Win big at the PokerStars Virtual Reality Poker Tour

Just under a year ago Lucky VR launched PokerStars VR for multiple virtual reality (VR) headsets including Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. This month sees the start of the first PokerStars Virtual Reality Poker Tour (VRPT) to really test those skills, with big buyins and even bigger prizes at the end. 

PokerStars VR

A free to play event open to all PokerStars players with a VR account, it’s split across three months with the first part starting at the end of September:

  • Friday, September 27: Mini Main Event, a 1 million chip buy-in with a 60 million guarantee
  • Saturday, September 28: Main Event, a 5 million chip buy-in with a 300 million chip guarantee
  • Sunday, September 29: Ultra High roller, a 25 million chip buy-in with a 200 million chip guarantee

Then there will be VRPT Macau in October and then a special VRPT event at the end on November with more details to be announced.

Spaces are limited, to enter head to the PokerStars VR Discord channel. All VR entrants will receive a swag bag of digital goodies for their avatar. Should you win one of the events you’ll also get a coveted PokerStars VRPT bracelet while the received points go towards the Player of the Year leader board.

PokerStars VR

Additionally, PokerStars is looking for its first-ever PokerStars VR Ambassador, described as: “A global, galactic, roving ambassador in a headset, making history as the first person ever to occupy such a role.”

The core videogame features the ability to handle your chips and cards for added realism,  Sit & Go tournaments with weekly leader boards, interactive props and toys for some added table fun, private tables to challenge your friends, the ability to boost your bankroll with in-game chip purchases and seven locations including Macau 2050; The Showdown Saloon, The Monte-Carlo Yacht and The Galaxy Space Station.

PokerStars VR is free to download of Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets. VRFocus will continue its coverage of PokerStars VRreporting back with the latest updates.

Poker VR Finally Plays Its Hand On Oculus Quest Soon

Another poker game is on its way to Oculus Quest. This time its Poker VR.

Developer Mega Particle took to Reddit to confirm its take on the card game will hit the headset ‘soon’. We don’t have a more specific date than that, but hopefully that at least means before the end of the year. Shortly after the announcement, the game’s listing went live over on the Oculus Store, too. The trailer the team put together for the announcement is definitely worth a watch.

As you can see, Poker VR lets you build an avatar and then hit the floor to play some cards. Rooms consist of multiple tables. Mega Particle says this version of the game was built from the ground up for the platform.

The game’s been out on the Oculus Rift, Gear VR and Oculus Go for some time. Mega Particle confirmed to me that the Quest version won’t support cross-play at launch but it should come for Quest and PC players later down the road. Progression across all platforms will carry over, however. It’s a free download so no need to worry about cross-buy, but there are in-game purchases.

Poker VR has always a more experimental take on poker. Not in the way the game’s played but instead the technology Mega Particule supports it with. Back in 2017, for example, we showcased the game running on Gear VR and inside AR on an iPhone at the same time.

Of course, this isn’t Quest’s first poker game. The headset launched with Pokerstars VR back in May. Plenty of choice for VR cards fans out there, then.

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Coming to Oculus Quest: PokerStars VR, Ballista & National Geographic Explore VR

It’s the week of the Facebook Developers Conference (F8) and hopefully, tomorrow should see some exciting virtual reality (VR) announcements being made. Expectations are that Oculus Quest may finally get its ‘Spring 2019’ release date. The company has been building expectations via its #QuestCountdown, with several new apps and videogames now confirmed for the standalone headset.

Ballista header

When it comes to videogames, newly revealed is Ballista by High Voltage Software (Dragon Front). The experience puts players in control of a giant sling to destroy castles. With a fantasy theme involving goblins and a magic mirror, players also have use of a special unicorn wand to destroy their foes.

“With Quest, we’re able to better provide a full range of motion to let people move around their entire play area and impact gameplay,” says High Voltage Producer Keith Hladik in a statement. “Whether it’s defending your creatures from attack or walking around to analyze a castle, the game provides an immersive experience.”

And for those that like to gamble, PokerStars VR will be an Oculus Quest launch title. “PokerStars VR givers players the atmosphere and social interaction you get when playing in an actual poker room,” says LuckyVR Founder Jeffrey Lande. “With VR technology, we can deliver players the immersive feeling you might not get on other platforms. Oculus Quest takes that one step further in terms of a new level of accessibility. Being able to set up independently means players have more freedom to play how they want and whenever they want.”

VR is great for exploring the natural world and you’ll be able to do that this Spring with National Geographic Explore VR. A collaboration between National Geographic, Force Field VR and Oculus, the 30-minute experience challenges you to find a lost penguin colony hidden in the frozen wilderness of Antartica.

“National Geographic continues to experiment in the immersive storytelling space,” says Senior Director of Immersive Experiences at National Geographic, Jenna Pirog in a statement. “We are using the latest visual technology to spark curiosity about our world and enable people to better understand it.”

Further adventures will be added to the app in the coming months, such as archaeological expeditions to sites of important cultural heritage. As that happens, VRFocus will keep you updated.

Oculus Quest: Ballista, Rec Room, VRChat und weitere soziale VR-Erfahrungen bestätigt

Der #QuestCountdown geht weiter und eröffnet uns, wie jede Woche, weitere Einblicke auf die kommenden Launchtitel der autarken VR-Brille. Dieses Mal stehen die Social Games im Fokus der Entwickler. Mit Ballista, Rec Room, VRChat, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, VR Kartz: Sprint und PokerStars VR sollen die Spieler eine Möglichkeit zur Kommunikation und Interaktion miteinander erhalten, egal ob als lokales Partyspiel oder über das Internet.

Oculus Quest – Ballista, Rec Room, VRChat und weitere Launchtitle vorgestellt

Die Anzahl der vorgestellten Release-Titel für die Oculus Quest wächst jede Woche unter dem #QuestCountdown weiter. Mit dem dieswöchigen Fokus auf Social Games stehen vorallem Titel mit Multiplayer-Aspekt im Vordergrund der Devs.

Ballista

Oculus-Quest-Ballista

Der VR-Titel Ballista wurde von High Voltage Software entwickelt. Innerhalb der VR-Erfahrung tauchen die Spieler in die Rolle eines Helden ein, welcher mit einem magischen Spiegel und einer Schleuder bewaffnet, die Gefahren gegen das Königreich abwehrt.

Keith Hladik, Producer von High Voltage Software, spricht über die immersiven Möglichkeiten, welche die neue VR-Brille offenbart:

Mit der Quest sind wir in der Lage, vollständige Bewegungsfreiheit zu gewährleisten, sodass sich die Spieler frei innerhalb ihres Spielfeldes bewegen und dadurch das Gameplay beeinflussen können. Egal, ob es darum geht, deine Kreaturen vor Angriffen zu beschützen, frei herumzulaufen oder um eine Burg zu analysieren, das Spiel bietet eine durchgängig immersive Erfahrung.”

Rec Room

Rec Room Virtual Reality

Entwicklerstudio Against Gravity kündigte die Portierung der sozialen VR-Erfahrung bereits im Vorfeld für die Oculus Quest an. Nun wurde die VR-App mit den zahlreichen Möglichkeiten innerhalb der virtuellen Gefilde offiziell bestätigt.

Nick Fajit, CEO und Co-Gründer von Against Gravity, findet optimistische Worte zum Release:

Egal, ob man sich mit Freunden trifft, Inspirationen für einen neuen Raum sucht oder ein neues Spiel innerhalb von Rec Room ausprobieren möchte, dank der kabellosen VR kann man sofort loslegen. Der direkte Start und die Bewegungsfreiheit machen es einfacher denn je, Rec Room zu spielen.”

VRChat

VRChat-HTC-Vive-SteamVR

Eine ebenfalls sehr beliebte soziale VR-Erfahrung ist VRChat. In Form eines Avatars tauchen die Spieler in die virtuelle Umwelt ein, um gemeinsame Zeit zu verbringen.

So verweist auch Graham Gaylor, CEO und Co-Gründer von VRChat auf die positiven Vorteile der Quest:

Die Oculus Quest ist der einfachste Weg, um von überall in das VRChat-Universum einzusteigen – ohne externe Tracker oder ein spezielles Setup. Kabelloses VR ist eine absolute Freude und fördert die soziale Immersion erheblich.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Ein spaßiger Klassiker der VR-Spieleszene ist Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Das Social Game wird kooperativ gespielt, um durch Kommandos des einen Spielers sowie die Ausführungen des anderen Spielers eine explosive Bombe zu entschärfen. Fehlkommunikation und entsprechende Lachanfälle mitinbegriffen.

Ben Kane, Co-Gründer von Steel Crate Games, geht kurz auf den Entstehungsprozess des VR-Titels ein:

VR ist ein spannendes Medium. Es gibt zahlreiche Möglichkeiten für Game Designs, welche sich in unvorstellbarer Art präsentieren. Man glaubt es nicht, bis man es ausprobiert hat. Nach diesem Prinzip entstand Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes! Wir wurden durch die Leute auf dem Global Game Jam inspiriert, die zum ersten Mal VR erlebten. Dabei haben wir festgestellt, dass die umstehenden Zuschauer oft nichts zu tun haben, also haben wir ein Spiel entwickelt, dass sich auf die externen Spieler stützt.”

PokerStars VR

PokerStarsVR-Oculus-Rift-HTC-Vive-Steam-Viveport

Entwicklerstudio LuckyVR bringt die VR-Pokererfahrung PokerStars VR ebenfalls auf die kommende Oculus Quest. So soll das immersive Spielgefühl am Pokertisch zu spielen überall vermittelt werden. Ebenfalls praktisch ist die Möglichkeit, unabhängig von einem PC-Setup überall für eine schnelle Runde einzusteigen.

VR Kartz: Sprint

Der Racer VR Kartz: Sprint bringt das klassische Arcade-Racing auf die Quest. Mit reichlich Power-ups, verschiedenen Waffen und weiteren Gadgets soll so das Flair der 90er Jahre erzeugt werden. Dank einfachem Einstieg und dem Herumreichen der autarken VR-Brille soll der Titel zudem als Partyspiel fungieren.

Die Oculus Quest soll voraussichtlich am 30. April auf der kommenden F8 von Facebook veröffentlicht werden.

(Quelle: Oculus Blog)

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PokerStars VR Is Coming To Oculus Quest

PokerstarsVR

If you’re a Poker fan we have good news for you- PokerStars VR is coming to the upcoming Oculus Quest $399 standalone VR headset.

The non-VR PokerStars is the largest online real-money Poker platform in the world, with around two thirds market share. The company worked with developer Lucky VR to launch a virtual reality version of the platform. It was released in November on the Oculus Rift and SteamVR platforms. It’s free to play, but you buy chips with real money.

Facebook shared this short clip of PokerStars VR running on Quest:

The graphics look to be noticeably downgraded compared to PC, particularly the lighting. That’s because Quest uses a mobile processor, making it significantly less powerful than a gaming PC. The actual gameplay however is identical, and Quest players play alongside PC VR players.

Poker is a natural fit for virtual reality due to the social nature of the game. While VR headsets don’t track expressions yet, being able to see head and hand movements and hearing opponents with positional audio is a big step up from playing on a monitor. The game uses the Oculus Avatars system to achieve this.

PokerStars VR offers five different environments, from China in the year 2050 to a yacht to a wild west saloon. You can order drinks, throw food, smoke a cigar, or interact with other similar novelty items. On both Oculus Store and Steam the game is highly reviewed, so it seems Lucky VR know what they’re doing.

The developer claims that Quest opens up “new level of accessibility” for the game- “Being able to set up independently means players have more freedom to play how they want and whenever they want.”

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PokerStars VR Adds Sit & Go Tournaments In Latest Update

When it comes to gambling, Poker almost rules the roost as the high stakes winner takes all past time that has made some people rich, and a lot more broke. Yet like any other card game, it can be enjoyed responsibly and happens to be great fun to play, which is why there are a number of virtual reality (VR) titles dedicated to the game. For those who want to spend real money then PokerStars VR is one of the better-known titles. And this week saw a new update launch adding several new features.

PokerStars VR update

The biggest requested inclusion by fans was Sit & Go tournaments which is a one table tournament where you have a set number of chips. The blinds continually increase as the game whittles down to one player. There are four buy-in levels (5k, 20k, 100k, and 1M) and three-speed levels (hyper, turbo, and regular). Each cash and Sit & Go stake will now have a dedicated leaderboard with its own prizes and custom tiered ring to be won, from bronze to platinum depending on the stake, meaning that more are up for grabs.

Developer Lucky VR has also included Oculus’ new Expressive Avatars, up the stakes of Wyatt’s Game to a new Super High Roller $5k/$10k game, and enabled players to mute all other players’ props so they’re not disturbed or distracted and can play on in peace. The privacy bubble also allows players to keep a hold of their props so that no one else can touch any items in their personal space.

PokerStars VR

PokerStars VR is free-to-play on Steam and Oculus Store, with players gaining free chips on joining and 3 wheel spins per day. They also now have the option to buy extra bankroll if they want to. To celebrate the launch, there will be a limited-time sale, where double the usual number of chips can be purchased e.g. for $1.99 USD players will receive 20,000 rather than the usual 10,000. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

PokerStarsVR_Beta 0.10.0.0 Changelog:

Bug fixes
  • Fixed chips become unselectable and game stops progressing when use voice command while holding chips.
  • Fixed Multiple issues causing pot not paying out.
  • Fixed lobby wheel spin stopping at random intervals.
  • Fixed default card texture sometimes appearing as Ace of Clubs.
  • Fixed bet stage sometimes behaving as if there is an invisible stack.
  • Fixed Card Holo Helpers not cleaning up.
  • Fixed player being able to fold their own cards using the social menu friends buttons.
  • Fixed main pot shows as side pot and side pot shows as main pot when there are multiple side pots.
  • Fixed three of a kind announced as high card.
  • Fixed Hole cards not being obfuscated when intentionally flipped in
    Heads up situation
    During showdown
  • Various UI optimizations and fixes.
Features and Changes
  • Sit & Go Tournaments
  • Expressive Avatars Integration
  • Massive UI expansion, new privacy options, overhauled hosting options for cash games and SNG, new browser options.
  • Reduced time between hands
  • Added New store section for purchasing chips.
  • Added 24 new avatar presets.
  • Added confirmation to player reporting process.
  • Added Privacy Zone option.
  • Added Mute all props option.
  • 5% rake applies to cash games / 10% entry fee to Sit & Gos.
  • Went from 1 global leaderboard to 9 leaderboards, each based on gametype and stakes.
  • Added 45 new leaderboard rings. 5 tiers for each new leaderboard.
  • Added $100k and $500k chip values.
  • Optimized poker chips to help performance.
  • Kicked up the stakes of Wyatt’s Game to a new Super High Roller $5k/$10k game.
  • Added new Super High Roller Red Wyatt’s Game hat unlockable after 100 hands.
  • $500/$1000 cash games are now available to the public to create.
  • Added New Tournament Chips.
  • Apparel store is now available while in the lobby

PokerStars VR: Kostenlose Multiplayer-Erfahrung für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive

PokerStars veröffentlichte kürzlich die neue soziale VR-Erfahrung PokerStars VR für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive im Early Access auf Steam, im Oculus Store sowie im Viveport.

PokerStars VR – Multiplayer-Erfahrung für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive

In PokerStars VR dürfen die Spieler und Spielerinnen am virtuellen Pokertisch Platz nehmen und ihr Pokerface gegen die weltweite Community unter Beweis stellen. Dabei wird jedoch nicht um Echtgeld, sondern um Chips gespielt.

Die Multiplayer-Erfahrung wurde in Kooperation mit Entwicklerstudio Lucky VR entwickelt, damit Pokerfreunde auch ohne Geldeinsatz innerhalb der virtuellen Umgebung ihrem liebsten Hobby nachkommen können. Die Spiele finden in fünf unterschiedlichen Umgebungen statt.

https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/886250/ss_6abbaf89dfaf7a5b8bc184bd424d261fa65508ec.jpg?t=1541696243

Dabei steht neben Spielspaß vor allem die Interaktion und Kommunikation mit den Mitspielern im Vordergrund. In Kontakt zueinander tretet ihr per Sprachkommandos oder einem Chat. Zusätzlich könnt ihr mit speziellen Gadgets und Spielzeugen die Stimmung aufheitern.

https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/886250/ss_a731ae372d7f74539688e88ba98c5938b9393a06.jpg?t=1541696243

Prinzipiell wird jedoch wert auf eine authentische Pokererfahrung gelegt. Entsprechend werden eure Handbewegungen durch die Motion Controller simuliert und auch der Spieltisch ist nach realistischen Bedingungen aufgesetzt. So findet man sämtliche relevanten sowie subtilen Informationen auf dem Tisch und im Verhalten der Mitspieler.

Manuel Bevand, Creative Manager von PokerStars, beschreibt dies folgendermaßen:

“Es gibt viele subtile Interaktionen zwischen den Spielern und ihrer Umgebung. So haben wir beispielsweise das Informationsanzeigesystem des Spiels so aufgebaut, dass die Spieler sich am Tisch umsehen müssen, um Informationen über Wetten, Gegner und so weiter zu erhalten. Dadurch erhalten aufmerksame Spieler einen großen Vorteil bei der Ermittlung der Pläne ihrer Gegner. Wir geben den Spieler und Spielerinnen die Möglichkeit, ihren Gegnern eine Karte zu zeigen und darauf entsprechend zu reagieren. Dinge, die in einem echten Pokerspiel ebenso passieren können, funktionieren hier genauso. Dazu zählt das doppelte Überprüfen eines Flushs oder der Blick auf die Chips beim Wechsel zwischen Flop zur Big Bet, u. v. m.”

PokerStars VR ist kostenlos für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive auf Steam, im Oculus Store sowie im Viveport erhältlich.

(Quellen: Road to VR | Oculus Blog | Video: Oculus YouTube)

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‘PokerStars VR’ Brings Multiplayer Freeplay Poker to Rift & Vive

PokerStars, the online gambling site, today released a social VR app that lets Oculus Rift and HTC Vive users play poker for free.

Dubbed PokerStars VR, the online multiplayer game is free and now available in Early Access on Steam, the Oculus Store, and Viveport.

Unlike its classic 2D interface, PokerStars VR doesn’t allow real world betting, as users can only play with free chips—an important stipulation for distribution on the platforms mentioned above.

Image courtesy PokerStars, Lucky VR

Developed in collaboration with Lucky VR, PokerStars VR focuses on fun gameplay, interactivity and social engagement by allowing users to chat with other players, use voice commands, stream via Twitch, and play with props such as card protectors, flare guns, fireworks, pet ducks and donkeys, etc.

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Using motion controllers, users can handle chips and cards with realistic physics, something PokerStars says works “just like at a live table.”

The game hosts a number of environments including Macau 2050, The Macau Suite, The Showdown Saloon, Monte-Carlo Yacht, and The Void.

Image courtesy PokerStars, Lucky VR

Speaking in an Oculus blogpost, PokerStars Creative Manager Manuel Bevand says the key difference in PokerStars VR and other VR poker games is “how authentic the poker experience feels. Everything from cards and chips to props (fun objects players can toy with), behaves exactly as a poker player would expect. Poker is a very social game, and we’re working hard to make sure player interactions feel natural and comfortable. We’re going all in on props and interactive environments so there’s always something to do.”

PokerStars VR is said to let users go head-to-head against some of the top poker players in the world with ‘PokerStars Ambassadors’ at the tables. Users will also get a chance to take part in special promotions, partnerships, and events in the future.

The post ‘PokerStars VR’ Brings Multiplayer Freeplay Poker to Rift & Vive appeared first on Road to VR.

PokerStars Plans to Bring Online Gambling to VR Headsets

There are a number of casino style experiences such as Poker VR or Social Club VR that allow you to play one of the worlds most popular card games Poker. Yet these are quite casual titles. What happens when one of the world’s largest online poker sites, PokerStars, decides to try its hand at virtual reality (VR)? That’ll soon become apparent as PokerStars VR is currently in closed beta.

PokerStars VR

PokerStars VR will be a free-to-play, authentic social poker experience designed for both new and seasoned players alike. To begin with PokerStars VR will offer the No-Limit Hold’em version of poker set in five exotic settings: Macau 2050, The Macau Suite, The Showdown Saloon, Monte-Carlo Yacht, and The Void.

Features will include intuitive controls so players can handle chips and cards just as in the real world, the ability to study opponents and pick up their tells, chat to one another in real time, whilst keeping the tables fun with a host of interactive props.

Currently being tested using both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets, players will also find integrated Twitch broadcasting, video streaming and social media integration on Oculus Rift for those who wish to play and stream. There will be  leaderboards and private tables, stats to study – for the more serious poker players – and the ability to earn free chips to use at the tables by spinning a virtual wheel every day.

PokerStars VR

“PokerStars VR is a chance for us to take this amazing technology and bring something totally unique to poker players,” said Severin Rasset, Director of Poker Innovation and Operations at PokerStars in a statement. “Poker is about interaction. It’s been bringing people together for well over a century. We’re really excited to invest in the next generation of the game and to give players the opportunity to meet in a brand new virtual reality dimension.”

Developed in collaboration with Lucky VR, currently there’s no specific launch date for PokerStars VR. When there is, VRFocus will let you know.