Something for the Weekend: The Best VR Discounts on PlayStation Store

This year’s summer sale on PlayStation Store may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still bargains to be had. This week’s round-up of discounted titles looks specifically at PlayStation VR, and we have two AAA titles available at a reduced price for a limited time.

DiRT Rally Banner

DiRT Rally

The DiRT Rally + PlayStation VR Bundle includes the full DiRT Rally videogame, the DiRT Rally PlayStation VR downloadable content (DLC) add-on and the three Fully Loaded DLC packs: the Ford Pack, the MINI Pack and the Rallycross Pack. Currently reduced by a whopping 72%, down from £57.99 GBP to just £15.99, this discount will be available until 6th September 2017.

The Assembly screenshotThe Assembly

A first-person puzzle adventure, The Assembly is a videogame designed specifically for virtual reality (VR) but can also be played without the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD). The Assembly is available at a 50% discount, now priced at £9.99, until 6th September 2017.

In The Assembly, the player takes on the role of two different characters as they operate within a morally challenging organisation. VRFocus delivered a review of The Assembly upon its Oculus Rift debut, stating: “There are a lot of design decisions that have been made purely to cultivate the immersive nature of VR and are hugely successful in that regard, while significantly less successful when played on a traditional monitor; a trait that will offer other developers lessons on how to capitalise on the strengths of VR.”

That wraps up this week’s look at the latest VR discounts. VRFocus will be back next weekend with the latest series of software bargains available for various VR HMDs.

Preview: Shooty Fruity – Should’ve Taken that Job in McDonald’s

Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives was undoubtedly a highlight of the first wave of modern virtual reality (VR) consumer software, and so it’s perhaps inevitable that a number of copycat titles would emerge. While this argument could easily be levelled at nDreams – which readily admit Owlchemy Labs’ hit was an influence – Shooty Fruity does bring something unique to the mix.

Shooty Fruity screenshotCast as a cashier in a convenience store, everything seems fairly normal. Ahead is the view of the shop floor, stacked with a variety of generic goods, and were it not for the lack of any customers you’d believe that the videogame was little more than simulation of that summer job in Tesco. Scanning products that come along a conveyer belt and dropping them into a collection area; this isn’t rocket science. However, above is a moving rail from which guns can be collected. Not your average retail establishment, then?

Before long, menacing looking limes start encroaching on your position. Lemons, berry and gigantic melons are your adversaries in Shooty Fruity. The objective of the videogame is relatively simple: shoot the fruit while still processing the purchased goods. Using the HTC Vive motion-controllers, Oculus Touch or PlayStation Move, Shooty Fruity tasks the player with balancing the swiping of items with the shooting of bad guys. At first it’s a little like rubbing your belly while patting your head, but soon it becomes a test of visual assessment over any kind of strategy.

Scanning more goods will light-up icons on your checkout that will reward you with better guns, but you can only sustain a small amount of hits from the fruit (designated by light bulbs atop the checkout) before its game over. Maintaining balance between the two tasks is Shooty Fruity’s core gameplay loop.

Shooty Fruity screenshotDuring VRFocus’ playtest, wherein the four minute sample level was played through multiple times, it was discovered that the enemy arrangement isn’t random. Specific enemies will approach in a set order, but even then finding the right balance between aggression and ‘work’ wasn’t obvious. Shooty Fruity does have a surprising amount of depth in the assessment required, if not in the bulletpoints of the gameplay design.

The gameplay progression in Shooty Fruity is still being kept under wraps. We’ve been promised a great deal of variety in the weaponry and different gameplay modes, but exactly how much depth this will add remains to be seen. Despite suggesting Shooty Fruity will launch at a budget price, there’s still a concern about the longevity of the title. Many of VR’s early adopters would argue that not every videogame needs to expect to be the player’s first VR experience, and Shooty Fruity runs the risk of not delivering anything new to this core audience.

The suggested 1950s Americano theme currently feels lost in the swathe of bright colours and fruit with faces. The weaponry is supposedly tied to the era though in practice there was little to distinguish it from generic pistol, generic magnum and so on. The promise of customisable weaponry in the final release version could certainly change this, however.

Shooty Fruity screenshotShooty Fruity is essentially an enjoyable VR experience that feels a little too late to make any real impact. There’s lots of potential to add more core mechanics and expand on the formula, but at present there’s little sign this will occur prior to launch. VRFocus will be getting more hands-on time with Shooty Fruity in due course, and will keep you updated as the videogame approaches launch on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR later this year.

Shoot the Fruit in nDreams’ New VR Exclusive

nDreams has today announced a new virtual reality (VR) exclusive title, Shooty Fruity, in development for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. Set for release late in 2017, Shooty Fruity casts the player in the role of a cashier at a convenience store that’s being overrun by mutated fruit.

Shooty Fruity screenshotShooty Fruity cashiers must face hordes of mutant killer fruit as they attempt to perform their job to the best of their abilities. As the store’s stock comes along the conveyer belt, the player must also grab weaponry and take out the giant fruit encroaching on their checkout. A customisable arsenal of fruit-killing guns is at your disposal, including revolvers, shotguns and bomb launchers, as well as power-ups that will give you an explosive advantage.

Shooty Fruity is set to launch late in 2017, though no specific release date has yet been announced. The official reveal trailer for Shooty Fruity is available below, and VRFocus has already been hands-on with the title, bringing you a preview of the videogame later today.

Waiting to Play Bloody Zombies? Take a look at These new Screenshots

On Friday nDreams and Paw Print Games announced that side-scrolling zombie brawler Bloody Zombies would be released across all formats on 12th September 2017. While there’s still a few weeks to go until launch, VRFocus has some new screenshots to for you to peruse in the meantime. 

Bloody Zombies is an online four-player videogame that allows players, whether on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or PC, to all play together.

Featuring easily accessible moves and brutal chainable combos, players will be able to unlock special moves and discover melee weapons to expand their zombie-slaying abilities. VR players will get an enhanced viewpoint, allowing them to uncover in-game secrets and provide tactical support.

Checkout the new screenshots below. For further Bloody Zombies updates, keep reading VRFocus.

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Bloody Zombies to see Simultaneous Launch on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR in September

In May, British studio nDreams announced a publishing deal with Paw Print Games to bring it’s side-scrolling brawler Bloody Zombies to virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) alongside Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. Today the companies have revealed the simultaneous launch date, bringing the co-op fighter to players in September.

Bloody Zombies features a one-to-four person co-op multiplayer, designed so that any combination of TV and VR players can team up and take on the zombie hordes. Set in London, the undead have taken over the city and four cockney misfits must work together to beat back the rotting hordes.

Bloody Zombies gif

David Corless, VP of Publishing, nDreams, said in a statement: “Bloody Zombies is a classic co-op brawler but with a new twist where VR players and non-VR players can battle the undead together, either online or couch co-op. Think Streets of Rage and Castle Crashers on amphetamines, throw in some friends, add in the unique viewpoint when playing in VR and Bloody Zombies is like no other game out there!”

Featuring easily accessible moves and brutal chainable combos, players will be able to unlock special moves and discover melee weapons to expand their zombie-slaying abilities. VR players will get an enhanced viewpoint, allowing them to incover in-game secrets and provide tactical support.

“We’re massive fans of brawler games and have spent countless hours analyzing the genre, crafting Bloody Zombies in to a modern interpretation of the classics. VR adds a new twist to what is already a great TV experience; enhancing the gameplay and visuals and adding a wow factor. We can’t wait for people to get their hands on Bloody Zombies…,” added Anthony White, Co-Founder and Director at Paw Print Games.

Supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, pre-orders for Bloody Zombies go live today. The standard cost for the title is for £10.99 GBP/€13.49 EUR/$14.99 USD, although gamers who do pre-order will get a 10 percent discount.

Bloody Zombies will launch on 12th September 2017, and for any further info, keep reading VRFocus.

Bloody Zombies Offer a Fresh Perspective on the Possible Future of Virtual Reality Videogames

VRFocus has already covered Bloody Zombies in previews and some gameplay is visible here. However here’s a quick re-cap on this co-operative side-scrolling brawler. London has been lost to the undead in Bloody Zombies, overrun by zombies four outcasts must band together and use various weapons to survive.

What makes Bloody Zombies unique is that you can play both in virtual reality (VR) and on a console at the same time. So whilst your buddies are on your couch, you can put on a headset and play with them. What’s quite nice is the flexibility of choosing to play in VR or non-VR, with players locally or online. You might not think a side-scrolling brawler works in VR, but it does. The characters appear as 2D cut-outs in a 3D world. This allows you view the landscape, see enemies approaching from a greater distance than you would usually be able to see on a 2D screen. So you get perspective. Every level is unique in art style as you encounter different zombies.

Steven Craft, Co-founder and Director of Paw Print Games tells VRFocus that when they pitched this concept 18 months ago, people weren’t able to wrap their heads around it. Now at E3, players get it and they like it, it works. This unique perspective certainly makes Bloody Zombies stand out amongst the other VR games. You can play it on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR.

Watch the video below to find out more.

nDreams Raises £2.7M to Further Develop VR Games, Signs Deal to Bring Exclusive Content to VR Arcade

nDreams, creators of The Assembly and publishers of the upcoming brawler Bloody Zombies, have completed an additional £2 million investment with Mercia Technologies, and £700,000 from private investors to create more VR games. In addition, nDreams has signed a deal to bring exclusive new content to a “leading VR arcade company.” According to a nDreams blog post, the VR arcade content partnership is just one of many recent deals with third-party companies.

nDreams says they’re “targeting rapid growth over the next year as the VR market continues to expand,” citing its five VR titles in production including Bloody Zombies and and number of unannounced titles currently in development.

Paul Fitzsimons, a former partner at venture capital firm Apax Partners, will join nDreams as chairman. Rob Precious, the former director of business development at Geomerics/ARM, has also joined the company’s board as non-executive director. nDreams also plans on strengthening their senior team by hiring a CFO and a COO in the coming months.

The Assembly, image courtesy nDreams

“Mercia’s continued support, and the backing of private investors, bolsters our relentless ambition to remain at the forefront of VR. The company has expanded rapidly over the past 12 months leading to outstanding opportunities, including our move into VR Arcades and our continued focus on creating innovative VR content for home headsets. We’re also delighted to welcome Paul and Rob to the board, who bring a wealth of experience and insight to the team,” said Patrick O’Luanaigh, CEO and founder of nDreams.

Mercia previously invested seed funds amounting to $2.75M in December 2015. Combined with the recent £2.7M ($3.5M) follow-on investment, this brings nDreams to $9.22M over the course of three funding rounds, according to Crunchbase.

“nDreams continues to thrive within the VR market, a sector expected to be worth in excess of $30 billion by 2020,” says Mike Hayes, investment director at Mercia. “Its growing reputation as one of the UK’s leading developers and publishers of VR content demonstrates the significant progress that the company has made this year with many of the major hardware brands in this rapidly growing market. We are delighted to continue to back this industry-leading team.”

The company’s latest title, Bloody Zombies, is slated to arrive later this year on PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

The post nDreams Raises £2.7M to Further Develop VR Games, Signs Deal to Bring Exclusive Content to VR Arcade appeared first on Road to VR.

nDreams Raises £2.7M to Further Develop VR Games, Signs Deal to Bring Exclusive Content to VR Arcade

nDreams, creators of The Assembly and publishers of the upcoming brawler Bloody Zombies, have completed an additional £2 million investment with Mercia Technologies, and £700,000 from private investors to create more VR games. In addition, nDreams has signed a deal to bring exclusive new content to a “leading VR arcade company.” According to a nDreams blog post, the VR arcade content partnership is just one of many recent deals with third-party companies.

nDreams says they’re “targeting rapid growth over the next year as the VR market continues to expand,” citing its five VR titles in production including Bloody Zombies and and number of unannounced titles currently in development.

Paul Fitzsimons, a former partner at venture capital firm Apax Partners, will join nDreams as chairman. Rob Precious, the former director of business development at Geomerics/ARM, has also joined the company’s board as non-executive director. nDreams also plans on strengthening their senior team by hiring a CFO and a COO in the coming months.

The Assembly, image courtesy nDreams

“Mercia’s continued support, and the backing of private investors, bolsters our relentless ambition to remain at the forefront of VR. The company has expanded rapidly over the past 12 months leading to outstanding opportunities, including our move into VR Arcades and our continued focus on creating innovative VR content for home headsets. We’re also delighted to welcome Paul and Rob to the board, who bring a wealth of experience and insight to the team,” said Patrick O’Luanaigh, CEO and founder of nDreams.

Mercia previously invested seed funds amounting to $2.75M in December 2015. Combined with the recent £2.7M ($3.5M) follow-on investment, this brings nDreams to $9.22M over the course of three funding rounds, according to Crunchbase.

“nDreams continues to thrive within the VR market, a sector expected to be worth in excess of $30 billion by 2020,” says Mike Hayes, investment director at Mercia. “Its growing reputation as one of the UK’s leading developers and publishers of VR content demonstrates the significant progress that the company has made this year with many of the major hardware brands in this rapidly growing market. We are delighted to continue to back this industry-leading team.”

The company’s latest title, Bloody Zombies, is slated to arrive later this year on PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

The post nDreams Raises £2.7M to Further Develop VR Games, Signs Deal to Bring Exclusive Content to VR Arcade appeared first on Road to VR.

nDreams Secures £2.7 Million In Funding

The British virtual reality (VR) industry continue to grow alongside the larger VR industry. As a sign of this growth, UK VR developer nDreams have announced that it has secured £2 Million in funding from Mercia Technologies, with an additional £700,000 from other private investors.

The company has been focussed on rapid growth as the VR industry continues to grow and mature. Ndreams have recently welcomes Paul Fitzsimmons as its new chairman and Rob Precious, a former Director of Business at ARM has also joined the board at nDreams as a non-executive director. The company sees these new hires and new investments as part of its upcoming drive towards creating new content, particularly in the VR arcade area, as nDreams have signed a contract to supply content to a ‘leading VR arcade company’.

nDreams header

Patrick O’Luanaigh, CEO and Founder of nDreams, said: “Mercia’s continued support, and the backing of private investors, bolsters our relentless ambition to remain at the forefront of VR. The company has expanded rapidly over the past 12 months leading to outstanding opportunities, including our move into VR Arcades and our continued focus on creating innovative VR content for home headsets. We’re also delighted to welcome Paul and Rob to the board, who bring a wealth of experience and insight to the team.”

Mike Hayes, Investment Director at Mercia Technologies PLC, added: “nDreams continues to thrive within the VR market, a sector expected to be worth in excess of $30 billion by 2020. Its growing reputation as one of the UK’s leading developers and publishers of VR content demonstrates the significant progress that the company has made this year with many of the major hardware brands in this rapidly growing market. We are delighted to continue to back this industry-leading team.”

VRFocus will bring you further news on nDreams and its upcoming projects as it becomes available.

The VR Job Hub: Apple, nDreams & More

If you are looking for a change in career, or just a chance in focus and want to work in an area that is constantly changing, growing and evolving, then the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) industries are always looking for talented people.

Engineers, designers, artists, community managers, programmers and even top of the line executive roles are being eagerly sought after by various companies working with VR. Why not see if there is something here that suits your talents? As always we’ve a selection of roles we’ve pulled from around the world for you. Have a look

Location Company Role Link
California, USA Apple IMG – CoreMedia VR File Format Engineer Click here to apply
California, USA Apple IMG CoreMedia VR Pipeline Engineer Click here to apply
Austin, Texas, US  Apple AR Specialist – US & Canada Resellers Click here to apply
Farnborough, UK nDreams Associate Community Manager – VR Games Click here to apply
Farnborough, UK nDreams Gameplay Programmer – VR Games Click here to apply
Beijing, China Time of Virtual Reality Technical Artist Enquire via email
London, UK Unspecified, Real Estate Sector Graduate Capture Technician Click here to apply
Melbourne, Australia Unspecified, Private Listing Javascript Developer – (React / WebVR / GraphQL) Click here to apply
Leatherhead, UK Kantar Retail Virtual Reality Account Manager Click here to apply
Manchester, UK Unspecified, Construction Industry Mixed-Reality Web Developer Click here to apply
London, UK Oculus VR 3D Generalist Click here to apply
Slough, UK HTC Sales Manager, UK, VR Click here to apply
Solihull, UK Solihull College & University Centre Lecturer – Computing and Emerging Technologies Click here to apply

 

As always be sure you also check out last week’s offerings for some more job selections and for more news on the VR industry and career opportunities, stay on VRFocus.