire Games’Golem is finally coming to PSVR. In Golem, you play as an adventurous kid who has been seriously injured. You are stuck at home in your bed, dreaming of exploring the outside world. The minds behind the game are ex-Bungie staffers, including Halo composer Marty O’Donnell.
Although it’s been a while since we played, and things have surely changed, check out 6 minutes of gameplay here.
Marvel Powers United VR
Platform: Rift (2018)
Created by Oculus and Sanzaru Games (behind titles like VR Sports Challenge and Ripcoil), there’s plenty of ways to battle in this Marvel-themed arena brawler. Turn into the Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, Captain Marvel, Deadpool, and many more as you battle enemies in online multiplayer arena battles that let you wield real super powers.
From Disruptive Games comes a multiplayer action-packed hero shooter that transforms you into a titan, letting you use your massive size and firepower to compete with others in a quest to become a god. The game is said to come with free locomotion, destructible environments, and put heavy emphasis on strategic gameplay.
Moss
Platform: PSVR (February 2018)
A charming third-person action-adventure puzzle game from Polyarc, Moss gives you control of the small but fierce mouse named Quill. With a tiny sword in hand, you vanquish pint-sized enemies as you solve large puzzles. There’s a free demo available already on the second PSVR demo disc, so there’s no reason not to fall in love with little Quill already.
The result of a successful Kickstarter in 2015, Pixel Ripped has been in development well before consumer headsets released. Heavy on nostalgia, the game tosses you into the world of 1989 as Nicola. Going ‘one level deeper’ into the virtual world, you incarnate a heroine named Dot who is on a quest to return the magical rock that contains the soul of Dot’s world, Adventureland, which has been stolen by the Cyblin Master. Cyblin has other plans though as he tries to break into the Nicola’s ‘real’ world.
Space Junkies
Platform: Rift, Vive (Spring 2018)
From Ubisoft Montpelier, Space Junkies is an upcoming zero-G multiplayer shooter that puts straight into team-based or deathmatch-style combat. Yes, there are light sabers, but the focus is ultimately on the game’s impressive assortment of guns. Visuals are really polished, and from what we’ve played, so is the overall deathmatch concept.
Sprint Vector is a racing game that has integrated a unique locomotion arm-swinging locomotion style that moves you forward through a Mario Kart-style race course. Hailing from Raw Data developer Survios, we had a lot of fun in trying out the fast-paced, nausea-free racer.
From Playful Corp comes another third-person platformer, albeit less boisterous and family-oriented than the studio’s last VR game, Lucky’s Tale (2016). With some puzzles thrown in for good measure, you guide a mysterious traveler on her way through a subterranean landscape. She soon discovers advanced alien technology, is stalked by an ominous beast lurking in the shadows, and finally has a very close encounter with a giant being of unknown origin.
The Inpatient
Platform: PSVR (2018)
Originally expected for Q4 2017 release, Supermassive Games standalone prequel to Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (2016) has been delayed until 2018. When we first demoed the psychological horror game, the level of realism was remarkable thanks to some very well-tuned facial motion capture. We can’t wait to see more soon.
From Ubisoft Montreal and Elijah Wood’s studio Spectrevision, Transference is a physiological thriller that blends movie and reality in what promises to be a disquieting experience. Popping into the memories of people suffering from PTSD and reliving their nightmare-fuel pasts sounds pretty disquieting to me.
Vacation Simulator
Platform: PSVR, Rift & Vive (2018)
Announced at this year’s Game Awards, Owlchemy Labs’ Vacation Simulator is following in the footsteps of its breakout multi-platform success Job Simulator (2016). While it’s unsure if the tongue-in-check simulator style will find the same level of launch day success its spiritual predecessor, we’ll be there ready to play to see if it tickles our collective funny bones.
Windlands 2
Windlands (2016), the high-flying exploration game from Psytec Games, is getting a sequel this year that’s looking to alter its predecessor’s formula with the addition of co-op adventuring as well as combat. Combat has altered the zen-like nature of the game somewhat, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Multiplayer adventuring is a net positive though, so we can’t wait to see what Windlands 2 will serve up.
While Valve is still mum on its three games originally confirmed back in February 2017, Dan O’Brien, Vive general manager for the Americas, revealed to The Rolling Stone that Valve was still “very committed” to the promise of delivering its three VR games. Valve has produced The Lab (2016) and plenty of content for the SteamVR Home space. We’re itching to see any game with the level of fit and finish we see in both productions.
Blood And Truth
Platform: PSVR (TBA)
Sony’s London Studio first released Blood and Truth’s spiritual predecessor with the first PSVR demo disk; London Heist. The demo’s Guy Ritchie-style Cockney crime theme is an awesome backdrop to the demo’s shooting sequences, so the thought of having a full game where you’re essentially an action hero looking for revenge, well, it sounds pretty badass.
At this year’s PlayStation Experience (PSX) I was able to try out a new demo build of Golem for PSVR from Highwire Games. As one of PSVR’s most well-known exclusives that’s been anticipated for multiple years now at this point, I was eager to see how it’s evolved.
For the most part what I saw and played was largely very similar to the demo I first tried all the way back at GDC 2016 almost two years ago. Now, it wasn’t identical. I came face-to-face with one of the game’s motion-captured NPCs (the main character’s father) and took note of some visually wonderful environments, but mechanically and in terms of content it was a very similar demo.
Golem is the story of a bed-ridden young girl that uses a magical implement that allows her to essentially teleport her consciousness into other creatures and objects. This is manifested in two ways from my demo: briefly on the floor of her bedroom as I control a very tiny creature scuttling along the floor and again in a distant, magical world in which I take control of a hulking, powerful Golem.
The first scene was brief and was really only there to teach me the movement mechanics. While the developers at Highwire Games are proud of the unique locomotion system they’ve crafted that utilizes only a single PS Move controller, I’m not so sure it’s the solution we’ve all been waiting for. In Golem you move your character by holding the Move controller upright like a giant joystick, holding down a button, and then physically leaning forward. The camera tracks your forward movement as an intention to move in the game and then starts moving you smoothly. They call it “incline control” but unfortunately it just doesn’t feel accurate enough and seems like a workaround for an issue that doesn’t really exist anymore.
The reality of the situation is that motion sickness just isn’t as big of a concern now as it was two years ago before PSVR, Rift, and Vive released to the masses. In the early days figuring out ways to sidestep motion sickness was one of the biggest concerns on developers minds, but now things are different. Not only do many players build up a tolerance for artificial movement in VR, but not that many people are affected in the grand scheme of things. That’s why many of VR’s most popular games like Resident Evil 7, Onward, and the upcoming Firewall: Zero Hour all opt for full, direct movement and never look back.
Maybe when Golem releases the movement system will feel better than it does now, but in the last demo I tried it was just as frustrating as it was creative.
What has me most excited about Golem isn’t the movement system, but the combat and world that Highware has built around it. I got a small taste in the latest demo as I engaged in some melee battles with other Golems. We all wielded giant one-handed stone swords and my hand motions were tracked with great 1:1 accuracy.
The enemy Golems approached me head-on and reached back with their arms to attack, resulting in my need to raise my own sword and block their attacks in real time. The battles were very slow-paced and I don’t think I was ever in danger of missing a block at all, but I can imagine the intensity once things ramp up a bit.
All of the environments I saw were very linear, but I’m hoping that won’t be the case with the full game. Even though the movement system lacks the freedom and flexibility of a more fluid mechanic it does still allow for plenty of exploration.
Golem’s world is beautiful and full of possibilities, so I can’t wait to uncover some of those secrets in just a few months.
Golem is slated to release exclusively on PSVR this coming March 13th, 2018. Let us know what you think about the game down in the comments below!
Entwicklerstudio Highwire Games verschiebt erneut den Veröffentlichungstermin des kommenden Exklusivtitels Golem für PlayStation VR (PSVR).
So schreiben die Verantwortlichen auf Nachfrage von Road to VR:
“Die Dinge laufen immer noch voran; wir wollen, dass Golem genau das Spiel wird, das wir uns vorgestellt haben und nehmen uns entsprechend die Zeit, die es benötigt, um es dorthin zu bringen. [Wir werden dieses Mal keinen Veröffentlichungstermin nennen, bevor wir uns nicht absolut sicher sind.]”
Eigentlich sollte der PSVR-Exklusivtitel Golem am 13. März 2018 erscheinen. Daraus wird aber nichts, wie der Entwickler Highwire Games auf seiner Webseite mitteilt. Man arbeite noch an einigen Kleinigkeiten, die aber zusammengenommen eben Zeit benötigen. Die gute Nachricht: Allzu lange soll es nicht mehr dauern, bis Golem erscheint. Der Entwickler empfiehlt, die Zeit damit zu verbringen, beispielsweise noch einmal Moss durchzuspielen. Sicherlich ein guter Tipp!
[Originalmeldung vom 12. Dezember 2017]:
Auf der PlayStation Experience wurden einige interessante Spiele für Sonys Konsole gezeigt. So wurde unter anderem ein neuer Multiplayer-Shooter angekündigt und auch das Entwicklerstudio Highwire Games stellte ihren Indie-Titel Golem für PlayStation VR (PSVR) vor. Dabei gewährten die Entwickler neue Einblicke ins Gameplay sowie ein offizielles Veröffentlichungsdatum. Der PSVR-Titel soll am 13. März 2018 erscheinen.
Golem für PlayStation VR – Telepathische Fähigkeiten und spannende Abenteuer
Auf der PlayStation Experience kündigten Highwire Games ein Veröffentlichungsdatum für ihren PSVR-Titel Golem an und zeigten zudem in einem Interview einige Gameplay-Elemente, die uns zukünftig erwarten. So schlüpft ihr im Spiel in die Rolle eines jungen Mädchens, das nach einem Unfall an ihr Bett gefesselt ist und es nicht mehr verlassen kann. Eines Tages entdeckt sie jedoch zufällig ihre übernatürlichen Fähigkeiten. Dank Telepathie ist sie in der Lage, die Kontrolle über leblose Gegenstände zu übernehmen und sie zu bewegen. So übt man zunächst mit einer kleinen Puppe im Zimmer, um später dank fortschreitender Fähigkeiten gewaltige Steinstatuen – die Golems – zu übernehmen.
Im Verlauf des Spiels werdet ihr immer wieder dazu aufgefordert, in verschiedene Golems in unterschiedlichen Größen zu schlüpfen. Dadurch entstehen interessante Gameplay-Elemente. So müsst ihr verschiedene Passagen in einer uralten verlassenen Stadt überwinden oder euch bewaffnen und in den Kampf gegen Monster und andere Golems stürzen.
Zur Steuerung verwendet ihr die Trigger-Tasten, um euch während des Spiels vorwärts zu bewegen, oder ihr nutzt euren Körper und bewegt euch durch das Lehnen nach vorne. Die Entwickler legen dabei Wert auf eine intuitive Steuerung und werden diese noch weiterhin verbessern. Wie sie letztlich dann genau aussieht, bleibt allerdings noch abzuwarten.
Der PSVR-Titel Golem ist bereits seit 2015 in Entwicklung und soll nun offiziell am 13. März 2018erscheinen. Wir werden euch über weitere Neuigkeiten zum Indie-Titel auf dem Laufenden halten.
Two years on from its announcement, promising PlayStation VR (PSVR) adventure, Golem, finally has a release date.
The game, which was first revealed at the 2015 PlayStation Experience, will be arriving on March 13th 2018. Developer Highwire Games confirmed as much at this year’s iteration of show, where it debuted a new gameplay demo that you can see in the video below.
Golem has been away a pretty long time, but it looks like the game’s core mechanics and story remain intact. The title follows a young injured girl that discovers the ability to embody and control stone beings known as Golems. Using a single PlayStation Move controller, you use these beasts to explore the ruins of an ancient city and engage others in combat. You’ll be armed with a sword that you must use to block and parry incoming attacks then strike back at opportune moments.
As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, Golem will use a new ‘Incline Control’ locomotion system, which essentially means players will lean slightly in the direction they want to move. It doesn’t sound like anything else we’ve encountered on PSVR yet, but Highwire says that once it’s been mastered you’ll be able to move around “effortlessly”. Here’s hoping they’re right.
While we’re waiting for Golem you can check out a musical prequel to the game that released earlier this year. We’ll definitely be watching to see how this one works out.
Golem, a forthcoming PSVR title that’s been in the works since 2015, resurfaced in late 2017 at Sony’s PSX event after staying out of the spotlight for some time. At the time the studio revealed that the game would ship on March 13th (having been delayed once prior). Now the studio has announced another delay as they put the finishing touches on the PSVR exclusive.
Update (3/6/18): Just a week before the game’s previously delayed launch date of March 16th, Golem developer Highwire Games has announced that they’re delaying the launch of the game indefinitely, but say they “don’t expect the delay to be very long,” which suggests the game will still safely land in 2018, optimistically still in the first half of the year.
“There’s no single reason for the delay,” the studio shared on their blog, “just a few small things that taken together make it the right thing for the game and for Highwire. We want to release a polished VR experience that we are proud of — there’s still some tuning and optimization to be done […]”
Original Article (12/10/17):Golem was first announced way back in 2015, and after surfacing briefly in 2016, few concrete details have emerged from the studio since. Speaking with the official PlayStation Blog’s Sid Shuman at PSX this weekend, Highwire Games showed off some new Golem gameplay and talked about how development of the title has been coming along.
In footage shown during the interview, we can see how the player’s character, a bed-ridden teenager, discovers that they can use telepathy to control a doll in the room. The player will explore and eventually find that they can also inhabit huge stone statues called golems. The ability to jump into vessels of various sizes makes for an interesting way to play with scale (which is especially impactful in VR); at one point we see the player exploring through a crack in the floorboards, and later battling as a golem with a huge sword.
Image courtesy Highwire Games
We saw a similar demo last year, but the new footage shows more polish and character development, and goes on to show new enemies—spear throwing skeletons—environments, and combat.
The game’s interesting control scheme, which involves leaning to move, remains, however the developers say they’re increased the level of control by making the player stay still (even while leaning) unless the trigger is pulled.
Golem is a PSVR exclusive which Highwire announced will launch on March 13th.See update above.
One of the most secretive titles currently in development for PlayStation VR is Highwire Games’ Golem, originally revealed back in 2015 before reemerging in October. As part of Golem’s development Highwire has revealed its been working with MocapNow to performance capture the characters in the virtual reality (VR) experience.
Seattle-based MocapNow has become a premier mocap service provider in the Pacific Northwest, with co-owners CJ Markham and Ander Bergstrom having almost 25 years of combined animation and mocap experience. MocapNows performance capture setup features a spacious 70 x 30 foot stage with 17-foot high ceilings for full body capture and an 18 x 18 foot sound stage for simultaneous audio and facial capture with OptiTrack systems.
Utilising 34 cameras, combining a mix of Prime 41s, Prime 17s, Prime 13s and Prime 13Ws all running through Motive software, MocapNow can deliver a range of motion capture services from full performance capture to creating custom rigs, cleaning up data, and building or optimizing external motion capture systems.
“Motives one-button click character setup is huge. Part of the reason people use mocap is for speedy turnaround at high quality, and that feature saves at least an hour each session,” Markham shared in a statement. “Connected to that is the ability to export the FBX actor file directly into content creation pipelines allowing animators to make edits without significant time or budget costs. When data goes directly to a skeleton, like with some other software, it can limit an animators artistic influence and control over the pipeline to fix issues, resulting in subpar deliverables.”
The studios credits span various feature films, videogames and of course VR productions, including HBOs Emmy Award-winning Westworld VR experience, Epic Games’ Paragon, King Kong, Happy Feet, Halo Wars, Halo 5 and many more.
As for facial capture the company uses 24 Flex 13 cameras, Motive software and plenty of facial markers. The setup is designed to capture two performers simultaneously, a process MocapNow has tailored for VR experiences due to the way the technology works.
“We’ve taken a new approach to facial capture, addressing the specific pitfalls facing VR companies,” said Markham. “Capturing high quality audio and facial for two performers simultaneously is unprecedented, and our clients couldn’t be happier with the results we deliver with help from the OptiTrack systems.”
Golem is due for release in early 2018, so PlayStation VR gamers will get to see the results then.As VRFocus learns more about Golem and Highwire Games’ plans, we’ll keep you updated.
