Oculus Rift Games – Page 30 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

October 27, 2017

Steam Halloween Sale Brings Discounts to 20 Spooky VR Titles Through November 1st

Looking to get scared in VR this Halloween season? Steam’s Halloween sale runs through November 1st, bringing discounts to fright-themed VR titles.

Leading the VR portion of the Steam Halloween sale is the fan-favorite zombie shooter Arizona Sunshine, on sale for $30, a 25% discount over the usual price. The recently released Duck Season experienced VR studio Stress Level Zero is also available, discounted by 15%. Perhaps the scariest of the bunch, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul, gets a healthy 38% discount, as well as my vote as a solid choice for scaring friends and family this Halloween.

Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul | Image courtesy VRWERX

Meanwhile, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter gets a steep 80% discount, and while the VR version isn’t well rated, the $6 bundle includes the base game (which is quite well rated), so you can always fall back to non-VR play if you don’t like the VR implementation.

Rounding out the VR portion of the Halloween sale are a few lesser known but still well rated titles like Ghost Town Mine Ride & Shootin’ Gallery (discounted 25%), the recently released Organ Quarter (discounted 20%), and what’s by now a VR classic, Dreadhalls (discounted 25%).

To see all 20 discounted VR titles that are part of the Steam Halloween sale, scroll down to the ‘HORROR VR’ section on this page; you’ve got until November 1st at 10AM PT. There’s lots of other VR content on sale too (separately from the Halloween sale)—click here to check it out.

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October 26, 2017

Update: ‘SUPERHOT VR’ Won’t Be Getting Long-Awaited DLC Planned for PC, Now on Sale 25% Off

One of our favorite VR titles, SUPERHOT VR, won’t be getting that additional DLC we reported on in a previous version of this article announcing the supposed update. Despite this, if the game has been on your list, now might be a good time to snag it thanks to a 25% discount via Steam through November 1st.

Update (10/27/17): The SUPERHOT team recently brought it to our attention that the DLC they hinted at in the SUPERHOT VR Steam forum is not coming to the VR version of the game, but rather the original flat screen version. The misreporting comes down to a slip-up on the part of the community manager who manages forums for both SUPERHOT VR and the original SUPERHOT. The team has since edited the statement originally confirming DLC for the VR version to reflect this. The team assures us they haven’t abandoned the VR version, just that it isn’t getting DLC this time around.

We’ve updated the headline to make this clear. The original article continues below.

Original Article (10/26/17): In our review of the game, we praised Superhot VR’s “one-of-a-kind bullet-time mechanic that translates phenomenally well to VR.” At the time we were disappointed by the game’s short length despite its enjoyable gameplay. Since that time the creators have launched the ‘FOREVER’ update, which aims to stretch the game’s replayability with new modes, challenges, difficulty levels, and secrets.

Further updates to add additional content are in the works, the game’s developers teased recently via the game’s Steam forum. Responding to a player’s query about adding more stages to the game’s ‘Endless’ mode, the devs offered, “We are working on it ;) But it will be even better.” The scope of that work is unclear for now, but we’ll take all the Superhot VR we can get.

Survival-Exploration Game ‘Space Pirates and Zombies 2’ Launches Out of Steam Early Access November 7th

Space Pirates and Zombies 2, a single player, space-based survival-exploration game from indie studio MinMax Games, is officially heading out of its year and a half-long stint in Steam Early Access on November 7th, including its fully featured VR port that supports the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

The third-person Space Pirates and Zombies 2 (SPAZ 2) may differ in gameplay mechanics from its top-down predecessor, Space Pirates and Zombies (2011), but it also includes a virtual reality mode that lets you play the entire game with SteamVR-compatible headsets.

In SPAZ 2, you must survive in an evolving post apocalyptic Galaxy where fuel is scarce, and you have to scavenge to survive. Hundreds of fleets populate the Galaxy, all with their own AI captains imbued with the ability to do everything you can.

Because resources are inherently scarce, factions form and split, conflicts erupt due to starvation; stronger factions establish and defend territories, set up resource hubs, and establish star bases. Some factions become bandits to survive.

According to MinMax, when factions meet, “combat is usually the result. While the strategic side of SPAZ 2 is about exploration, territorial control, and faction building, the action side of SPAZ 2 is about ship construction, tactics, and salvage.”

Game Features

200 persistent Captains that are able to do everything the player can, including forming dynamic factions, building structures, controlling territory and going to war.
A truly living galaxy that is not player-centric, developing differently each game through the interactions of the agents.
Build your own faction from nothing.
Randomly generated modular parts. Build the mothership that suits your play style, on the fly, in seconds.
Strategic ship building. The mass, location and shape of parts all matter, making ship design a meaningful decision.
A fully physics-based 3D environment where everything is destructible, takes damage from impacts, and can be grabbed and even thrown at enemies.

Check out the gameplay video below to get a better sense of what the game has to offer VR players.

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October 25, 2017

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Room-scale VR Fan Remake Puts You Face-to-face with Freddy Fazbear

Just in time for the spookiest time of year is a new VR fan remake of Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014) that brings some of the horror of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza to room-scale VR. Although it only gives you two nights (and an “extra special” Halloween night), there’s no better price than ‘free’ for a quick pre-Halloween thrill.

Created by indie dev ‘Dielji’ for the HTC Vive with support for Oculus Rift + Touch, the demo places you in the back office of Freddy’s, the kid-friendly fun time pizza joint complete with animatronic sing-song robots.

Following the original Five Nights at Freddy’s, your job is to watch the security cameras from your monitor with only a small amount of electricity available each night, putting you in precarious situation of keeping the lights on, the security cameras working, and the security doors closed from the screaming wrath of the possessed animatronic beasts. If Freddybear or his pals aren’t where they should be, you’ll have to switch through each monitor feed to stop them in their tracks.

While there are several VR fan remakes available going as far back as the Oculus Rift DK1 days, the most famous of which is One Night at Freddy’s, this seems to be the first room-scale adaptation.

Deiji maintains the demo, which is rightly named Vive Nights at Freddy’s, will be expanded to a full 5+ nights, “and may include a few twists and turns of its own.” The demo even features a clever resizing tool so you can fit the game’s room-scale-sized back office to your individual playspace.

‘Vive Nights at Freddy’s’ for Vive and Rift

Here’s a quick how-to guide on what to expect:

Using the trigger of the Vive controller, remove the time card for the night you wish to play from the time card receptacle located to the right of the punch-clock. Insert your time card into the slot on the underside of the punch-clock, then firmly press the button on the top of the punch-clock to begin the night. Hold the power button down to keep the monitor on (gotta conserve power after all!) and press the buttons below the monitor to switch feeds. There are buttons next to the doorways on your right and left to control the doors and hallways lights. Good luck!

Note: Other people watching your gameplay will see a map showing the locations of the animatronics and other useful information. If you prefer to keep your viewers in suspense, you can toggle this display on and off by tapping the “M” key on your keyboard.

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October 24, 2017

‘I Expect You To Die’ Gets New Level & Limited Time 20% Discount

New content for the popular VR puzzle game I Expect You To Die (2016) arrived today on all platforms – a free level named ‘First Class’ available to all current and future players. Schell Games has also begun a week-long 20% discount for the title on all platforms.

The stylish, escape room puzzle game I Expect You To Die originally launched for the Oculus Rift in late 2016, quickly expanding to the PlayStation VR platform in December, and finally to the HTC Vive via Steam in April 2017. While receiving positive reviews for its highly polished gameplay and classic spy-caper presentation, the overriding criticism was for its short length, with only four levels to dig into, leaving most players wanting more.

Thankfully, a fifth level named ‘First Class’ is now available for free, where players will experience a ‘relaxing train ride’ through India, as shown in this teaser trailer:

Schell Games Design Director Shawn Patton acknowledged the need for more content in a recent post on the PlayStation Blog. “We understand this issue is the game’s biggest weakness, and frankly, we feel like it’s a good problem to have,” he writes. “In the end, however, we knew we had to address it.”

Patton goes on to describe the team’s approach to developing First Class, hinting at new interactions and gameplay ideas, but carefully avoids giving away the level details. “Just know that there’s nothing more relaxing than the click-clack of a train as it rolls lazily through the majestic mountains of Northern India,” he continues. “Enjoy a soothing beverage or a local delicacy as you read the morning paper. We believe trains are the best place to meet new friends and catch up with old ones.”

I Expect You To Die has enjoyed sales success; the company announced the title surpassed $1 million in revenue across all sales channels in August 2017, including the Oculus Store, PlayStation Store, Steam, and Amazon.

“I’m so glad we are able to offer fans new content for I Expect You To Die,” stated Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games. “They have been so supportive of the game. We really think they’ll enjoy this new free level, and their vacation experience should be unforgettable.”

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October 24, 2017

VR “Bullet Hell” FPS ‘Evasion’ Announced for Rift & Vive, Catch the Trailer Here

Sci-fi shooter Evasion from VR studio Archiact has been revealed, said to feature ‘next generation’ VR locomotion and ‘high intensity’ co-op multiplayer combat for up to 4 players. The game is due to launch for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in early 2018.

Described on the official website as “an intense bullet hell spectacle”, Evasion has been designed from the ground up for VR, featuring co-op multiplayer combat for up to 4 players, with multiple hero classes to choose from to suit “all play styles” – two of which are already detailed on the site.

As shown in the announcement trailer, the game features ‘bullet hell’ action combined with destructible environments. According to the press release provided to Road to VR, a core development goal was to enable “incredible locomotion freedom.” Players will be able to choose from a few locomotion types, including ‘free move’, that can be customised for “play style and comfort level.”

Evasion aims to deliver several cutting-edge technologies, including ‘next gen’ full-body avatars powered by IKinema’s inverse kinematics animation system, “best in-class physics and destruction” enhanced for Intel Core i7 and i9 processors, and high-quality visuals and 3D spatial audio powered by Unreal Engine 4. The game’s ‘Swarm A.I’ enemy behaviour system claims to add “a new level of tension, making tactical movement and teamwork critical to your squad’s survival,” resulting in greater mission replayability with “randomized objectives and enemy encounters.”

Vancouver-based developer Archiact has been behind several virtual reality titles for mobile VR and location-based VR, but with the exception of penguin-puzzler Waddle Home (2016), available on SteamVR and PSVR (alongside a Gear VR version), the studio has yet to make a splash in the high-end consumer VR space. In a brief message posted on the official site yesterday, the team described Evasion as their “passion project”, having worked on the game for “over and year and a half.”

“Archiact has been crafting immersive VR entertainment since 2013,” said Kurt Busch, Studio Head at Archiact. “With Evasion, the team is using everything we’ve learned and weaving our experience into a truly genre-defining AAA title. With innovative locomotive movement and intense FPS gameplay, we’re convinced Evasion will prove a stand-out VR experience and we can’t wait for gamers to play it themselves.”

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October 24, 2017

High-flying Shooter ‘Skyfront VR’ to Hit Steam Early Access November 10th

Skyfront VR, the upcoming multiplayer arena first-person shooter from Levity Play, is coming to Steam Early Access on November 10th, including support for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Setting it apart from more ‘traditional’ VR shooters, Skyfront VR boasts a unique locomotion style that supposedly offers a fast-pace, nausea-free experience.

Set in 2700 CE, when humanity has mastered the laws of physics, players battle in zero-gravity arenas made from the cities of old in a remembrance of a past civilization-ending war that took place 400 years earlier. In the case of the trailer, it looks like one of the first maps has you shooting it out among architecture lifted from a typical Greek island like Santorini or Mykonos.

From what we’ve seen, Skyfront VR’s locomotion scheme appears to have much more in common with arcade flight sims like EVE: Valkyrie (2016) than more ‘traditional style’ VR shooters like Onward (2016). The Superman-style flight mechanic is done by moving your hands, “translating to 1:1 movement in this virtual, zero-gravity space.” This, according to Levity Play, forces players to consciously guide their in-game movements with their physical body, which helps eliminate the sensory conflict that often occurs when movement is dictated by a joystick.

At Early Access launch, two arenas will be available including Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch gametypes, five different weapons, five special abilities, and a ‘Bot Shootout’ practice mode.

Full Game Features:

5 game modes including Single Deathmatch
3v3Elimination and Capture The Flag
5-6 visually stunning maps in different geographical settings
20+ destructive weapons and special abilities to choose from
An engaging progression system
Customizable character & weapon assets
Play against advanced AI opponents

No pricing information is available currently. You can keep an eye on Skyfront VR by signing up for updates via the Steam Early Access page.

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October 23, 2017

‘Job Simulator’ Gets ‘Infinite Job Overtime’ Update & Permanent Price of $20

Job Simulator (2016), Owlchemy Labs’ madcap workplace sim from the future, is pushing a free content update called ‘Infinite Overtime mode’ that lets you play endless, randomized tasks. Owlchemy is also permanently dropping the price of Job Simulator to $20.

Now including TempBot, “JobBot’s far less motivated nighttime replacement,” you can now go through endless, randomized tasks to your hearts content—which should sound hopelessly depressing if it were real work, but considering the nature of the incredibly silly tasks, it actually sounds like a neat way of squeezing out more playtime in the tongue-in-cheek simulator game.

According to a blogpost announcing Infinite Overtime, each of the game’s jobs have been updated “to allow for a countless stream of customers as you punch the clock late into the evening.”

The new mode comes for free in the latest update, but is only accessible once you’ve completed all tasks in a job, then letting you flip the Infinite Overtime switch attached to the kiosk in the museum.

“We’re super excited about [Infinite Job Overtime]! We’ve been working in secret on this update for quite a while, creating randomized bot interactions, adding in new mini-meta games, and updating our vehicular drift vectors. Each of the jobs in Job Simulator has been fitted with an Infinite Overtime mode, which includes new tasks, promotions and, of course, easter eggs! Keep at the nightly grind to earn promotions and desk flair to declare your dedication to endless jobbing. Even a human like you could one day be promoted to ‘Managing Director of Interns’! Also, we added fidget spinners, because why not?”

Originally created as a HTC Vive launch title, Job Simulator went on to support both Oculus Touch and PSVR at their respective launches, becoming one of the most successful VR games financially. Earlier this year, the studio revealed they had posted $3 million in sales for the game.

‘Job Simulator’ on Steam

‘Job Simulator’ on Oculus

‘Job Simulator’ on PSN

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October 20, 2017

‘Echo Arena’ Free Download Extended to November 1st, Ghoulish Halloween Makeover Starting Today

Echo Arena (2017), the futuristic multiplayer sports game from Ready at Dawn and Oculus Studios, is getting into the holiday spirit with an upcoming seasonal Halloween Bash that looks to be a devily fun time—a great incentive to get more people to download the game for free before the free download window expires on All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1st).

Starting today, you’ll be able to float around in a newly designed haunted lobby area, play with the gruesome collection of new toys, and unlock 20 new cosmetic styles that you can take with you before they vanish on November 1st.

New cosmetic items can be earned after you complete at least one public match, where you’ll automatically be granted “5 ghoulish patterns, 5 creepy tints, 7 unnerving decals, and 3 eerie emotes.”

Ready at Dawn previously stated that the free 3-month download window, which allows anyone to download and keep the game permanently for free, would end on October 20th, but the studio says in a blogpost announcing the Halloween Bash that its November 1st conclusion “also coincides with the end of the 3-month period where you can add Echo Arena to your Oculus library for free.”

The Halloween Bash begins on October 20th at 12:00pm PST (your local time here). The spooky lobby and the ability to claim the Halloween-themed items will disappear in the afternoon of November 1st, but users can continue to flaunt the spooky items (and smugly answer the question: “where did you get the skull helmet?”) long afterwards.

Download ‘Echo Arena’ for Free

If you haven’t played Echo Arena yet, definitely take the chance to download this zero-g, adrenaline pumping game now for free before it becomes a paid app in November—unless you’re planning on buying the single-player adventure Lone Echo, which gets you the multiplayer Echo Arena for free at any time.

The Tron-like sports game boasts a healthy player base, and while substantial updates may be a little sluggish, the Halloween Bash represents one of the first big changes (albeit temporary) to the game since its last public beta. We’re hoping once the game heads into paid app territory that it’ll bring with it more substantive changes including more maps to keep people coming back for more.

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October 20, 2017

‘Dark Souls’-inspired VR Adventure ‘Left-Hand Path’ Exits Steam Early Access on November 10th

Left-Hand Path is a Dark Souls-inspired single-player VR adventure developed by Strange Company. The studio recently announced that the spell-casting RPG, which promises 15+ hours of content, is heading out of Early Access November 10th.

Launching out of a year-long stint on Steam Early Access next month for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, players must learn a host of arcane gestures to cast powerful demon-killing spells, perform ancient rituals, and learn the terrible truths behind the ‘Well of All Rewards’.

Turning up the difficulty in classic Dark Souls fashion, Left-Hand Path provides few save points, no regenerating health, respawning enemies when you die, and all in the dark and dank world filled with monsters that look torn straight out of a D&D monster manual.

“Dark Souls changed everything in game design, and I felt strongly that VR needed an experience that captured the ‘Souls-like’ essence. Fans will recognize the atmospheric environment, subtle storytelling, and the ever punishing gameplay of the genre in Left-Hand Path,” said Hugh Hancock, indie developer behind the game.

Because Left-Hand Path makes uses of Vive and Rift’s room-scale capabilities, you’ll have to actually duck, dodge, outmaneuver as you cast powerful spells like acid missiles, lightning, meteors, flaming boulders, and even conjure an army of screaming skulls.

We haven’t had a chance to dive into Left-Hand Path, but the Steam reviews look promising, currently sitting at an 86% positive score and retaining a ‘Very Positive’ rating.

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