Make Real released Loco Dojo Unleashedin late 2021 as one of the definitive party titles for the Meta Quest platform. Today, the studio has revealed that a VIP Party Update is on its way, adding Quest party support, golden animal masks and more.
With the addition of Meta Quest Part support players it’ll make getting into a game with friends far easier, allowing them to switch from other apps, or join invites from the Quest mobile or web apps. Country region restrictions have also been removed so you can match with anyone around the world.
Additionally, the quick match Four Round Fury multiplayer mode has been streamlined and you can now unlock VIP golden masks when obtaining a black belt in the Ten Trials Test.
“Following on from the success of the game on Meta Quest 1 & 2 since launch last year, we’ve been keen to ensure the game is updated and sees new content added to keep the competitive community engaged with the title,” said Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real Ltd in a statement.
“As we look to add new features and content in further future updates, to ensure friends and family continue to be able to play together in many ways of their choosing, this first update was designed around removing some of the sticking points around getting into multiplayer games,” Watts continued. “The next update will add the much-requested Pass’n’Play mode to the game, letting local multiplayer mayhem continue when only one device is in the household.”
Reviewing Loco Dojo Unleashedfor Meta Quest 2, gmw3 wrote: “In its newly refined form, Loco Dojo Unleashed continues to provide a superbly fun, party experience if you can get a few friends together.”
The VIP Party Update for Loco Dojo Unleashedgoes live at 6pm BST (10am PST) on the Oculus Store today. For continued updates, keep reading gmw3.
When VRFocus reviewed British virtual reality (VR) developer Make Real’s twist on the mini-game genre, Loco Dojo, in 2017 it was fun mashup that could easily entertain a few friends with its humorous high jinks. Looking back, it was also a little ahead of itself, or more accurately, Loco Dojo required a player base that just wasn’t available at that time. Fast forward four years and the team have released Loco Dojo Unleashed for Meta Quest, bringing that eccentric gameplay to a whole new audience whilst finding a much more natural home on the standalone headset.
If you’ve played the original the core experience remains mostly unchanged. The aim is to win each frantic mini-game, hopefully earning enough stars to be awarded a black belt and take home the prize of being an awesome Loco Dojo Unleashed player. Actually achieving that is no easy task as the 16 mini-games on offer are seemingly simple yet devilishly difficult to master, and they’re the same ones as before; no new content on that front.
Supporting up to four players in each multiplayer “Table of Trials” match, Loco Dojo Unleashed is set in a martial arts dojo (who’d of guessed?) run by the Grand Sensei – who just happens to be voiced by Brian Blessed. Set around a giant spinning table – think Wheel of Fortune – you grab a handle and give it a quick spin to move around the central board. This will activate whatever mini-game you happen to land upon, and as quickly becomes apparent, animals (pigs in particular) and food are the main themes you’ll have to try and tackle.
Wacky would be an understatement when it comes to these mini-games where you’ll find yourself trying to catch fish with giant claw hands, milking a pig, swatting bats with nunchuck hotdogs, shooting seagulls out the sky to collect condiments and much more. Most of the games are highly physical making for an intensely immersive experience even if it only lasts a couple of minutes each time.
Obviously, what really makes the whole experience is playing these mini-games with friends – or strangers if you wish – as they almost always have you trying to scupper each other. Trying to grab those fish with unwieldy claws, grab a rotten one and throw it in your opponent’s boat. Or then there’s the chum-gun mini-game where you have to encourage sharks to attack your opponent by hitting them in the face with some tasty chum…nice. It’s the sort of VR videogame that ideally suits the Meta Quest platform, as you can bounce around and just have a laugh whether you’re a new or veteran VR player.
So is there anything different in Loco Dojo Unleashed you may be wondering? There most certainly is. Apart from a few visual tweaks to make the experience run smoother on Quest, the Make Real team has refined the multiplayer by adding a Quick Match mode. Rather than setting up a tournament with friends firing up Quick Match instead drops you straight into a game or creates a lobby for others to join you. The only problem, this does heavily rely on player numbers and there wasn’t often other matches going on. It was far easier setting up a Table of Trials tournament with friends plus the banter flows a lot better.
Single-player has always been a part of Loco Dojo but it’s much better in Unleashed. There’s the Ten Trials Test which as the name implies takes you on a ten spin run of the game board. Perfect for getting a feel of the whole setup. Brand new is the Solo Dojo and this is an absolute lifesaver when it comes to practising those tricky mini-games because you can pick them individually. No longer do certain trials become an absolute chore because you barely get to play them, they’re now ready and available to be mastered.
Only one of the trials actually involves locomotion – you’re riding a pig, slapping it on the arse trying to navigate a thin winding platform – so there should be no issue with comfort as you stick to one spot. Because of all the arm flailing Loco Dojo Unleashed is easier to play standing but there is the option to play seated but you won’t find it in the settings. Adding to the quirky nature of the title, you’ll find a wooden step under the table that can be pulled out, adding to the novelty value.
In its newly refined form, Loco Dojo Unleashed continues to provide a superbly fun, party experience if you can get a few friends together. And because it supports cross-buy on the Oculus Store if you already own the Oculus Rift version there’s no reason not to download this edition. It would definitely benefit from a local, pass and play mode and a few more mini-games – Make Real has already said this is planned. Even so, Loco Dojo Unleashed is an absolute blast to play.
Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hubto check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
Loco Dojo was a quirky mini-game compendium released in 2017 for PC VR headsets. Designed by Make Real, the studio revealed earlier this year it was working on an Oculus Quest port with lots of new refinements, Loco Dojo Unleashed. Today, the team has confirmed the launch is only a couple of weeks away.
Just like the original, Loco Dojo Unleashed is a party experience for 2-4 players where you can all compete across 16 eccentric mini-games like milking pigs with baby pigs or swatting bats with nunchuck hotdogs. These all take place across four themed areas, Countryside, RockyDesert, Seaside and Foggy Swamp, all set inside a dojo run by the Grand Sensei – who is voiced by the awesome Brian Blessed.
In addition to the previous Table of Trials tournament mode this updated version will also feature a new Quick Match mode, designed to speed up multiplayer lobbies and matchmaking. “For launch we wanted to make sure it is as easy as possible to pick-up and play and get into games. We’ve removed elements that slowed gameplay down and added those that improve players understanding of how to become the master within the dojo,” said Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real in a statement.
Loco Dojo Unleashed isn’t purely about multiplayer gaming, as it has a couple of single-player modes. Ten Trials Test was already present from the original but this time around there’s also Solo Dojo. Here you can hone those mini-game skills and unlock new masks in the process.
The gameplay revolves around you standing in the Grand Sensei’s dojo with a circular table in the middle. Featuring a map of the four themed areas, players take it, in turn, to spin the dice wheel and move their counter around the board, landing on a new trial or winning strategic prizes. The goal is to accumulate as many Golden Suns as possible to win the coveted black headband.
Loco Dojo Unleashed is scheduled to launch on 7th October 2021 for Oculus Quest. As an added bonus, if you previously purchased the title for Oculus Rift on the Oculus Store then you’ll be able to download Loco Dojo Unleashed at no extra charge, as it is cross-buy compatible. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Make Real, reporting back with all the latest updates.
British immersive studio Make Real might be better known for its training and simulation solutions for virtual reality (VR) but it also knows a thing or two about gaming. Back in 2017 the team created four-player party title Loco Dojo for Oculus Rift, where players had to quickly complete crazy mini-games. Today, Make Real has announced Loco Dojo Unleashed, an Oculus Quest edition due to arrive later this year.
Just like before, Loco Dojo Unleashed will feature the same 16 comedic mini-games such as swatting bats with nunchuck hotdogs, milking pigs with baby pigs, and flinging cats around. Plus the charismatic Grand Sensei host, voiced by cult hero Brian Blessed has been left in of course. Make Real hasn’t simply ported the original Loco Dojo over, however, refining the experience to reduce gameplay friction whilst adding new features.
These additions include a new quick play mode to easily find games in multiplayer, whilst a Tournament Mode for 2-4 players will provide a greater challenge. For those times where nobody is about or you just want a practice, a single-player mode will be available with the added bonus of trophies to unlock.
“Following on from the success of the game on PC VR and in LBE VR Arcades, we have listened to feedback to include a number of enhancements for Oculus Quest players,” says Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real in a statement. “For launch we wanted to make sure it is as easy as possible to pick up and play and get into games. We’ve removed elements that slowed gameplay down and added those that improve players’ understanding of how to become the master within the dojo. We’ve spent considerable effort buffing the wood to provide the same polished world and hectic gameplay the title is known for.”
When VRFocus originally reviewed Loco Dojothe worry was always player numbers as multiplayer titles back then struggled to find a foothold. Loco Dojo Unleashed, on the other hand, should be an ideal experience for Oculus Quest as there are more players and it has easy-to-understand gameplay mechanics for players of all VR skill levels.
Loco Dojo Unleashed will arrive at some point later in 2021. For further updates on the project keep reading VRFocus.
Last week British XR specialist Make Real announced a new partnership with construction services company Kelbray. This week the studio has revealed another, teaming up with Immerse to provide an all-in-one virtual reality (VR) training platform for their enterprise customers.
Both companies are already well-versed in providing immersive training solutions across a range of industries. The partnership will see them create a library of VR training content which enterprise organisations can access through the Immerse platform.
Initially, Make Real will add its current selection of training programmes to the platform. These will include Slinger Signaller, Site Access Traffic Marshalling, Rear Guard and D&I Perspectives VR (all Oculus Quest compatible) and End Point Assessment (for HTC Vive). All available alongside Immerse’s own VR content, covering topics such as health and safety, business development, and soft skills training.
“Since going on the road to promote our immersive experiences at events from 2014 onwards, we have always had a great, supportive relationship with Immerse, often sharing expo floors and crossovers of clients and sectors we both focus on and service within. As we move forwards into 2021 and the rapidly growing enterprise marketplace, it is the right time to formalise a strategic partnership to bring the experience and unique strengths of both companies together,” said Sam Watts, Immersive Partnerships Director at Make Real Ltd in a statement. “This will form a unified solution of a virtual reality software platform combined with engaging content, providing the best outcomes for enterprise customers of learning and measurement.”
“Partnering with Make Real is a fantastic step in our endeavour to enable all businesses to capitalise on the opportunity offered by immersive technology in a rapidly changing world. This collaborative offering will enable companies to import and deploy world-class content on a powerful platform, with minimal setup and expertise required. Immerse prides itself on delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges across businesses processes, and we hope that this will be the first of many partnerships of this nature,” Tom Symonds, CEO at Immerse adds.
Between them, they already have customers including Shell, DHL, Vodafone and Lloyds Banking Group. As the partnership continues to grow and expand its content selection, VRFocus will keep you updated.
British XR specialist Make Real has a broad product portfolio ranging from training solutions for traffic marshalls to consumer videogames like Loco Dojo. This week the team has announced a new partnership with Kelbray, a civil engineering and construction services company to create a range of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) applications.
The partnership sees both companies form MRKL LLP as they look to build a range of products catering for the construction industry. Initially, these will utilise Make Real’s SkillShield training application support tool which includes features like timestamped evidence of completed training and native Oculus Quest support.
The training applications MRKL LLP has planned aim to enhance and improve offerings throughout the industry, offered as off-the-shelf licensed packages to customers. So that means software, hardware, device management solutions and training, allowing companies without any XR knowledge to put these products to use.
“After working closely with the Keltbray XR team for the past three years on internal applications, we felt it was the right time to form the official partnership, to co-create and offer validated immersive technology training applications to the wider construction sector. These initial products have been in development over the past year with internal user testing and feedback, until we all agreed that they were ready to go to market. That time is now,” said Ben Dykes, Client Services Director, Make Real Ltd, in a statement.
“We are delighted to have established our formal partnership with Make Real after a number of years successfully working with Keltbray Extended Reality, led by Dave Rowe to create applications which push the boundaries of what is possible with Mixed and Virtual Reality in the construction industry,” adds Holly Price, Group Skills and Communities Director, Keltbray.
“Our SkillShield platform provides the missing link in virtual reality training, creating indelible records connecting the trainee irrefutably to the evidence of their training. Added to this, direct access to Keltbray Lifting Services, led by Steve Leyton, has enabled us to produce industry-leading immersive training content that will help transform the industry’s approach to people development, and bridge the growing skills gap in our industry.”
UK-based Make Real’s new VR project gives users a first-hand experience of discrimination and exclusion in the workplace.
D&I Perspectives is built by the studio’s R&D team, The Drawing Board, and subjects users to several real-life accounts of certain difficulties people encounter in an office environment. Cast as an employee, you face different scenarios in which colleagues and bosses, brought into VR via live-action camera capture, place you in difficult situations. Crucially, the app asks users to consider how these situations and issues within a person’s life, either invisible or otherwise, could affect a co-worker’s happiness and comfort. Check out the trailer below.
After the VR experience, the app reveals four real stories that helped assemble the experience. Though built with low-cost technologies, the experience is an effective way of bringing more traditional training materials into a new era, and the personal touch that VR affords helps you to better relate to the issues the app rasies. Make Real CEO Sam Watts told me that the company wanted to “explore ways to enhance one of the current key areas of soft-skills training” after seeing success in other VR training services.
Watts explained that diversity, equality & inclusion are “important to us as a studio in terms of how we hire and support the VR industry, working with groups to enable pathways in for under-represented individuals to ensure there is a wide set of voices and creators in the emerging medium of VR. Following on from our own studies and those covered in depth elsewhere, VR is a perfect fit for soft-skills training and raising awareness of situations that users may not have knowledge or experience of.”
Make Real sees the experience being deployed to companies as part of wider training programs. Alongside the Oculus Quest version, there’s also a WebXR edition that allows the experience to be viewed on low-cost headsets. “By allowing users to experience life in the shoes of others, we see it as being a powerful tool to make us all better people by enabling us all to communicate and treat each other with respect and kindness,” Watts said.
Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hubto check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
Whether you’re an experienced designer, programmer, engineer, or maybe you’ve just been inspired after reading VRFocus’ articles – either way, you have stumbled across the weekly VR Job Hub. The vacancies listed here are usually located worldwide (although not this week), from major companies to humble indie developers – the one thing they all have in common is that they are all looking for new staff.
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hubto check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
