PlatformaVR – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

January 23, 2020

LBE Specialist PlatformaVR Rebrands to Joy Way, Moves Into Home Content Development

When it comes to virtual reality (VR) developers the general trend usually starts with making one or two titles for home headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, hopefully making some money in the process. As that can still be tricky, then branching out into either licensing or producing content for location-based entertainment (LBE) purposes to build a revenue stream. PlatformaVR, on the other hand, has chosen the opposite path by moving from LBE into home content, rebranding to Joy Way in the process.

Brain vs Zombies PlatformaVR started back in 2017 by opening its first location in Moscow, adding further locations across the course of 2018/19. In a similar vein to others in the sector like The VOID, PlatformaVR went down the route of creating exclusive content instead of using content distribution platforms such as Synthesis VR or SpringboardVR, developing The Poisoner, The Arrival and Match for customers to enjoy.

It was last year that the company began delving into the home consumer market by releasing titles like Wave Circles and Mace and Grace. Those early endeavours have now become the sole focus as PlatformaVR abandons LBE and becomes Joy Way to mark its new turning point.

Confirming the news in an email to VRFocus, Joy Way’s Elena Kadyshkina said: “All titles that had been developed for location-based facilities were sold to our partners so that, moving forward, we can focus exclusively on development of VR games for home use.”

Currently, Joy Way has two VR videogames in development, Brain vs Zombies and Change Ranger. Brain vs Zombies is a puzzle shooter where you have to kill each level’s weird looking (avocado-shaped) zombies using a limited number of bullets. Puzzles won’t necessarily involve shooting the zombies directly, either calculating the rebound trajectory, having to blow something up or knocking one into another for example.

Change Ranger is all about time manipulation. Taking the role of a time hacker who can freeze time, you’re placed in scenarios where you’re outnumbered and outgunned. Using those time skills you can make changes to the world so when the time flow is restored you’re no longer in danger.

Both titles are scheduled for launch in February across Steam and Oculus stores. At the moment a demo is available for both on their respective Steam pages. For further updates keep reading VRFocus.

April 17, 2019

Medieval VR Arcade Game Mace and Grace Coming to Steam Early Access

PlatformaVR may have started out in location-based entertainment (LBE) but it has recently begun making inroads into the home virtual reality (VR) market. That started last month with its early prototype Wave Circles for HTC Vive. Today, the studio has revealed a far more polished looking title set to launch on Steam Early Access next month, arcade experience Mace and Grace.

Mace and Grace

In what looks like a mashup between Gorn, The Morrigan and Beat Saber, Mace and Grace is a bloody wave-based action title (with cute cartoon graphics). Players just so happen to be a giant tasked with clobbering medieval knights vaulted at them via trebuchets, pulverising them to pieces with a selection of medieval weapons.

To being with, the early access experience will have two gameplay modes to enjoy, Classic – survive as long as you can fighting waves of knights – and Arcade – limited time, score as much as you can. At your disposal are some brutal main weapons like the Morningstar, Mace, Axe, Spear and naturally, your bare hands. Kill knights in pairs and you’ll unlock a rage mode for extra points, plus you can even burn your enemies to ash when you unlock the fire breath bonus. As well as knights to kill there will also be bombs to evade to keep you on your toes.

PlatformaVR expects Mace and Grace to be in early access for around six months. In that time the team plans on adding more weapons, gameplay modes, characters and levels, mentioning: “Crossbow, flails, ninjas, rhythm-based mode, Darth Maul mode, are on our short list.” The studio will also be looking towards the Steam community for suggestions on how to expand and improve the videogame ahead of an official launch.

Mace and Grace

Originally a Russian startup which opened its first free-roaming location in Moscow in 2017, PlatformaVR has since then expanded, going international by adding a location in Orlando, Florida in collaboration with MindQuest Escape Games. Most recently, the company was at CES 2019 in January to open its second US-based free-roaming centre at Bally’s Las Vegas.

Mace and Grace is due for release in May, supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. As further details are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

March 28, 2019

PlatformaVR Gets Into the Rhythm With Wave Circles for HTC Vive

Rhythm action videogames are making a triumphant return thanks to virtual reality (VR) technology – or more precisely Beat Saber – with others including Audio Shield, Audica, and Harmonix’s newly announced Dance Central. Location-based entertainment (LBE) VR specialist PlatformaVR has now entered the market with its first home consumer product Wave Circles.

Wave Circles

Still in an early prototype form, Wave Circles is far enough along that PlatformaVR has released this initial version for gamers to take a look at. Currently only supporting HTC Vive and HTC Vive Pro, Wave Circles is a rhythm action experience where you play pre-recorded beatmaps and create your own ones with your body.

There are two songs to play through, each with an easy and difficult setting. In time with the music you have to catch circles and hit the coloured blobs with your hands. What’s far more interesting is the feature to create your own beatmaps and share them with your friends – a feature the likes of Beat Saber has only seen through third-party mods.

You’ll need MP3 files of your favourite tunes to start with and then using the HTC Vive controller hit the trigger for circles and the touchpad to make the blobs. At this stage sharing your created beatmaps with a friend is slightly more complicated than hitting a share button, so head to PlatformaVR’s Itch.io webpage for in-depth instructions and the link to download Wave Circles.

Wave Circles

Wave Circles is still a work in progress, with PlatformaVR looking for feedback as it adds further features and more polish.

PlatformaVR is a Russian startup which opened its first free-roaming location in Moscow in 2017. Since then it has expanded, going international by adding a location in Orlando, Florida in collaboration with MindQuest Escape Games. Most recently, the company was at CES 2019 in January to open its second US-based free-roaming centre at Bally’s Las Vegas.

The centre’s display PlatformaVR’s own unique experiences, The Arrival, The Poisoner, and MATCH, with plans to establish new locations in London, UK and Los Angeles, US. As development continues on Wave Circles VRFocus will keep you updated.

February 1, 2019

Walking the Walk With LBE VR Specialist PlatformaVR

Virtual reality (VR) gaming at home is great fun, but there is something even more uniquely special when you take the online multiplayer element and bring it all into one physical spot, and that’s location-based entertainment (LBE). VRFocus has already waxed lyrical about content providers like The VOID, Zero Latency, and Sandbox VR, however, there are many more looking to make their mark in the industry, one of which is PlatformaVR.

PlatformaVR

Hailing from Russia, PlatformaVR opened its first location back in 2017, in the capital city of Moscow. Three more locations in the city followed, and then the company set its sights on expanding globally. This month to coincide with CES 2019 PlatformaVR opened its first location in Nevada, inside Bally’s Las Vegas. Which is where VRFocus caught up with CEO and co-founder of PlatformaVR, Ilya Kuzyuk.

Like the other LBE companies previously mentioned, PlatformaVR doesn’t use standard VR titles developed for home use and then ported to free-roaming arenas. The team has developed its own in-house videogames for guests to experience, meaning they can offer something unique that you can’t get anywhere else. Currently, PlatformaVR offers three titles; The Arrival – a saga of space voyagers at an abandoned futuristic station, The Poisoner – a detective story of two police officers investigating a series of mysterious murders, and MATCH – a high-adrenaline combat player-vs-player experience, with a fourth on the way.

PlatformaVR’s setup uses out-the-box hardware, using HTC Vive Pro headsets, Vive Trackers for full-body tracking, and an HP VR Backpack. Where it does differ from rivals like The VOID is gameplay time. When testing The VOID’s experiences like Ralph Breaks VRthey tend to be fairly short but sweet, around 10 – 15 mins in length. PlatformaVR, on the other hand, will keep you in VR for around an hour.

PlatformaVR

Chating to Kuzyuk, the CEO discussed how PlatformaVR came about and its plans for the future, namely looking at opening more flagship locations not only in the US but also Europe eventually as the market hopefully continues to grow. Check out the interview below, and for further coverage of PlatformaVR in the future, keep reading VRFocus.