Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation
What Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality developers are talking about
Today Sony announced the next batch of games that will be free to download for all PlayStation Plus subscribers and for the first time in a long time one of them has VR support: Wipeout VR!
Starting on August 6th (PS Plus titles always refresh on the first Tuesday of every month) subscribers can download and play Wipeout Omega Collection (which includes free VR support) and Sniper Elite 4. This is one of the better months in terms of quality in a while for even non-VR gamers, but the inclusion of one of PSVR’s very best games, period, really puts it over the top. Read why in our full Wipeout VR review.
If you’ve never played Wipeout Omega Collection or aren’t a big Wipeout fan to begin with, then you’re in for a real treat. The Wipeout games are all about speed and sleek futuristic settings. You’ll zip around tracks at blistering paces, shoot rockets at your enemies, and get a ton of air-time bounding through the air, around loops, and through corners. It’s mesmerizing visually and absolutely heart-pounding.
Even if you’ve played Wipeout before, you haven’t played it like this. Wipeout VR is a special experience.
Sniper Elite 4 may not have VR support, but Sniper Elite VR is in development and takes place in the exact same universe by the exact same devleopers. We played it at E3 2019 and really enjoyed it, nominating it for Best of Show VR game while we were there. You can watch some gameplay, read impressions, and see an interview with one of the developers right here.
Are you looking forward to downloading Wipeout VR next week? We’ll probably stream it some so maybe we will see you out there.
The post August PlayStation Plus Games Include Wipeout Omega Collection With Free VR Support appeared first on UploadVR.
For the first time, BANDAI NAMCO is bringing to the United States a number of popular VR experiences once only available in Japan and UK-based VR ZONE arcades. Included in the line-up is the much-awaited Mario Kart Arcade GP VR.
VR ZONE Portal Washington D.C. is officially opening up shop today at Union Station near the national mall. Bandai Namco’s ‘Portal’ naming scheme indicates that the venue is smaller than the full-sized VR ZONEs in both Shinjuku and Osaka, Japan.
VR games available to the public include Mario Kart VR, Argyle Shift, and Ski Rodeo, and appear to be on a first-come, first-serve basis with no reservations required.
The star of the show is undoubtedly Mario Kart VR though, which pits four players against each other using HTC Vive headsets, Vive Trackers, and motion platform outfitted with a steering wheel, acceleration and brake pedals. Users, playing as Mario, Peach, Luigi, or Toad race around the track grabbing classic items like banana skins and shells while dodging Bowser—essentially what everyone wants from a VR version of Mario Kart.
“BANDAI NAMCO is thrilled to be a part of the innovative, cutting-edge project that is VR ZONE Portal. The launches in Japan and the UK brought great success, and we hope to follow suit in Washington, D.C.,” said Steve Ignarski, National Sales Manager for Bandai Namco Amusement America. “Mario Kart VR is a long-awaited title and we have no doubt it will be well-received in the states, due to its incredible, immersive game-play and outstanding equipment from HTC Vive.”
There’s a catch however. All three VR experiences will be featured for only six months, meaning the VR ZONE Portal in D.C. is a limited time engagement that will close up shop presumably sometime in March 2019. Check out the VR Zone Portal Washington D.C. Facebook page for more info.
The post ‘Mario Kart VR’ Comes to the US Today in Bandai Namco’s Newest VR Arcade appeared first on Road to VR.
Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, the location-based VR game first launched at Bandai Namco’s Shinjuku-based VR Zone arcade last year, is taking its first big step outside of Japan soon as it comes to The O2 in London next month.
Mario Kart VR pits four players against each other using HTC Vive headsets, Vive Trackers, and motion platform outfitted with a steering wheel, acceleration and brake pedals.
Dodging giant Piranha Plants and Thwomps, you’ll have to watch out for Koopa as you toss the game’s iconic turtle shells and bananas at your fellow racers; participants can play as Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi.
The iconic kart racer is set to arrive August 3rd at the VR Zone London Portal at Hollywood Bowl in The O2.
A turn with Mario Kart VR will cost £8 per person. Advanced booking is available by calling the O2 branches phone number, which is listed on Hollywood Bowl’s website.
Both Bandai Namco’s mech fighter Argyle Shift and haunted house sim Hospital Escape Terror are also available at the Hollywood Bowl O2 location.
The post ‘Mario Kart VR’ to Take First Steps Out of Japan, Coming to London in August appeared first on Road to VR.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now had Nintendo Labo support, with every mode in the game playable with the Toy-Con Motorbike construction included in the Labo Variety Kit. Nintendo plans to add support for other games, as well.
The post Racecardboard: ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ adds Nintendo Labo support appeared first on Digital Trends.
A year ago, I sat down and over the course of a few weeks laid out ten SEGA franchises that I thought would be excellent for ports or adaptations into the world of virtual reality (VR). It was a sort of combo of VR vs. and Make It A (Virtual) Reality – and it made sense. After all, precious few stakeholders out there have as rich and diverse a library of videogame titles as SEGA, and the said library of titles is certainly ripe for VR adaption. Not that SEGA have particularly leapt at the new technology; which is, historically at any rate, a very un-SEGA like thing for them to do.
There is, however, another company that both has a library that rivals SEGA’s and has been even more hesitant to get involved in VR despite having historical ties to the technology. (If you are unaware of SEGA’s VR efforts look them up, it’s a fascinating tale and a typical ‘what could’ve been’ story from the company.) It is, of course, fellow videogame giant and SEGA’s long time console wars nemesis, and respected rival – Nintendo. So, it makes sense that I next turn my attention to them for the next multiparter.
A few ‘rules’ as such before we begin. Mainly because this is an opinion piece and as such a red rag to the bull that is the Internet.
Firstly, the titles listed here are only a selection of possibilities I’m bringing up and me not listing down your favourite title doesn’t mean I don’t think it’d be great in VR. (I mean I might not, but, y’know…) As with any article of this type these are my opinions – not yours. You may disagree with what I think, but that doesn’t make me ‘wrong’; if I like to eat sushi (I do, very much) and you don’t like sushi that’s a matter of taste, I’m not wrong for liking it. I’ve also been careful in the wording of the title – these are not necessarily videogames that have been made by Nintendo. They have however all appeared on Nintendo systems or have a connection to Nintendo in some way. Lastly, we’re adopting something of a sense of disbelief here to a degree. In some instances getting the title made would be problematic from, for example, a logistical point of view. We’re also ignoring Nintendo’s continued ambivalence towards VR as a whole, something we’ve discussed here before. Even now Reggie Fils-Amie is probably leaning out of his car somewhere and shaking his fist at a billboard for Ready Player One and yelling “THIS ISN’T FUN!”. So I’m casually ignoring that as well.
We start with something of a cheat, owing to the fact that Mario Kart VR already exists. However, what we currently have in the form of HTC Vive experience Mario Kart Arcade GP is merely the appetiser, and a pretty exclusive appetiser at that. As beloved as the Mario Kart franchise is there’s a limit to how far you’ll go to play it and I think ‘you’ve got to go all the way to Japan is a bit of an ask.
Mario Kart Arcade GP is part of the line-up at VR Zone in Shinjuku and sadly has not budged from there despite the growth of the VR Zone brand. There’s also the fact it isn’t by Nintendo but their long-time partner in all things Mario Kart arcade, Bandai Namco. As a result, in some senses it isn’t truly what Nintendo would create with the brand if their hands were firmly on the reigns. Friendships have both been formed and been tested by Mario Kart, and to have the Nintendo team let their imaginations fully run free to realise a Mario Kart VR where you could battle friends and strangers online as you can with the current iteration and have the immersion in the colourful worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond could well be a defining racing experience.
Not only that Mario Kart VR would be both the sort of title that has the potential to draw in new interest to VR and also act as a stepping stone for long-time gamers. Even if Rainbow Road would probably melt your eyes, in terms of racers on a theoretical Nintendo VR system this surely has to be Number One with a Bullet (Bill).
There have been a number of videogames that like to mess with your minds down the years. To be clear I’m not talking about a twist here but the videogame actually deliberately messing with you to freak you out. We’re talking something like Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid reading your save files or to give a more modern example Batman: Arkham Asylum had you thinking your save was gone, giving you impossible quick time events and a fake game over screen.
Well if those videogames messed with your mind, then Eternal Darkness took great pleasure in taking your understanding of what’s going on and then whipping it in the ass with a wet towel full of utter blind panic. Eternal Darkness implemented the sanity mechanic, something Nintendo thought so good they actually patented the entire concept. Which in retrospect seems a bit cheeky.
To quote the patent: “A video game and game system incorporating a game character’s sanity level that is affected by occurrences in the game such as encountering a game creature or gruesome situation. A character’s sanity level is modified by an amount determined based on a character reaction to the occurrence such as taking a rest or slowing game progress and/or an amount of character preparation. That is, if a character is prepared for the particular occurrence, the occurrence may have little or no effect on the character’s sanity level. As the character’s sanity level decreases, game play is affected such as by controlling game effects, audio effects, creating hallucinations and the like. In this context. the same game can be played differently each time it is played.”
Eternal Darkness proceeded to do the following.
You get the idea. The fourth wall was essentially playdough. However despite critical acclaim, any initial plans for a sequel fell apart with all the troubles between Silicon Knights and Epic Games. That’s not stopped Nintendo from keeping the trademark alive, however.
We’ve already had one VR videogame in particular where the title deliberately sets out to mess with your brain. It’s probably a title you don’t even remember. In Flying Mollosk’s psychological thriller Nevermind, what you see is in-part generated by your own fear. The more panicked you become, as tracked by compatible heart rate monitors, the more twisted the world becomes. If you combined this premise with the sanity system, throw in some VR horror lessons learned from Resident Evil VII biohazard‘s atmosphere and you’re in business. Probably a pile of your own business, after you’ve shit yourself in terror.
That’s all for part one, I’ll come back to this very soon on VR vs. What Nintendo titles would you like to see in VR?
