Make It A (Virtual) Reality – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

November 5, 2018

Make It A (Virtual) Reality: Metro 2033

Once upon a time, a long time ago indeed, VRFocus had a series called Mod of the Week. This was back when it was more common for people to develop mods and apps to crowbar in basic virtual realtiy (VR) support to existing titles. One of those we featured back in the early days of the website was Metro 2033. However, four years later we still don’t have any official support for the title. In today’s Make It A (Virtual) Reality, Nikholai makes the case why that should definitely be the case.

Metro Last Light

If there is one series of videogames that has been able to immerse players with the world and story that it is telling, it is none other than the Metro series. based on the popular novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, they follow the tale of the post-apocalyptic Moscow metro system and the people, factions and monsters that live in and above it. The titles mixed first-person shooter (FPS) and survival horror gameplay in a way that lead to some of the more compelling moments in gaming. Now, with the upcoming release of the third title in the series Metro Exodus early next year I think it is time we talk about another destination for the series, virtual reality (VR).

At its core, the Metro series is about moving through a rich and detailed world full of dangers making use of the equipment you have to survive. Players have options on how to approach most situations be it shooting everything that moves or trying to sneak around unseen. There are even non-lethal take-downs and a karma system within the titles which impact the ending of the story and some scenes as players progress. One top of this there are systems in place that see ammo used for buying goods, monsters to deal with and a supernatural horror element that needs to be confronted as well. All of this in an immersive VR experience could easily result in a title that would set a new standard for VR videogames.

You see, the metro system is a series of tunnels and stations all connected deep underground. As the first entry in the series, Metro 2033 explores, people have had to make these their homes and find ways to survival with the limited resources they have. Venturing outside in the post nuclear war environment is possible but risky business, requiring a gas mask and plenty of gear in order to make it back alive. This means that players could experience not just a thrilling, tense journey through dark tunnels full of danger but have these heart racing moments on the surface. With limited air and ammo, the need to find a way back underground would offer such an adrenaline rush as you carefully proceed forward while watching your back.

Mentioning the gas mask, that is another elements of the Metro series that would work well in VR. You see, the gas mask is a vital piece of equipment that without will lead you dying in this dangerous world. It can be damaged, filters need to be swapped out and you need to clean it to be able to see. All of these actions are usually performed by a button press but actually having to do the motions would offer a truly immersive experience. Picture it, you’re in a fight and once the battle ends you not only need to restock and reload but also wipe the blood and mud off your mask only to find it is cracked and needs replacing. All of which is a psychical movement that requires you to duck, look, reach and explore the environment in full 360-degrees of freedom. It would be amazing.

One of the other elements that really help make the Metro videogames interesting is the limited use of a HUD. Key information that the player needs is presented to them in unique ways that would transition to VR fairly well. For example, any time limits such as oxygen remaining are displays on the players wrist which is also in view. Ammo in a magazine can be checked by actually looking at the weapon and magazine and health is shown through the colour of the screen. The audio plays an equally part with small sounds giving the player clues as to what is or is about to happen.

Metro Exodus

On top of all that, exploring a post-apocalyptic Moscow metro system while a war better the Communists and the Nazis raging on with mutated bears running around above ground just sounds amazing. The Metro series of videogames are unique in many ways and explore systems and ideas that other FPS titles don’t, allowing for a great opportunity for the series to bring those to VR. Metro Exodus, the latest entry in the series which is releasing next year, will see players leaving the etro behind following the events of the last title and exploring the world in search of a new life. Beyond all the shooting and monsters, Metro is a story about human lives trying to find peace in a worlds torn apart by nuclear war and experiencing that first hand in VR would be amazing regardless of the setting.

At the end of the day, Metro could come to VR in many ways. All of them would work so long as the core gameplay systems of the videogames remain the same if not similar. I want to wipe blood of my gas mask, manually reload my weapons and immerse myself in a world that is trying to kill me all while exploring the beautiful – if somewhat ruined – world. If this ever happens, VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest.

October 8, 2018

Make It A (Virtual) Reality: Tom Clancy’s The Division

It’s a cold winter’s morning and the sun is just rising over the city of New York. What was once a city of hopes and dreams is now a cold, ruined mess. The once lively streets are now still with no life on them and only the light snow fall being the only motion that can be seen for miles. This is of course the setting for the popular Ubisoft videogame Tom Clancy’s The Division. The title sees players take on the role of an Agent who is tasked with saving what remains after an outbreak of smallpox brought the city into a state of chaos.

There are numerous first-person shooter (FPS) titles out there which do a fantastic job of immersing the player within stunning virtual reality (VR) experiences where they need to use their aiming skills and reflexes to take down countless enemies. The same would be true for a VR entry of Tom Clancy’s The Division but what would make it unique is the setting and premise.

Now, gameplay for such a title would be similar to a number of titles already on the market in the sense that you have the freedom to position yourself how you like before opening fire with a variety of weapons. Ducking behind some cover and slowing pushing back the enemy is nothing new but in a post-outbreak New York, it would be something else. For those unaware, in Tom Clancy’s The Division the now somewhat empty city is littered with rubbish, cars, debris and plenty of other obstructions along with dangerous factions roaming the city calling ownership to whatever supplies they find. It is a war zone in upon itself. This along with the iconic status of New York city would make for a brilliant gameplay environment in first-person, as it already does in third-person.

Think about for a moment, you could venture on your own or team up with a friendly Agent or two to go on a mission to reclaim Grand Central Terminal from the flamethrower using Cleaner’s faction. As you battle up the streets outside looking for an entry point, you’ll need to not only make use of your firearms but also your gadgets. Perhaps you deploy some cover to create a vantage point or unleash a seeker mine to roll out to some enemies in cover, blowing them into the air. Once inside, the famous building is now in a state of decay and as you battle with the boss the realistic environment would allow for complete immersion and really bring the experience to life. Should you and you’re team succeed then of course there will be plenty of loot to enjoy as well to upgrade your Agent.

Tom Clancy's The Division - Car door

All of this could be presented in stunning visual quality with highly detailed environments and models thanks to the power of Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine and the newly announced GeForce RTX 20 Series graphics cards. Though the engine has yet to power a VR experience, it has powered a number of titles all of which have superb visual visual fidelity which, combined with leveraging the new power available to users thanks to the new graphics cards, could result in a truly realistic and immersive experience. Of course, the ever famous car door mechanic would need to be included allowing players to open and close car doors to create cover as needed.

Because of Tom Clancy’s The Division being based in reality, all be it one that has some creative liberties, the experience would always ensure players are fully immersive. Even those who have never visited New York for themselves will still know the look and feel of it from any film or show that has shots within the iconic city. Therefore, being there during the state of chaos and trying to protect what is left would offer a great adrenaline rush.

Tom Clancy's The Division

So in all, would a VR experience based on Tom Clancy’s The Division work? Of course it would! If anything it would be a fairly safe bet for Ubisoft to make such an experience given the popularity of the series, given a sequel is on the way early next year as well. So long as the controls and gameplay are on point and mimics that of the main entry it would be a fantastic FPS experience. Fighting back against the enemy factions and reclaiming the city one famous location at a time in ten to fifteen minute long missions with some loot to pick up on the way would be a solid gameplay loop.

That is even before you consider adding in a player-versus-player mode set in the Dark Zone or the battle royale styled gameplay mode Survival. There is so much content that could be brought over to a VR release. Besides, who wouldn’t want to be a Division Agent and fight through the snow covered streets of New York?

Though the chance of such a release happening are low we can still dream to explore the snow covered New York in VR. Maybe one day Ubisoft will surprise us. Until then, keep reading VRFocus to stay up to date on any possible announcements in the future.

September 10, 2018

Make It A (Virtual) Reality: Time Crisis

By now it is no surprise that first-person shooters (FPS) are some of the more popular virtual reality (VR) titles on the market. They offer simple immersion and give players the chance to use interesting and powerful weapons in locations they can only dream of. Titles such as Farpoint put players on an alien planet, Bravo Team offers intense co-op firefights and Gunheart has endless arcade fun. But there is a different shooter that is long overdue making a return and VR could be the right place for it. I’m talking about Time Crisis.

Time Crisis

Developed by Namco, the first Time Crisis title was released back in December 1995 and has been an arcade classic ever since. A number of the entries in the series were released on home consoles but nothing ever beat that rush that came from standing at the arcade machine and knowing each life was a physical coin you had spent. It was a title that defined the childhood of many gamer’s but has become more than a memory in recent years. The last entry in the series was Time Crisis 5: True Mastermind back in August 2015. Though you can still find these gems in what few arcades remain, the on-rails shooter action that came from them is nearly all but a long lost genre.

Now there are many titles that offer a similar experience or try to capture the feeling of Time Crisis but nothing has quite hit the mark yet. You have your on-rails shooters, you have your cover systems, you even have titles that try to have the same ‘reload’ sound but still, even as VR continues to become home to many amazing titles Namco seem to have no interest in bringing the series to the platform when it would be an ideal fit.

The first Time Crisis sets up the story and action in a quick cutscene and with next to no downtime before putting you in the world – gun in hand – ready to save Rachel MacPherson. Stand up to shoot enemies duck behind cover to avoid fire and reload. Simple enough gameplay systems that have been proven to work in VR already. Of course, movement is automatic in these titles which could be an issue for some in VR due to motion sickness. So how can this be sorted? Easy. When the player needs to move simply allow them to look at the location and click to being the movement. Titles like Gal*Gun VR do this by providing an outline of the player at the locations they can move to. It would be the ideal solution to handle movement in a Time Crisis VR title while still giving players a reason to look around them in full 360-degrees.

Time Crisis

In fact, in later entries in the series players could point their gun to the edge of the screen to turn left or right. This allowed for scenes to offer more challenge by having enemies approach from three different directions. Again, this could easily translate to VR with a simple visual or audio warning before then having the enemies start attacking. Even the bullet time segments and cover swapping from Time Crisis 5: True Mastermind could be brought over to give it a bit of a modern makeover. Of course, if Namco was to bring the series to VR it would be better for them to offer that nostalgia that came from earlier titles. Keep it nice and simple.

So with so many VR titles doing similar things to the Time Crisis series, why should Namco bring the title to the platform? That answer lies in the design. Though titles have been able to capture some of the feeling they haven’t got it just quite right and that is because none have yet captured the visual and audio design that made these videogames so memorable. I’m talking about the names of the characters, names like Giorgio Bruno and Richard Miller. The word ‘reload’ being yelled at you every time you have an empty clip. The scream enemies made when they fell off something. All of that, complete with the heavy gun sounds that each weapon made, was the DNA of Time Crisis and to this day is why they are still some of the best arcade games out there.

Namco might be reluctant to bring Time Crisis back and other developers might be on the right track, but nothing has quite hit the mark just yet. For that, Namco will need to surprise us with a new entry in the series that keeps to its roots all while leveraging the immersive power of VR. Sure, it is a dream that most likely will never come true but who knows. Maybe we’ll get to battle Wild Dog one more time. If it does happen VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest.

June 21, 2018

Make It A (Virtual) Reality: Cyberpunk 2077

If one reveal during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2018 has caused more waves through the internet then any other it has to be the long awaited showcase of Cyberpunk 2077 from developer CD Projekt RED. Most known for their work on The Witcher series of videogames, this new title is a different direction for the company and its fans as they take players to a new setting with a whole new perspective. Unlike their other titles, Cyberpunk 2077 has been revealed to be a first-person role-playing game (RPG) which leads to the question, why not virtual reality (VR)?

CD Projekt RED first revealed the title back in 2013 with a simply stunning teaser trailer that did not reveal much in the way of details, but set the tone for the project. At the time of writing that trailer, which you can view above, has been watched over 13 million times. The accompanying soundtrack – ‘Bullets’ – for the trailer written by Darius Keeler and Pollard Berrier has also become a hit and been listened to millions of times on YouTube alone. Since then, fans have had to wait for even the tiniest bit of information on the title from the developer. That all changed the other day though when the newest trailer was dropped at the end of Microsoft’s E3 2018 conference, and in the space of a few days has already passed 11 million views. This was the Cyberpunk 2077 fans had been waiting for.

Since the release of the trailer many publications have been able to get a behind closed doors demonstration of the title and see a number of the systems in action. The masses of information being released for the title has seen this become one of the most anticipated videogames of the generation but one feature stands out above the rest. First-person. Cyberpunk 2077 will be a completely first-person RPG, with third-person used for cutscenes and driving. This opens the title up to be a truly immersive experience, on a massive scale unlike anything players have seen before. The team that brought players The Witcher 3 and it’s stunning, beautiful open-world are putting players into a dystopian, cyberpunk city, in first-person.

You might think that a title such as Cyberpunk 2077 would not work in VR, given its planned size and scope. That is however, before you remember that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4 are both playable in VR from start to end. Two massive RPG’s with an oceans depth of content to explore. This means that Cyberpunk 2077 would not be investing the wheel, but have the opportunity to perfect it. With first-person gameplay, shooting and melee combat along with all manner of cyber attacks and digital warfare to use, players would have a wide range of options available to them on how to play.

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Project RED have also confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 allows players to build their character however they want. From the gender, appearance, personal background, outfit, equipment, class and abilities, every aspect of the player character is customizable. Players would be able to step into a ture digital avatar and live out their fantasies within a truly open cyberpunk setting, all while experiencing the fluid gameplay and engaging narrative, that CD Projekt RED have been known to deliver.

Once more, Cyberpunk 2077 has an opportunity to take VR to a new level. The title has been described by CD Projekt RED as being a ‘mature game’ with a ‘Noir’ feel, featuring a lot of adult themes in a world of violence, crime, poverty, and urban and cyber warfare. If Cyberpunk 2077 was to be made available as VR title it would bring that mature content over to the platform, opening the door to other gritty, real, mature videogame experiences which could attract a new audience to VR.

It is almost ironic that the E3 2018 trailer for Cyberpunk 2077 features a passing clip of a child enjoy a VR headset, only to then write about how experiencing that world in VR would be fantastic.None the less, Cybpunk 2077 is beautiful, ground breaking, and could be a title that changes the RPG genre forever setting a new standard. CD Projekt RED are the developer to pull off such a grand project and it will be amazing when it does finally release. Until then, one can still dream of a VR version to finally live out the dream of being a cyberpunk badass in total immersion, right?

Cyberpunk 2077 is planned to release ‘when it’s done’ and until then VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest, should a VR version be revealed.

May 9, 2017

VR vs. MR vs. Uncle Jack

Hello again and welcome back to VR vs. the time once a week where a keyboard is thrust into my hands and I jab away at it until I make some kind of point. Today is actually the last VR vs. for a couple of weeks as I am off on holiday to relax. So if there is a VR vs. next week it certainly won’t be written by me. One of the things I wanted to do for a while is get back to talking about games and away from the super serious discussions regarding the industry for a bit. We went through a bit of a period of talking about very serious industry things and I think we’re due an excited tête-à-tête about a game I’d like to see make the jump into the world of immersive technology.

I was also not going to write a column about Palmer Luckey cosplaying as Quiet, because dear God why did every website out there do a story about that? Who cares! He can dress up as whoever he likes! People cosplay. This should not be a shock to the games industry at this point. Besides, I’m sorry he’s not topping Jamie Lee Curtis secretly cosplaying as Vega.

Long time readers of VRFocus will of course remember we used to do that on a regular basis courtesy of our Make It A (Virtual) Reality feature, something I actually used to write moderately frequently before taking over VR vs. Unfortunately in February last year someone made the decision to take Make It behind the VRFocus barn and proverbially Old Yeller it with an editorial shotgun. Which was a shame, because damnit I liked Make It A (Virtual) Reality. I got to talk excitedly about TRON, reimagined classic video games and board games, and discussed children’s television and Bruce frickin’ Campbell. So today I want to get back to that, and since this is my column I hereby resurrect Make It so I can talk about a game that whilst I have not played (and am not going to until it is finally released) that I love to watch others play and think would make a highly interesting mixed reality (MR) – not VR – experience. So I guess we’ve got a VR vs. Make It A (Virtual & Augmented) Reality? Oh well.

As an aside before we begin I am aware that it is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek (in the UK at least) and I will throughout this be talking about a game where people are en masse using medication to escape their troubles. There is no deliberate timing for this, it is nothing to do with the campaign in any way. Nor am I directly equating We Happy Few with the topic. Mental Health is a serious concern; many people do struggle getting through life from day to day in oh so many ways. Depression is a proper son-of-a-bitch, as this writer oh so readily knows. We will actually be having a three-part mini-series on emotion and how VR can help tackle such things beginning tomorrow. So keep an eye out for that. I can however see why someone might, might think the timing is deliberate or I am being critical in some way. I’m not, this has nothing to do with it. I just really want to talk about this game today.

In any case… Wakey Wakey, everyone! It’s another fabulous day on VRFocus. The sky is gray outside although I am sure that we will soon be spotting streaks of lovely sunshine poking their way through the clouds. Everyone at VRFocus is working busily away on news and features and doing absolutely everything that they can to bring you information on virtual reality (VR) – the brand new technology that can bring you joy. You can never have enough Joy can you? Happiness is a choice!

We Happy Few first poked its head out of independant studio Compulsion Games in 2015. although I didn’t hear much about it until it featured in during XBox’s E3 presser in 2016. Then, ohhh, then it got my attention. We Happy Few is set predominently in Wellington Wells, a series of islands in the UK surrounded by a river. Quite possibly near Blenheim in Oxfordshire. That’s based on that there is a Blenheim Bridge and the lead character making references to “Mr. Churchill” whilst talking to himself in the area.

Kevin’s Historical Explanation: Blenheim Palace was the birthplace and ancestral home of Britain’s great wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill. After he died he was buried so that you can see Blenheim Palace from where he rests. So it’s a pretty good theory.

Kevin’s Televisual Tip: If you get the chance watch the documentary series Churchill’s Bodyguard. It’s fascinating.

Speaking of World War Two, We Happy Few is set in a dystopian past – not future – where following World War Two it seems the populous has decided the only way to get through and make sure such a tragedy never happens again is to medicate their way through it. Utilising an artificial high known as Joy, readily available in pill form on every street corner phone booth – even in multiple ‘flavours’ – they steadfastly ignore all the terrible things going on around them. The lack of food, the utter misery of lives spent in drudgery. Choosing instead to live in delusion. “When life annoys, pop a Joy.”

Everybody must feel the same happiness. Everyone must go around with a big smile on their face. (The same painted faces are another sign of the need for everyone to be the same.) It’s like a bit like the film Equilibrium set in a twisted version of the 1960’s. Joy’s forced happiness versus Equilibrium‘s all emotion stripping Prozium. Instead of the mysterious pseudo-religious character of Father and his conformist broadcasts there is Uncle Jack. A happy-go-lucky and slightly enigmatic figure ripped straight out of 1950’s early television broadcasts. A continuity announcer, in more ways than one, he is there to reinforce the message of those above and his cheery attitude and stories keep everyone going through troubling times. The people’s dependancy is such that he has reached a near religious status for some. The more you look, the more you wonder if his words aren’t slightly tinged with a touch of menace. Shades of the BioShock series permeate the story, surroundings and gameplay. The Equilibrium comparison also amplifies even more as the lead character Arthur Hastings’ job is to ‘redact’ materials that may enduce an unsatisfactory emotional response. Do your job. Smile. Join in. Be the same. Play Simon Says and learn to do as we say. Be happy. I said BE HAPPY.

Swinging these sixties are are not.

For those who don’t take their Joy their behavior soon has them found out, and those who are not on their Joy and are not conforming are called Downers. The presence of Downers are a threat to the happiness of the conformists. There are anti-Downer security devices and traps placed in the more oppulant residences in order to protect them. Traditional looking British ‘Bobbies’ roam the streets and are quick to judge and secret enforcers work behind the scenes. If discovered it becomes an essential free for all on the Downer, they are caught and sent packing to Wellington Wells where other Downers are – that’s if they don’t die of course. Death is everywhere. But the shock of death can be overcome and ignored of course. There’s a pill in your pocket to put a song in your heart.

For Arthur, a reminder of his lost brother sets off his story as he refuses to take his Joy as the memories set in. The scene shifts and everything begins to look decidedly wrong. He is eventually discovered when the work party he is encouraged to attend includes a brightly painted piniata and after whacking it he looks again to see what they all see as a piniata is actually a dead rat.

However this visual transformation between the real world, the ‘ideal’ world of Joy, and also the visualisation when crashing off of Joy is what would make the most interesting augmented or mixed reality experience. Imagine you interacting with the real world around you and find that it is changing? What if you saw everyone with a painted smile on their face? It’s not that far away from what you’ve got on the likes of Snapchat right now, is it? We’ve had VR experiences where the world around you shifts based on your emotional responses. Remember Nevermind?

We Happy Few does I think have the potental to produce an experience in a similar vein. Villagers judge you based on your movement and attitude both of which have the potential to be tracked. Imagine travelling through a location which can change from sunshine and rainbows, to misery, menace and monotone hues. About not just playing a game with a controller but playing the game. Moving through in a certain way physically, having to worry about the sheer vibe you’re putting off. Desperately trying to play a character in a world where you haven’t seen the script. In many ways it’d be a stealth game but a stealth game in plain sight. An MR conform-em-up.

We Happy Few is still very much in progress, the team put out a big update not that long ago adding another island. If you would like to see the game played I suggest definately you watch ChristopherOdd’s let’s plays where he covered both the 2016 version and the recent Maidenholm update. Incidentally I also recommend following his playthroughs of XCOM 2. (Locksley forever!) We Happy Few is also set to get a film at some point so we’ll see more of Uncle Jack yet.

But wouldn’t you all like to welcome Wellington Wells into your home – your actual home- via MR? Ha ha ha… of course you would.

You don’t want to be a Downer do you?