HipFire Games – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 12, 2020

Free Parkour-shooter Blastworld Exits Early Access, Adds New Game Modes

After an Early Access launch in the latter half of 2019, Hipfire Games’ Blastworld has now made the leap into an official product. This has seen the studio added further content for players to enjoy, expand support and launch a competition in collaboration with HTC Vive.

With Blastworld leaving Early Access Hipfire Games has released two gameplay modes for the competitive shooter, ‘Zombies Royale’ and ‘Overkill’. The first is a twist on the standard battle royale genre, where every player who gets knocked out returns as a zombie. When one player remains they have to fight the entire server of player and AI zombies for a set time before being rescued.

There’s also a PvE version of the mode where players can team up to fight waves of zombies and robots whilst awaiting that rescue chopper.

As for Overkill, this has been inspired by Overwatch, the difference being that character classes are tailored to the various locomotion modes. So players who use the comfort modes are the tanks and snipers, whilst those who use smooth locomotion have lighter, nimble assault characters.

“This is just the beginning for Blastworld as we want to turn it into an actual world where you can visit and explore different islands and discover various activities with other players. There’s a whole backstory to why the separate worlds exist and they give us a lot of room to play around with different themes and rules!,” said Antti Sartanen, CEO, Hipfire Games, in a statement.

Blastworld is free to download on Steam for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. While Oculus Quest users can go to SideQuest for a copy. Fans of the videogame can help support development buy purchasing Blastworld Gold for $9.99 USD. Not only does this help Hipfire Games but they’ll also receive two unique characters, unlocked rank progress, the ability to create portals to new maps for friends and access to future Gold exclusive content.

And then there’s the headset competition with an HTC Vive Pro Eye and Vive Cosmos up for grabs. Open now until 25th May 2020, to win the Vive Cosmos you need to be the highest-ranking player on the Team Skill Points leaderboard. To win the HTC Vive Pro Eye you need to record a Blastworld gameplay video and share it via YouTube and the Hipfire Games Discord channel, most likes win.

For further updates to Blastworld, keep reading VRFocus.

January 22, 2020

Hectic Co-Op Puzzler Failspace Leaving Early Access Tomorrow With Major Gameplay Overhaul

Hipfire Games launched its take on social co-op in virtual reality (VR) with the Early Access release of Failspace last November. Since then the studio has taken on board feedback from the community, giving the core gameplay system an overhaul in preparation for an official launch tomorrow.

Failspace

The initial release has seen a mixed response from the Steam community, due in part to the difficulty threshold and the haphazard way events would occur, so keeping the ship intact always felt like an uphill struggle. So the team has taken all of this information to streamline and smooth the experience into one that retains that hectic essence of maintaining a ship in space, just in a more manageable form.

“We knew that the EA version was too punishing and overwhelming for most people. As in, all the ship systems and resources like coolant and electricity needed constant surveillance and management. It was already hard enough to just keep the ship running and when the hazards came you were already in the disadvantage,” Hipfire Games’ CEO Antti Sartanen told VRFocus.

“But it occurred to us that it wasn’t the tasks and hazards that were at fault, but the fact that it had no structure. So we decided to “themify” the hazards. Now instead of giving you just a single blast of Solar Flare, you would travel through a longer zone that focuses on one theme at a time,” Sartanen adds. “Solar activity zone will give you solar flares which ignite fires, overheat systems and so forth, all under the theme of heat management. Asteroid field creates punctures and pressure tasks and Ion Storm focuses on electricity-based hazards.”

Failspace

The release will also feature plenty of other improvements and fixes such as more linear missions to keep players occupied. “We think that this huge overhaul finally captures the feeling we were looking for! And we have the fans to thank for that!,” Sartanen concludes.

Currently retailing for £15.49 on Steam, Failspace’s official launch date is 23rd January with plans underway to bring the title to Viveport in February and possibly Oculus Store in the near future. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

September 16, 2019

Co-op Puzzle Solver Failspace Now Expected in October

HipFire Games may have gone under the radar for a while but today the Finnish studio has reappeared in earnest by making two announcements. The first was for a new multiplayer shooter called Blastworld due out by the end of the year, and concrete launch details have now been released for co-op title Failspace.

Failspace

Designed as a fun co-op experience for up to four players, Failspace puts you inside your very own space truck as part of the BluPel Intergalactic Transport Fleet, there’s just one little problem; it doesn’t have a warranty so problems have to be fixed by the crew.

Whilst trying to earn a quick buck by shipping cargo across the galaxy all sorts of situations arise which can be deadly for the crew if not sorted. So missions entail fixing issues both inside and outside the ship, escalating very quickly if team members are slacking off; cue plenty of shouting, screaming and other loud vocal noises when things go awry.

They’re fast and hectic missions lasting around 10 minutes each, with electrical systems malfunctioning, shields going down and fires randomly starting across the ship. Dealing with these is only part of the challenge. the other is trying to get as far as possible without running out of supplies, which include everything from fire extinguishers to spare parts for the ship.

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Originally, Hipfire Games had planned on an official launch in Q2 2019 after an alpha test took place in December 2018. Obviously that never occurred and in the process of development during 2019 the team also dropped the idea for cross-platform integration with Android and iOS devices. In a statement CEO Antti Sartanen is quoted as saying that: “the decision wasn’t easy and while it was a valuable experiment for future projects, the developers wanted to focus on the original vision and cater to the core fans of the VR game.”

So instead, Failspace is now scheduled for a late October launch for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Hipfire Games’ latest projects including Failspace, reporting back with further announcements.

September 16, 2019

Hipfire Games’ Next Project is VR PvP shooter Blastworld

Finnish indie studio Hipfire Games had been very quiet for most of 2019, with the last thing VRFocus had heard coming almost a year ago regarding Failspace. Well, today the studio has announced a brand new project in the form of a dedicated PvP shooter called Blastworld.

Blastworld

A first-person shooter (FPS) where all the guns have foam bullets, the design of Blastworld is focused on freedom of movement. So players can go anywhere they please whilst having a variety of comfort options to suit almost any player.

Hipfire Games wanted to be able to offer more than just the standard teleportation (which doesn’t suit most multiplayer FPS titles) and smooth, direct movement mechanics seen in other virtual reality (VR) videogames. So Blastworld’s locomotion system has been balanced two suit both styles. For those that like to teleport there’s an out-of-body mode which fires the character first before the player then follows in a blink. This way other players can still shoot them without some looking like they’re glitching all over the map.

For the players that like full immersion there’s arm swinging locomotion, to run around the map flinging yourself of buildings whilst shooting darts. Players can also climb any building or other tall objects they can see for a better tactical viewpoint. At any time during the matches players can also swap their movement styles, ideal if you become accustomed quickly or need to dial it back.

And just because the darts are foam doesn’t mean to say the guns only come in one flavour. There’s an array of crazy weaponry like bazookas, machine guns and frisbee launchers to play with as players fling themselves across rooftops.

Blastworld

And the best part is that Hipfire Games has already released a demo of Blastworld to download for free. Featuring a ranking system, the demo can be downloaded directly from the studio’s website or via its Discord channel supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets, with an Oculus Quest version available via sideloading.

Currently, Hipfire Games hasn’t revealed when Blastworld will fully launch. When that happens VRFocus will let you know.

September 16, 2019

Failspace Finally Gets Late October Release Window

It’s been a long time since we last wrote about anticipated VR co-op game, Failspace.

Good news for those of you that have been holding out for its release; it’s coming very soon. Alongside today’s announcement of its new game, developer Hipfire Games also confirmed Failspace will arrive by the end of October 2019.

In Failspace up to four players are tasked with fixing a faulty space ship as it falls apart. You’re on an intergalactic journey where you’ll need to act quickly to repair machines and terminals. Communication is key, meaning you’ll more than likely be shouting at your friends. You can think of it as a slightly more panic-induced version of Star Trek: Bridge Crew.

The game takes a roguelike approach. Each time you play you’ll start from scratch and try to survive for as long as possible.

Sadly, Hipfire won’t be releasing a teased mobile companion app it had shown in the past. The app let players join in on a smartphone, removing the need for a VR headset. However, the studio reasoned that the feature was cut in order to focus on the vision of the original game.

We went hands-on with the game all the way back in 2018. We really enjoyed the frantic co-op gameplay, though it remains to be seen how much longevity this manic multiplayer game will carry. It’s set to launch on Steam with support for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows VR and Valve Index.

Elsewhere, Hipfire just announced Blastworld. It’s a first-person shooter (FPS) in which players fire dart-filled weaponry. You can get into a demo by following the steps here.

The post Failspace Finally Gets Late October Release Window appeared first on UploadVR.

September 16, 2019

Blastworld Is A PvP Shooter Inspired By Nerf Guns, Demo Here

Onward and Pavlov have you sorted on the military simulation front. Blastworld is a different kind of VR shooter.

Announced today, Blastworld is in the works at Failspace developer, Hipfire Games. It’s coming to PC VR headsets and Oculus Quest. In this multiplayer shooter, players wield foam-firing weapons much like Nerf guns. They’re not plastic toys though; the game’s arsenal includes sniper rifles, bazookas and, oddly enough, a frisbee launcher.

That’s not all that’s different about Blastworld; the game also lets players climb any surface. You can clamber up buildings and bridges to find a perfect vantage point to pick enemies off in. Standard locomotion, meanwhile, includes both warp and arm-swinging options.

Check out the trailer above, the game’s definitely a little friendlier than a lot of VR shooters. We had a brief go on it at Gamescom back in August. It’s refreshingly user-friendly, though we’ll be interested to see if it finds an audience in the increasingly competitive multiplayer VR market.

But don’t just take our word for it; you can play the game today. Hipfire is today releasing a free demo playable on Rift, Vive and Index as well as Quest via sideloading. You can look for its arrival on the developer’s official website today. The full version will be launching later on this year.

As for Failspace? Worry not; the game’s also on track to release pretty soon. In fact, you can find out the release date right here.

The post Blastworld Is A PvP Shooter Inspired By Nerf Guns, Demo Here appeared first on UploadVR.

October 24, 2018

Comedic VR Multiplayer Failspace Enters Alpha This December

Having recently competed a Techstars accelerator, Finnish indie studio Hipfire Games has revealed new details about its upcoming virtual reality (VR) project Failspace, which the team first announced work on last year. A comedic multiplayer title, Failspace aims to bridge the gap between smartphone gamers and VR players.

Failspace

Designed around teamwork and crisis solving, Failspace puts you on a space cargo truck tasked with keeping the craft running whilst warping through ion storms and solar flares attempting to transport all manner of unusual goods.

The main gameplay consists of short 5 – 10 minute missions where you have to deal with potentially life threatening events. These can cause electric systems to malfunction, fires to randomly start here and there, and other problems to occur, requiring immediate actions from the crew. Everyone on board must work together on hastily finding and fixing things in order to make it through.

One person assumes the role of Captain, informing their crew about how to fix problems before they reach critical states. The rest of the team – up to four players – then need to fix everything by clearly communicating to the Captain who has the troubleshooting manual.

In December Hipfire Games will begin its first closed alpha, followed by a closed beta in Q1 2019. This will then be followed by the official VR launch in Q2 2019. As mentioned, the studio also plans on adding cross-platform integration for Android and iOS devices so players on mobile and in VR can interact. That feature is currently expected to roll out in Q4 2019.

Failspace

“We’re so happy to finally announce the Failspace alpha is coming on 3rd December – this is the start of the multiplayer revolution in VR!” said Antti Sartanen, CEO of Hipfire Games in a statement. “Our promise to our community is to not compromise on the quality of the VR experience we are aiming to deliver by rushing any mobile aspect of the game. When the game launches, and we have happy live players, we will then focus on integrating our technology to create a high quality VR game where everyone can play together, even when there are only limited amount of VR devices available. At the end of 2019, we will be ready to bring VR and mobile audiences together for fun, meaningful multiplayer gaming. Watch this space!”

The Failspace alpha will begin on 3rd December 2018, compatible with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Window Mixed Reality headsets. Registration to join the alpha is now open via the Hipfire website. For further details regarding the title, keep reading VRFocus.

October 24, 2018

Co-op VR Space Delivery Game ‘Failspace’ Starts Registration for Closed Alpha

Hipfire Games, a Helsinki-based studio made up of ex-Supercell and Rovio developers, announced late last year that their space-based delivery game Failspace was in the making for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows VR headsets. Now the studio is accepting registration for the game’s closed alpha, which is due to start on December 3rd.

The cross-platform co-op game is set aboard a sleep-looking, but ultimately breakage-prone cargo vessel—a far cry from Star Trek: Bridge Crew’s pristine Federation ship.

The game promises to let you travel to deep space destinations, all the while threatened with the task of cooperatively repairing the ship as you hit the inevitable ion storm or solar flare that can wreak havoc on the ship’s systems.

The game is said to take place in the Small Dog galaxy, made up of just a few dozen stars. Each solar system is owned by one of four political factions which produce different kinds of goods and have different material needs, so you’ll need to travel along the well-marked trade routes; it isn’t an open-world space sim, but rather more focused on quickly resolving the issues that arise with quick cooperation and communication with your team. Hipfire says playsessions tend to take around 10 minutes.

When you’re not repairing the ship, your cargo will also require constant hands-on maintenance and care, be it expensive and fragile art that has to be transported gingerly, containers filled with rare animals that need oxygen, or donuts for a police force.

Keep on Trucking as HipFire Games Reveal Team-based Experience Failspace

Comedy virtual reality (VR) experiences come in all shapes and sizes, from Owlchemy Labs’ slapstick Job Simulator or Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality to slightly darker endeavours like Accounting. The latest to be announced comes from fledgling VR studio HipFire Games, with its multiplayer focused, team building title, Failspace.

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In Failspace you and your team are space truckers on a ship that’s barely being held together. Problems will arise and you need to communicate and work as a team to overcome the malfunctions, leaks, breakages and various cargo-based hazards.

HipFire Games were inspired by popular panic-inducing titles like Spaceteam and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, challenging you and your friends to complete evermore difficult cargo missions to earn money, with the real task being survival.

“It’s one thing to play on your computer screen but another thing entirely to physically pull levers, fix leaks and replace fuel filters inside a ‘real’ spaceship,” said Antti Sartanen, the CEO of HipFire Games in a statement. “With all that action around you, you quickly forget that you’re not really there. That’s why we decided to make it more of a fun and tongue-in-cheek type of experience. You’re already experiencing enough pressure as it is!”

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Failspace supports 1-5 players, so even if there’s no one online to team up with you can still try and carry out the missions by yourself. Currently HipFire Games hasn’t revealed an official release date yet, simply giving a launch window of 2018. Another little cravat of information the team are staying quiet on is which platform Failspace will be coming to. With all the hand interactivity it’s unlikely to be any of the mobile headsets, so expect either Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and possibly Windows Mixed Reality.

Check out the first teaser trailer for Failspace below, showcasing some for the gameplay and antics you’ll be getting up to. As further details are revealed VRFocus will keep you updated.