kickstarter – Page 3 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

August 18, 2021

AXIS Motion-Tracking Solution Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Full-body motion-tracking is possible at home with systems like the Vive Trackers but that is limited to certain headsets. Singapore-based tech company Refract aims to widen that market with its tracking solution AXIS (Active XR Interface System). With a plan to bring AXIS to market in 2022, today Refract has launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to aid that endeavour.

While not specifically designed for virtual reality (VR) use, AXIS is built around active gaming of any type so it’s ideal for energetic VR titles. The system is made up of a series of very neat looking wearable sensors that attach to a player’s arms and legs, recording their movements in real-time. There are nine sensors and an on-body hub for inside-out positional tracking (so no external sensors are required), all of which are water-resistant so they don’t get affected by sweat.

Refract has built AXIS to tailor to three distinct setups depending on a user’s needs: Standard, VR, and Creator. So whether you’re into normal videogames, VR experiences or an animator who needs to use AXIS for motion capture, all bases are covered. When it comes to VR compatibility AXIS out-of-the-box works with OpenVR, OpenXR and SteamVR, with Blade & Sorcery used as an example.

For the Kickstarter, Refract aims to raise $133,900 USD to help it move AXIS into mass production. Like many funding campaigns, AXIS offers backers some big discounts for pledging early with the standard funding tier at $499 supplying nine sensors and hub plus a copy of Freestriker, the company’s own in-house title. For those that are quick, there’s a limited Super Early Bird offer dropping the price to $399.

Freestriker is a first-person fighting game that looks hyper-realistic – when it comes to body movement – with two players sparring off against one another. It’s not VR-compatible but it would certainly be a great fit for VR gaming. Adding to Refract’s virtual martial arts credentials the company has entered into a partnership with World Taekwondo to develop its virtual sports program.

Founded in 2018 by Unity, EA, and Ubisoft veterans, Refract features a strong team of 40+ employees to bring AXIS to market in 2022. As the Kickstarter progresses through to 1st October VRFocus will report back with any further updates.

July 28, 2021

Erotic VR RPG Iragon Turns up the Heat on Kickstarter

There are plenty of ways to get hot under the collar in virtual reality (VR) with Repulse Game Studios currently developing a rather steamy experience called Iragon. Having been in the works for three years the studio has just launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to help bring the project to a wider audience.

Iragon is a classic fantasy, role-playing game (RPG) adventure where you take on the role of Darick, a young lad whose world suddenly changes when he meets a sorceress called Brianna, who is currently being hunted by an empire ruling the lands. To aid her journey you get to learn magic, fight monsters and (if you hadn’t realised) meet girls within the story and have intimate experiences with them.

So that means erotic adventures await, with five different girls you can romance and *ahem* engage in relations with whilst exploring the lands of Iragon. All the naughtiness even extends to lesbian scenes which you can then jump in the middle off if you so wish. It’s all completely interactive so needless to say this is an 18+ videogame.

Compatible with PC VR headsets like Oculus Rift, Iragon can be played on a normal desktop and you can skip the raunchy gameplay – or should that be foreplay? – if you’re more concerned with battling armies of witches and demons. To that end, Iragon has melee and magic combat systems in place, a destructible environment and an upgrade system for your magic and weapons.

Because Repulse Game Studios is so far through development the Kickstarter is only looking to raise a modest $10,000 USD by the end of September, with $3k already raised. Backing tiers start from $25 for a copy of Iragon with the official launch expected to take place in June 2022. There’s already a free PC demo available so you can see the videogame in action before spending any cash.

The studio has listed several stretch goals for its Iragon Kickstarter, if these are reached VRFocus will let you know.

July 13, 2021

Rokid Launches 4K AR Glasses Kickstarter and its Already Funded

Kickstarter crowd-funding campaigns achieving their funding goals rather rapidly isn’t that unusual, even when the amount is quite high. The latest to do so is augmented reality (AR) manufacturer Rokid, which launched a campaign today for its latest Rokid Air glasses, hitting its $20,000 USD goal in under an hour.

Looking very similar to the Rokid Vision 2 design unveiled during CES 2021 back in January, the Rokid Air is going to be the company’s first proper attempt to break into the consumer market with a sub-$500 device. Packing a 4K display which provides a 120” virtual screen, the Rokid Air features built-in voice control, mic and speaker, and adjustable focus. All weighing in at a lightweight 90g.

Just like other AR glasses in this field, the Rokid Air tethers into a smartphone so you can use apps, play videogames, and watch movies on that big virtual screen. Because of the cable, there’s no battery to charge, hence why the weight is so low. One of the more unique features is its adjustable focus, allowing nearsighted users (myopia of -5.00 D or less) to use the headset without their glasses or contact lenses.

Unlike the more advanced Rokid Vision 2 or some other rivals, the Rokid Air doesn’t feature any tracking capabilities such as being able to tell where you are in a physical space or detecting your hands. It’s all about replicating what’s on your phone, making it bigger and easier to read and work with on a daily basis.

“Nothing beats taking games and movies from the small screens of mobile devices to an ultra-high-definition massive virtual screen. Our latest 4K AR glasses give users a lightweight, portable, and private personal cinema experience that is unparalleled. The images are simply stunning. However, with Rokid Air, we went one step further, empowering the glasses with AI-driven voice recognition that lets users take control while staying hands-free. Now, the 4K big screen experience is more convenient than ever,” said Zhu Mingming, CEO of Rokid in a statement.

$20,000 isn’t exactly a lot for a hardware Kickstarter with Rokid using it more for promotion than anything else. Hence why there are some Early Bird deals to be had if you’re interested and quick. The Rokid Air will normally sell for $499 but at the moment there’s a Super Early Bird for $319. Not quick enough? There’s always the $339 Early Bird which has a much bigger inventory allocation. Currently, the estimated delivery should take place in November 2021.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Rokid and its latest AR devices, reporting back with further updates.

July 9, 2021

Mixed Reality Lynx R-1 Gets Huge Price Drop, Launching September Kickstarter

In 2020 French startup Lynx unveiled a very bold looking headset design, the Lynx R-1, an all-in-one (AIO) mixed reality (MR) headset. At the time it was firmly focused on the enterprise market, planning to retail the device for $1500 USD. Those plans have dramatically changed with the founder Stan Larroque revealing new details about its price, tech and consumer focus.

In a recent 30 -minute live stream – which you can see below – Larroque announced that the Lynx R-1 would no longer be $1500, instead, due to changes made to the hardware the cost will now be sub-$1000. In fact, he goes onto say the price will be “a few hundred dollars”. Which is quite the reduction. Amazingly, Larroque says that most of this reduction is to do with the lenses and the removal of eye tracking from the Lynx R-1.

The headset uses some very funky looking lenses called a 4-fold catadioptric freeform prism, and due to their complexity required eye tracking to be enabled because the eye box – that coveted sweet spot – was so small. So in collaboration with its optics partner Lynx managed to redesign the lenses creating a bigger sweet spot and therefore ditching the eye-tracking cameras. Whilst removing those cameras, Lynx actually went onto add front-facing IR cameras to improve its hand tracking which is powered by Ultraleap software. Previously the Lynx R-1 used the 6DoF tracking cameras which Larroque admits wasn’t great, so now the system is much improved. Important considering hand tracking will be the main input method.

Apart from these changes all the other specifications for the Lynx R-1 remains the same, providing a 90° FOV with 1600 x 1600 per eye resolution at 90Hz. It’ll have colour pass-through for augmented reality (AR) applications, a 3-hour battery life, SteamVR compatibility thanks to OpenXR and it’ll all run on the Qualcomm XR2 platform.

Because of these changes anyone who pre-ordered the Lynx R-1 last year will be reimbursed and given a promo code towards the company’s next initiative, a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign. Expected to launch in September 2021 for one month, Lynx hopes to attract more consumers to the headset, not just enterprise customers, with the current plan for an official launch in February 2022.

More details are expected to be released in the coming weeks, as they are, VRFocus will keep you updated.

July 5, 2021

Book of Asmodeus Brings AR Nightmares to Life on Kickstarter

Augmented reality (AR) has limitless uses when it comes to merging the real and digital worlds together. Whether that’s combining exercise with an iconic gaming franchise or used as a marketing vehicle to giveaway festival tickets. Realic Inc. is using AR in another way, creating an interactive horror story where the book and its characters come to life.

The team are currently working on The Book of Asmodeus where you become the hero, fight monstrous demons and choose how the story develops. “Asmodeus is one of the “Seven Princes of Hell” who specializes in lust. 5300 years ago Asmodeus wrote a book that gave humans the ability to summon demons into their world. If you’re able to defeat said monstrosities, all of the world’s pleasures will be yours,” the backstory explains. But to succeed you’ll have to summon and beat 12 demons, even calling the help of others.

Each story begins by choosing an archetype with The Book of Asmodeus offering horror classics like the Jock, the Final Girl, the Fooler, the Nerd, and the Cheerleader. Each one will present different puzzles so there’s a good excuse to replay the experience several times. You’ll even be asked to take a selfie to put you inside the book.

Realic Inc. launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign for The Book of Asmodeus in June aiming to raise $10,000 USD to help complete the project. That target was easily hit on the first day – in the first minute in fact! – almost tripling its target with a month left to go.

While there’s a digital funding tier for $29, the core of the project really revolves around the physical book and its 126 pages of demonic nightmares – currently available for $89 via the Early Bird tier. Boasting an original handmade with 3D printed and polymer clay cover (which does look the part), The Book of Asmodeus comes with artisanal binding, unlined pages, and a protective matte finish. Drop a lot more cash and you can even create your own demon for other players to encounter.

The Book of Asmodeus Kickstarter concludes in August with the book and any extras shipping in December 2021. As the campaign progresses VRFocus will keep you updated with the latest announcements.

June 23, 2021

A World of Madness Awaits as Bad Dreams Revealed for Quest, PC & PlayStation VR

Indie French team Creative VR3D’s previous virtual reality (VR) projects included Darkness Rollercoaster – Ultimate Shooter Edition but its latest title could be its biggest yet. Called Bad Dreams, this twisted horror-themed world is coming to most major VR headsets, with plans to support development with a Kickstarter campaign next month.

Mixing psychological and survival horror into one frightening experience, Bad Dreams puts you in a maddening world that’s designed to test your puzzle-solving skills as well as your senses. “Tired after work, you are watching TV in your hotel room. Suddenly, you wake up on an idyllic beach. After a peaceful walk in the sand, you discover a bunker, a gateway to a dark underground network. The dream turns into a bad one when you realized you’re not alone,” explains the synopsis.

Creative VR3D wants to immersive players in the world with as many interactive elements as possible. While there will be standard items like guns that will have realistic mechanics and handling, there will be other moments where you have to hold your nose or cover your ears to protect your mental health. This will be a big part of the experience and if you don’t, then you’ll fall into the “Limbos”; nightmares within nightmares from which you have to escape.

While there will be action elements where you can fight these abominations, Bad Dreams is also about stealth, using a flashlight to steadily explore the underground network trying not to draw attention and stay alive. This is mixed in with environmental puzzles and a very limited inventory, two slots plus both your hands.

Currently, Creative VR3D is working towards a Fall 2021 launch for Bad Dreams, listing support for Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, SteamVR and PlayStation VR. The team also list PlayStation VR 2 on their website. Having already worked on the videogame for over a year the studio plans on launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign on 13th July. Details of the campaign and how much it wishes to raise have not been made public just yet.

When those details are available including further updates for Bad Dreams, VRFocus will let you know.

June 8, 2021

The Yaw2 Kickstarter Has Raised a Massive $2.7m for its Motion Simulator

Yesterday saw the conclusion of the Yaw2 Motion Simulator Kickstarter and it has been a huge success. Launched in April, over the course of 45 days Yaw VR has managed to raise a staggering $2.7 million USD from 1282 backers, quite the feat considering the base model cost a grand and it’s not exactly a small device.

Building upon its more unusual looking 2018 model which was showcased at CES that year and featured a design akin to sitting in a giant green bowl, the new Yaw2 is certainly a lot sleeker than its forebear. New looks also mean new features with the Yaw2 a bit more of a complex beast as it comes in several variations. The base model provides a 40° motion range for roll and 70° for pitch movements and doesn’t come supplied with the actual chair. Customers can then add the Yaw Platform module to provide full 360° rotation as well as opting for a chair from Yaw VR if they so wish.

The lack of an actual chair is for a number of reasons including cost, delivery and the assumption that most gamers buying a piece of hardware like the Yaw2 will probably have a decent chair to attach to it. In that regard, all you’d need to do is check the underside of the chair is flat for attachment purposes.

As you’d expect, to get to that whopping total from that many backers the Yaw2 isn’t exactly wallet-friendly but you are buying a full-motion simulator after all. The base 2DoF Yaw2 model is going for $1090 without a seat, whilst the full 360° experience will set you back $1470 (sans seat). Or for those really serious about gaming simulator in or outside of VR then there’s always the Yaw2 Pro. This beast adds more powerful motors, a smart plug to attach fans and other accessories, casters for mobility and a USB hub. How much you ask? The 2DoF Yaw2 Pro costs $1490 and the 360°model will set you back $2020 (again both without seats).

And due to the success of the Kickstarter Yaw VR has managed to hit all of its stretch goals. That means customers have a choice of colours to choose from as well as a range of cool new features. There will be a wristband kill switch if it all gets a bit too much, a gyro balancing cup holder to keep those beverages in place and a 4-point harness system for maximum safety.

The original Yaw is still on sale but if you fancy the Yaw2 and didn’t back the Kickstarter it’ll be available to pre-order via the Yaw VR website soon. The Yaw2 is currently expected to begin shipping in September 2021. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

April 27, 2021

Yaw2 Motion Simulator Smashes Kickstarter Goal Day One, Currently at $900k

For years XR companies have been striving to create and build solutions to complement virtual reality (VR) headsets, so that content can be immersive as possible. Yaw VR showcased its first motion simulator back in 2018, offering a rather unique device to those through crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. Last week the company launched a new campaign for its latest device, Yaw2, managing to easily surpass its initial goal of $100,000 USD on the first day.

Moving away from the small, portable, half dome-shaped original, the Yaw2 is a far more professional-looking beast designed not only for hardcore gamers but also for general work and relaxation use cases. The base motion simulator hardware provides a 40° motion range for roll, and 70° for pitch movements whilst the optional Yaw Platform module adds 360° rotation.

Compatible with most major headsets including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PlayStation VR, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, when it comes to content the Yaw VR Game Engine supports over 20 titles whilst Yaw’s Sim Racing Studio supports over 80 racing titles. These include the likes of Project CARS 2, Star Wars Squadrons, DiRT Rally 2.0, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Touring Karts.

This level of immersion obviously does come at a price, with a variety of options depending on how serious (money you have) you are when it comes to your gaming habit. To start off with the Yaw2 comes in standard, Pro and Pro Arcade versions, the base model supplied with 500w power, adjustable basic desk, and foot holder, static LED lights, and a mobile controller app. The Pro model ups those stats to 700w, a stronger structure, USB connectors, programmable LED lights, and an audio output.

With the Early Access offers quickly selling out the base Yaw2 model is going for $1090 without a seat. To get the full 360° experience you’ll need to go for the $1470 tier. When it comes to the Yaw2 Pro these prices jump to $1490 and $2020 respectively. Yaw VR sells its motion simulator without a chair as standard because a lot of serious gamers – you need to be serious for this kind of kit – may already have a chair they love, plus it increases the cost of shipping Yaw2. But the company will supply a chair if you so wish as an add-on. If you do own a nice gaming chair all you need to check to ensure compatibility is that the underneath is flat.

In five days the Yaw2 Kickstarter has managed to hit $900,000 and the campaign doesn’t end until June. So there’s plenty of time to reach that magical $1 million mark. As the crowdfunding continues VRFocus will keep you updated.

April 6, 2021

Got Multiple Oculus Quests? VR PowerWall Kickstarter Offers Storage & Charging Solution

Struggling with lots of virtual reality (VR) headsets and where to put them as well as charging them all? Well, Looking Glass XR is currently running a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to help with both of those problems, its VR Powerwall.

Mainly focused on the location-based entertainment (LBE) sector, the VR Powerwall is designed to store and charge most standalone headsets on the market today, including Oculus Quest/Quest 2, Pico and HTC Vive Focus/ Focus Plus. Having previously created the VR Media Cart and the VR Power Tower (holding 30 headsets) Looking Glass XR has created three new products with a smaller capacity and form factor.

The VR Powerwall will be made available to hold either one, four or eight VR headsets, wall-mounted and constructed from 100%, PVC Foam Sheets. Featuring Looking Glass XR’s “EZ-Hang” Wall Cleat to simplify wire management and installation the company notes: “All VR PowerWall units will come fully wired with USB C 3.0 cords. The 4 and 8 units will be wired into a USB charging and data hub hidden on the bottom of the unit.”

Backing tiers start from $99 USD for the single unit, with the Early Bird Special offering free shipping with deliveries expected to begin in September. The four-unit VR Powerwall comes in at $599 whilst the eight-unit version will set you back $799. Again they each have an Early Bird Special offering free delivery to early backers. Be aware that Looking Glass XR is only offering delivery within the United States, there’s currently no option for any other country.

Over the years VR owners have come up with various solutions to safely storing their prized headsets, especially when it comes to ensuring the lenses don’t end up with scratches on them – VR Cover’s Lens Cover provides a cheap and cheerful solution for that. Oculus has created its own hard cases for the Oculus Quest/Quest 2 for example, or there’s always the glass head route – if you have the shelf space.

As LBE venues begin to open up again and all-in-one (AIO) headsets become the dominant hardware there’s certainly going to be a need for systems like the VR Powerwall. Looking Glass XR aims to raise $75,000 through its Kickstarter. As the campaign progresses VRFocus will keep you updated.

April 5, 2021

Gym Masters Brings Story-Driven Fitness to Kickstarter

There are various ways you can utilise virtual reality (VR) to help burn a few calories and stay healthy whilst indoors, from rhythm-action titles keeping you moving to the beat to those that offer subscription models. Indie studio ViFit is aiming to make a mark in the genre with its first title Gym Masters. Last week saw the team launch a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to help support development, already achieving over half of its goal.

Rather than purely being an energetic videogame, Gym Masters is a story-driven fitness experience where you step into a world full of fitness fanatics. This journey will see three gym masters put you to the test in a series of energetic mini-games, each focused on a body part – upper body, lower body or core. Completing these will earn objects and upgrades as you also have a dojo to maintain and customise however you wish.

“We aim to provide people who do not normally workout with a solution that will keep them healthy while having a blast. After months of planning and testing, Gym Masters is a story-based exercise game: you will arrive in your father’s hometown and you will have to continue his legacy. Mentored by local gym masters in order to increase your experience and level up until you reach the final battle, in which you will have to battle your father’s lifelong worst enemy,” explains CEO and co-founder Aritz Ó hAonghusa in a statement.

ViFit is looking to raise a minimum of €10,000 EUR to help complete Gym Masters‘ development. Hitting that amount will see the videogame launch for Oculus Quest in Q3 2021. The team has outlined a further four stretch goals if the campaign is successful, hitting €20k will see a fourth master and gym added whilst the €60k goal will see the inclusion of hand tracking. Should funding surpass €80k then PlayStation VR support will arrive and lastly, at €120k Gym Masters will get a multiplayer.

If you like the look of Gym Masters then for €10 you’ll be given access to a pre-release version of the VR title. But for €15 you’ll get access to the final version of the videogame which sounds like a better deal. Of course, there are plenty of other offers if you have the cash to spend. These include a Gym Masters exclusive gym towel to mop that sweaty brow for €30, a poster of you for your dojo as well as previous bonuses for €100 or for €4,000 put yourself in the game as an actual master!

With the Kickstarter already surpassing €5,000 ViFit’s crowd-funding campaign is off to a good start with just over three weeks to go. Another VR Kickstarter doing extremely well is the Tundra Tracker which is now over $900k after only looking for $250,000. For further updates on the latest VR crowd-funding projects, keep reading VRFocus.