Category: Metricminds

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Chilled out Fishing Experience Catch & Release Rows Onto PlayStation VR

Ever fancied just chilling out on a beautiful blue lake with a clear blue sky above, with nothing to do but fish all day long? But then realised you live in the middle of a city and its been raining all day. Well fret not as Metricminds created idyllic fishing experience Catch & Release for situations just like that. Originally released for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in June, the studio has now brought the title to PlayStation VR.

Catch and Release Camera

Probably one of the most relaxing virtual reality (VR) experiences besides those with meditation qualities, Catch & Release  puts you in charge of a traditional rowing boat with one goal, catch a few fish. Rather than having a variety of locations to fish from you’re placed on one giant lake with complete freedom to explore it various nooks and waterways for the best fishing spot.

Once you’ve found a spot its time to cast out, stick the radio on and maybe munch down on a sandwich or two. To start with your bait and hook options are fairly limited, but catch a few fish and sell them at the store to earn enough cash to buy specialist bait and lures for those bigger fish.

This is no easy task, you’ll need to fight to reel them in, but don’t let them snap the line and escape. Of course in such a big lake there’s more than just a few fish lurking under the surface. If you’re unlucky you may find trash, or quite possibly some treasure.

Catch and Release Menu

Metricminds has included over 30 commercial tracks to listen to, specially curated for Catch & Release playing on the in-game boat radio. Licensed by Flip Entertainment, the tracks were selected to enhance the in-game music with a non-standard selection aimed at improving the overall immersive experience.

Catch & Release is available now on PlayStation Store in North, South and Latin America, Europe, the UK, and Australia. The UK store lists the title for £15.99 GBP while the US store has it priced at $19.99 USD with US PS Plus members able to save 10 percent. For any further updates for Catch & Release, keep reading VRFocus.

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Enjoy Some Leisurely Fishing as Catch & Release Lands on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive

Announced during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2018 in March, Metricminds’ fishing experience Catch & Release has now arrived for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Catch and Release Hero

As leisurely experiences go Catch & Release is about as chilled out as it comes. Set on a beautiful lake in the middle of summer – who goes fishing in winter? – it’s just you, a fishing rod and a boat, looking to land that next big catch.

Row yourself out to a nice idyllic location where you can enjoy the local animals and fauna like geese and bears, throw the line out and attract a fish. The interactive fishing rod offers you full control to catch (or lose) different fish, with various bait and lures options plus haptic feedback.

Once you’ve made some decent catches then you can sell them for new gear at the shop, which is handily located on the boat so you don’t to keep rowing to shore.

Catch and Release Menu

Catch & Release isn’t just about finding the next big fish, there are plenty of secrets under the water to locate, and for the unlucky the odd bit of garbage.

And to accompany you on these relaxed outings Metricminds has included over 30 commercial tracks that have been specially curated for Catch & Release playing on the in-game boat radio. Licensed by Flip Entertainment, the tracks have been selected to enhance the in-game music with a non-standard selection aimed at improving the overall immersive experience.

Catch & Release supports Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality through Steam, retailing for £14.99 GBP. A version will be coming to the Oculus Store at a later date, plus there’s a PlayStation VR version scheduled to release this summer. For any further updates on Catch & Release, keep reading VRFocus.

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Metricminds Reels In The Release Date For Catch & Release

Fishing is considered a relaxing pastime for many, and developer Metricminds are trying to bring that sense of peace and relaxation to virtual reality (VR) with lake-fishing title Catch & Release, which has just revealed its release date.

The title is largely set on a lake, which has been created to feature a colourful, pleasant art style, with plenty of local wildlife such as geese and bears to look out for, as well as the fish you are there to catch.

Catch and Release Camera

Players can go at their own pace, choosing if they want to pick up missions and challenges to progress quicker and unlock new gear and items, or choose or more leisurely route and let the fish come in their own time.

Players set up in a boat and row to various fishing spots, then use the fishing rod to throw a line, selecting the right bait and lure to catch the elusive fish, complete with haptic feedback to tell you when you have a bit. The lake hides more than just fish, so there could be some treasure just waiting to be fished up from the depths.

VRFocus managed to get a preview of Catch & Release, where it was said: “With so many high action shooters and adventure titles for VR it can be nice to slow things down a peg or two, and Catch & Release does exactly that. There’s some beautiful looking scenery to enjoy whilst bobbing up and down in the water, prepping the next hook. So long as there’s a decent amount of content and gameplay varying options; fish to catch, hooks, bait, locations, then catch & Release could well shape up to be one of the best VR fishing videogames.”

Catch and Release Menu

Catch & Release will be coming to Steam and the Oculus Store on the 7th June, 2018, with a PlayStation VR version planned for Summer 2018. Further information and updates will be here on VRFocus.

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Preview: Catch & Release – A Fisherman’s Delight

Fishing is a popular pastime the world over, sitting by the banks of a river rod in hand as you try to attach bait to the hook before casting off. Proper anglers go out in all weathers, rain or shine, huddled round a warm brew waiting for a nibble. For those that like the leisurely idea of fishing; but none of the waiting round or wrestling a wiggling worm onto their line, then that’s where virtual reality (VR) comes to the rescue, more specifically the upcoming launch of Catch & Release from Metricminds.

Catch and Release Menu

Showcasing the current build of Catch & Release on an Oculus Rift during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2018 recently, the videogame is exactly what fishing fans want from this type of experience.

Rather than being shore bound with various fishing points dotted around the outside of a lake you’re in the middle, or rather in a boat with the freedom to go where you dam well please. So not to scare the little fishes away and to add that extra level of interactive immersion you’re in a rowing boat. Which quite frankly is awesome just by itself, just chilling out having a row about the lake is quite serene, with a nice natural movement to the oars and boat.

After finding that perfect spot it was time to get down to the serious business of fishing. The demo didn’t offer much in the way of options, there was a piece of bait to attach to the hook – the developers did say more would be available in the full version – and just one rod. Just like real casting, it takes a few attempts to get the hook a decent distance away from the boat, having to hit the trigger button just at the right point of the swing to launch the line then keeping it held to let the reel unwind.

Catch and Release Camera

Then it’s time to sit back and wait for the fish to come. Catch & Release is a seated experience so having a reasonably comfy chair is always good, and it’s not long before the fish come biting. Once on the hook it’s time for the fun to begin, with your spare hand ready to wind in the line. While very much an arcade style of play, there’s no quickly snatching the fish out of the water or the line will break. The fish needs to be worn down, swimming from left to right the technique is all about keeping that line fairly taught. While there’s no resistance with the Oculus Touch controllers the battle still feels very much genuine, with a beaming sense of satisfaction after reeling that first fish in.

Different fish will net various amounts of cash to spend on more equipment in the store which just so happens to be a handy book left in the boat. The vessel also features a radio if some tunes are needed and there’s some virtual sandwiches if your digital self gets hungry.

With so many high action shooters and adventure titles for VR it can be nice to slow things down a peg or two, and Catch & Release does exactly that. There’s some beautiful looking scenery to enjoy whilst bobbing up and down in the water, prepping the next hook. So long as there’s a decent amount of content and gameplay varying options; fish to catch, hooks, bait, locations, then catch & Release could well shape up to be one of the best VR fishing videogames.