Romance is in the air as Thumper and Rez Infinite Pair up for a 50% Discount Deal

Two of the best rhythm action videogames for virtual reality (VR) headsets, Thumper and Rez Infinite have decided to come together for a special Valentines week promotion offering big discounts on both via Steam.

Thumper Screenshot 1

Depending on whether you own one of the titles or neither there’s an offer for you. Both videogames are 50 percent off if you already own the other one. Don’t own either? Well buy them both together and you’ll get 50 percent off both. Because of the way the sale works the Steam listing for both titles shows the regular price, once they’re in your Steam shopping cart you see the discount applied.

As an additional bonus, for those that really like Thumper and Rez Infinite‘s soundtracks there’s a competition being run by iam8bit, offering a chance to win both the Rez Infinite and Thumper Collector’s Edition Vinyl Soundtracks. You’ll need to be quick, while the 50 percent sale lasts until 20th February, 8am PT, the competition will close in 40 hours.

Rez Infinite was an original launch window title for PlayStation VR, coming to PC headsets in August 2017. It was certainly worth the wait, with VRFocus awarding the videogame a full five-stars in our review, which said: “Rez Infinite is somewhat short, with an initial playthough possibly taking around a couple of hours, but you’ll enjoy (or should enjoy) every minute of it. So much so you’ll probably keep replaying it, improving your score, evolving your character and just taking in the whole spectacle.”

Rez Infinite AreaX 02

Thumper has been out since late 2016, so there’s a good chance a lot of players may already own it. Created by developer Drool, the videogame puts players in control of a exceedingly fast beetle that flies down a cosmic shoot bombarded with musical obstacles that can be overcome with rhythm-obeying commands.”

For the latest VR deals and offers, keep reading VRFocus.

Get 50% Off ‘Rez Infinite’ and ‘Thumper’ on Steam This Week

If you own either Rez Infinite (2016) or Thumper (2016), it might just be music to your ears this Valentine’s Day. From now until February 20th, you can get either (or both) VR games for 50% off on Steam. Here’s how:

If you already have Rez Infinite or Thumper on Steam, just add the missing game to your cart and it will automatically update to 50% off. If you don’t own either, you can also get both for 50% off too. Rez Infinite normally sells for $25, and Thumper for $20, which with the sale puts the total at $22.48.

The sale lasts until Tuesday, February 20th at 8am PST (your local time).

As a VR take on the classic rail shooter Rez (2001), Rez Infinite originally launched on PSVR back in 2016 from Japanese production studios Monstars Inc. Since launching on Steam last summer for Rift and Vive, the game has garnered a 91% rating among users, making it a ‘very positive’ reaction to the heart-thumping, psychedelic game. The game has since launched on the Daydream mobile VR platform.

While both games feature pulsing soundtracks, Drool’s Thumper (2016) is a beautifully weird rhythm game, sending you along your way as a strange little space beetle tasked with violently hitting all the right beat-inducing obstacles. Released back in October 2016, Thumper is currently rated 92% positive among Steam users, putting it too at a ‘very positive’ rating.

Until February 14th, you can also enter in a chance to win both Rez Infinite and Thumper collector’s edition vinyls from iam8bit.

The contest ends February 14th at 11:59PM PST (local time). Enter here.

The post Get 50% Off ‘Rez Infinite’ and ‘Thumper’ on Steam This Week appeared first on Road to VR.

The Best Oculus Rift Games of 2017

2017 has almost drawn to a close and what a year its been for Oculus Rift and Touch. Not only has the hardware seen a dramatic reduction in price but there’s been plenty of content for consumers to get their hands on. With so much available VRFocus has decided to compile a short list of the best ten videogames that you should own for the device.

The following list – which is in no particular order – aims to cover the the length and breadth of VR content for Oculus Rift. Whether you prefer a big AAA experience from a well known developer or enjoy sampling the delights of the indie community, there’s so many good videogames it can be hard to chose from, meaning there’s always something decent to play.

Oculus Touch

Lone Echo – Ready at Dawn

An Oculus Rift exclusive, Ready at Dawn’s Lone Echo was one of the biggest summer releases for the headset. Combining a compelling story alongside stunning visuals, the experience also managed to achieve what few had before it, comfortable movement in a zero-gravity environment.

Lone Echo screenshot 2

The Gallery: Episode 2 – Heart Of The Emberstone – Cloudhead Games

The long awaited second installment to The Gallery: Call of the Starseed, The Gallery: Episode 2 – Heart Of The Emberstone went even bigger and better than before, offering more puzzles, grander settings, and more insight into the sci-fi/fantasy story. 

The Gallery: Heart of the Emberstone screenshot 3

ARKTIKA.1 – 4A Games

4A Games, the studio behind the popular Metro 2033 series brought its knowledge of post-apocalyptic first-person shooters (FPS) to Oculus Rift this October. Featuring a point-to-point teleportation system rather than freeroaming, ARKTIKA.1 has AAA visuals combined with intense FPS action for on of the best story driven shooters on the platform.

Arktika.1 screenshot 1

Robo Recall – Epic Games

Launched near the start of the year, Epic Games’ first proper VR title was Robo Recall and should be part of every Oculus Rift owners library. Not only for the fact that it’s completely free, but also that it’s one of the most polished titles on the platform. Essentially a wave shooter, Robo Recall allows you to dash around beautifully rendered city streets, destroying an army of walking and flying robots, dispatching them however you wish. Choose the pistols for a more ranged approach, or just forget about guns and go in bare handed, ripping apart metallic bodies at whim.

Robo_Recall_OC3_A4_screenshot_05

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality – Owlchemy Labs

If there’s one title that bound to appear on these ‘Best of’ kind of lists then Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality will be a front runner. Created by Owlchemy Labs (Job Simulator: The 2050 Archivesalongside Adult Swim Games, this VR version of the popular cartoon series hit all the right notes with its combination of adult humour and immersive VR gameplay. While you don’t need to be a fan of the series it certainly doesn’t hurt to have seen a few episodes to get some of the awaiting in jokes.

Rick and Morty screenshot

The Mage’s Tale – inXile Entertainment

While PlayStation VR may have The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VROculus Rift owners don’t have to miss out on the fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) thanks to inXile Entertainment’s The Mage’s TaleYou play a wizards apprentice who must save their master from an evil force. The Mage’s Tale offers the ability to craft hundreds of spells, both defensive and offensive, helping you solve puzzles and vanquish foes with a wave of your hand.

The Mages Tale screenshot 2

REZ Infinite – Enhance Games

Originally exclusive to PlayStation VR, Enhance Games eventually decided to bring psychedelic shooter REZ Infinite to PC headsets this summer. Featuring reworked levels from the Dreamcast original, the studio also decided to embrace VR further by creating a dedicated level called Area X. While it may not fall into the parameters of many genres, REZ Infinite is one of those titles that once experienced in VR you couldn’t imagine any other way.

Rez Infinite AreaX 07

Skyworld – Vertigo Games

Featuring both single-player and multiplayer modes, Skyworld mixes turn-based strategy with real-time battles in which you play a king looking over their battle map. From here armies and buildings can be created to storm enemy strongholds, whether that’s in the campaign, skirmish mode or the online cross-platform multiplayer. A proper table-top experience,  Skyworld perfectly personifies ‘the easy to pickup but hard to master’ adage, seemingly unforgiving if your strategy isn’t right. Yet highly satisfying when it is.

Battlezone – Rebellion Studios

Another cross-platform multiplayer to make the list, Rebellion’s Battlezone has been made available for all three major headsets, and that’s a good thing as you wouldn’t want to miss out on this arcade-shooter. This is one of VRFocus’  favourite VR titles thanks to that balance between procedurally generated levels, customisation options and retro design nostalgia.

Battlezone image 1

Killing Floor: Incursion – Tripwire Interactive

Originally released as an exclusive for Oculus Rift, Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor: Incursion is a horror shooter based on the company’s Killing Floor franchise. Players can choose to go it alone or team up with a friend in co-op mode and explore several environments, such as dilapidated farmhouses to cold, creepy high-tech facilities, all of which contain hordes of horrific ‘Zed’ monsters, which players will need to terminate with extreme prejudice. The entire experience provides a visceral slice of VR action that’s not very festive but enjoyable none the less.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

 

The Best HTC Vive Games of 2017

The HTC Vive will soon be approaching the second anniversary of its consumer launch, and as such there’s been a practically literal flood of software made available for the head-mounted display (HMD) over the past 12 months. Sifting through Steam and Viveport to find the best videogames available can be a tiresome task, and so VRFocus has compiled a list of the movers-and-shakers from 2017.

The below selection of videogames, in no particular order, represents the best that the HTC Vive has to offer. From AAA releases to indie titles that managed to latch onto a unique facet of virtual reality (VR), offer a huge and diverse playscape or a compelling, immersive experience, the HTC Vive’s portfolio of videogames has never looked better.

HTC Vive mixed image

Fallout 4 VR – Bethesda Game Studios

While many have found the control systems and graphical quality of Fallout 4 VR questionable, there’s no denying that Bethesda Game Studios has delivered one of the most enduringly compelling virtual worlds. The wealth of exploration and interaction opportunities offered in Fallout 4 VR is second-to-none, including Bethesda Game Studios’ own The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, which launched on PlayStation VR in November 2017.

L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files – Rockstar Games

The most recently released title in this selection – and the last AAA VR release of 2017 – L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is the antithesis of Fallout 4 VR. While it’s true that L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files features a free-roaming open world, the substance in the videogame isn’t about your interaction therein, but rather with the characters you meet along the way. Not quite to the point of developing relationships, but arguably one of the greatest role-playing experiences as the player is cast as a detective and must interrogate both witnesses and suspects to solve each of the included seven cases.

 

DOOM VFR – Bethesda Game Studios

Bethesda Game Studios’ other big VR title for HTC Vive, DOOM VFR proposes the exact opposite first-person shooter (FPS) gameplay formula to Fallout 4 VR. While Fallout 4 VR is based entirely around its open world setting, DOOM VFR presents tight-knit corridors and a linear path to its gunplay. In accordance with that tighter construct however, DOOM VFR is arguably the best FPS yet seen in VR, holding strong against Epic Games’ Robo Recall.

 

Manifest 99 – Flight School Studio

A surprisingly successful experience that blurs the line between videogame and interactive film, the heavily stylistic approach to Manifest 99’s visual design is as intriguing as the story it tells. The player interacts with the world through variable teleportation options, each offering a unique perspective of the events unfolding. This results in an adventure that can be experienced at your own pace; Manifest 99 isn’t a film that continues when you look away, it’s a story in which you are a key character.

Bloody Zombies – Paw Print Games

Bloody Zombies broke out of the mould by forcing old school videogame mechanics headfirst into a brand new medium. A side-scrolling beat-‘em-up akin to Final Fight or Streets of Rage, Bloody Zombies offers four-player co-operative gameplay regardless of how many players own a VR HMD. The added advantage of playing a 2D videogame in VR is depth – both in terms of gameplay and into the world – as using a HMD allows players to cast their view around the landscape, finding additional paths or hidden secrets not visible on a 2D monitor.

Bloody Zombies VR gif

Blasters of the Universe – Secret Location

Wave shooters in VR are two-a-penny, so what makes Blasters of the Universe any different? Well, it has a storyline – an actual, genuine story with plot twists – behind the frantic shooting action. It also features a huge variety of customisable weaponry, noted as one of the videogame’s best features in VRFocusreview of Blasters of the Universe, which is based on an inventory built from unlockable components. Thus, there’s also a progression system accompanying that storyline. Blasters of the Universe isn’t just a highscore chase; it’s a videogame with genuine depth.

Blasters of the Universe

REZ Infinite – Enhance Games

REZ Infinite is simply the way REZ was always meant to be played. Enhance Games looked back at the much loved Dreamcast classic and decided that modern technology could bring something new to the experience; and they weren’t wrong. REZ Infinite redefines the rhythm-action genre and even – according to designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi – holds a key to what could be coming next from Enhance Games.

Rez Infinite AreaX 02

Cosmic Trip – Funktronic Labs

Funktronic Labs has taken the real-time strategy (RTS) genre and turned it on its head. Conducting all of the action from a first-person perspective, Cosmic Trip makes the player feel like less of a god and more a commander on the battlefield lining-up with the grunts and cannons. According to the RTS mainstays, players must balance the gathering of resources with the development of new aggression properties, and Cosmic Trip places you at the centre of all your survey.

cosmic trip 3

Battlezone – Rebellion Studios

Originally a PlayStation VR exclusive, Battlezone came to HTC Vive in good form. Arguably still one of the best action videogames in VR, UK-based Rebellion Studios positioned a steep learning curve next to an open campaign progression system, customisable inventory and four-player co-operative gameplay. Piloting a neon tank has never been more fun, and rarely has modern VR.

Battlezone screenshot

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality – Owlchemy Labs

Rick and Morty is an irreverent commentary on many of the ills of modern society and alternative culture. Adapting this to a videogame could’ve proven a difficult task – VR or otherwise – as there’s a depth in the humour that could be irreparably lost in trying to make a linear, passive experience more open to player interpretation. So who better to adapt the franchise than Owlchemy Labs, a studio which had already proven its ability to achieve the exact same goals with the hugely popular Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives? Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is a videogame that’s hard to define by genre, and instead argues to be defined by experience; and in that Owlchemy Labs has crafted a VR compelling slice of VR.

rick and morty 1

Rez Infinite: Kultspiel für Google Daydream erschienen

Der Polygon-Shooter Rez Infinite hat seit seinem ersten Auftritt auf der Dreamcast im Jahr 2001 kaum etwas von seiner Faszination verloren. Die VR-Umsetzung erschien mit einem zusätzlichen Modus zum Launch der PSVR und gilt trotz des Alters des Originals bis heute als eine der besten Erfahrungen. Nun sind Besitzer einer Daydream-Halterung von Google dran und dürfen sich auf eine einzigartige Reise in die abschaltwillige AI begeben.

Rez Infinite für Daydream ist da

Bereits im August kündigte der Entwickler Enhance Games an, dass das Kultspiel Rez Infinite noch dieses Jahr für die Google Daydream erscheint. Nun, viel ist vom Jahr nicht mehr übrig, aber das Studio hat Wort gehalten: Der VR-Titel ist ab sofort für Google Daydream-Halterung erhältlich. Der Download ist kostenlos, spielbar ist dann aber nur das erste Kapitel. Für 10 Euro lässt sich das ganze Spiel freischalten – ein Schnäppchen gegenüber den anderen Versionen, die zwischen 25 Euro auf Steam und 30 Euro für die PSVR kosten. Neben den fünf Original-Stages der Dreamcast-Version enthält die VR-Fassung auch die neue Area X, in der sich der Spieler frei bewegen kann.

In Rez Infinite seit ihr als Hacker unterwegs, um die künstliche Intelligenz davon abzuhalten, sich selbst abzuschalten. Das dem Maler Wassily Kandinsky gewidmete Spiel überzeugt vor allem durch die treibende Musik und die Symbiose aus Klängen und pulsierender Grafik. In Japan durften Besucher das Spiel in einem 4K-Dome live bewundern und mit dem VR-Spieler in die technoide Welt von Rez Infinite eintauchen. In Deutschland führten wir VR-Nerds ein ähnliches Experriment in Lübeck mit Lucid Trips durch und waren von der passiven Erfahrung ebenfalls recht angetan.

Der Beitrag Rez Infinite: Kultspiel für Google Daydream erschienen zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Second PlayStation VR Demo Disc Arrives, Full List Of Videogames Revealed

Yesterday we brought you news of the second PlayStation VR Demo Disc which would be available for PlayStation VR users as of today. At the time we weren’t sure what exactly we would get by way of videogame titles baring an announcement from developers Polyarc confirming that virtual reality (VR) action platformer Moss would be amongst the titles on offer. (Much to the delight of the VRFocus team.)

The listings for PlayStation VR sampler has now been revealed and includes titles from across the genre spectrum.  The full list of titles joining Moss can be found below.

Battlezone by Rebellion

A regular on VRFocus’ lists relating to the best VR videogame experiences out there, the tank-based shooter takes the series classic roots and updates them for the virtual stage. Battlezone gained a 5-star review on VRFocus, where it was described as “intense and addictive”.

Battlezone image

Dino Frontier by Uber Entertainment.

Cowboys meet Jurassic Park by way of Sim City, Dino Frontier lets you capture and tame dinosaurs in the Wild West to help build and manage a virtual town.

EVE: Valkyrie by CCP Games

CCP Games might be packing up the big top as far as their involvement in VR is concerned but that doesn’t stop EVE: Valkyire continuing to be one of the best VR experiences out there, and now VR and non-VR players can enjoy dogfighting in spaceships together.

EVE Valkyrie_wormholetubelaunch
Fantastic Contraption by Radial Games

Another title commonly amongst those VRFocus recommends: “Easy to begin with, Fantastic Contraption lets you get accustomed to the intricacies of what does what before throwing the real challenges at you. And there’s a lot, the title features 50 levels to get your head around.”

Job Simulator by Owlchemy Labs

A multi-award winning videogame, Job Simulator was so good Google brought developers Owlchemy Labs into the company. The title continues to get development and content as well, with the recently revealed ‘Infinite Overtime’ update.

Job Simulator - Twitch Chat

Raw Data by Survios

A highly popular virtual reality (VR) shooter, Raw Data sees players equipped with both firearms and a katana, and have the simple object of taking out the enemies before they themselves are overcome.

Rez Infinite by Enhance Games

Another PlayStation VR title that received a full five stars in its review, Rez Infinite is the spiritual successor to the original Rez, which first appeared on SEGA’s Dreamcast console.

Rez Infinite 12

StarBlood Arena by Whitemoon Dreams

The only title on the listing specifically requiring additional downloading, a demo of Starblood Arena was initially made available back in AugustStarblood Arena allows the player to take control of one of nine available ships, each with its unique pilot, features and weapon loadout. Allowing would-be players the combination that suits their preferred style of play.

StarBlood Arena new screenshot

Star Child by GameTrust

One of a crop of PlayStation VR titles to receive a share of the spotlight recently during Sony’s press event at Paris Games Week, which included the reveal of a brand new trailer. Star Child is takes place on an alien world full of fantastical Martian creatures and creations in a homage to platformers of the 90s while also being something entirely new.

The Persistence by Firesprite

Originally revealed back in March this year, The Persistance comes from the developers behind The Playroom VR. Awaking from cryosleep, it’s up the players to kill the undead and take back control of the ship before it plunges into a nearby black hole.

The Persistence screenshotThumper by Drool

The self-described “rhythm violence” videogame was announced in March last year and by the time it hit the show floor at 2016’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) it had already made an impact. Drool said in their announcement that Thumper was “unlike anything you’ve seen, played or heard – a cocktail of kinetic action and aggressive acoustics. It’s the kind of game that inhales you, spits you out and leaves you yearning for more.” And they certainly aren’t exaggerating.

Tiny Trax by FuturLab

Slot car racing get a new twist. Tiny Trax features a drifting/boost-recharge mechanic, alongside lane switching and epic jumps across twelve tracks that’ll take players to tropical islands, volcanoes, ice caves and outer-space. It’s developer, Brighton-based studio FuturLab, recently revealed a new PlayStation VR title in Mini-Mech Mayhem.

Tiny Trax screenshot

The PlayStation VR Demo Disc 2 is now available on the PlayStation Store, it requires 15.2GB of space and several titles within it – Raw Data, Rez Infinite, Job Simulator, Dino Frontier and Fantastic Contraption – do require PS Move Controllers in order to play them.

VRFocus will bring you more details on developments with the PlayStation VR very soon.

Competition: Win A Copy Of Rez Infinite With VRFocus & Enhance Games

What can you say about Rez Infinite that hasn’t already been said? That’s it’s fantastic? Well, we already said that in our review of the title that awarded it a full five stars. Perhaps that it’s fun? If interviews alone can tell you anything, our one with Tetsuya Mizuguchi is perhaps our favourite ever.

Rez Infinite is the spiritual successor to the original Rez, which first appeared on SEGA’s Dreamcast console. Just like its 2000’s predecessor Rez Infinite is a eclectic mix of lights, neon, sound and music where the player must requiring players to shoot enemies in time with the music to rack up some big scores.

Rez Infinite 10We’ve teamed up with the game’s publisher Enhance Games to offer you the chance to win one of 18 codes for the videogame. We’ve six steam codes available for PC users, another six for PlayStation 4 owners with a European account and a final six for PlayStation 4 users who access the American PlayStation Store.

What do you have to do to enter? Well you get a vote for every one of the following actions below: Visiting our Facebook and Google+ pages (where you should probably like/follow us to stay up to date on everything VR and AR related) or be a follow of us on Twitter. You can also get an entry for visiting the Enhance Games Facebook page, and if you become a follower of them on Twitter we’ll give you not just one entry but a bonus one as well.

The competition is open until the end of next Friday, October 27th (UK time) and is open worldwide – however, please make sure if you are entering for a PlayStation 4 code you hold the appropriate regional account. Winenrs will be drawn the week after. Best of luck to all!

Win One of 6 PC Codes For REZ Infinite

Win One of 6 PS4 Codes For REZ Infinite (EU ONLY)

Win One of 6 PS4 Codes For REZ Infinite (US ONLY)

REZ Infinite PC Version Gets Update

REZ Infinite has received a great deal of praise from critics and the general player base. The title is not without its flaws, however, but the developers have been addressing one of the issues experienced by virtual reality (VR) users.

The follow-up to Dreamcast classic REZ has been met with much enthusiasm, particularly once it was ported to PC for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift users. Some users commented on Reddit to say that classic Areas 1-5 lacked the depth offered by the more VR-focussed ‘Area X’.

The development team have responded to this criticism by adding a new setting in the options menu. The ‘3D Depth’ setting allows users to boost the 3D effect of the graphics in the classic areas. There are three options available, Standard being the default, with Increased and Max both offering boosted depth.

The announcement was welcomed by the Reddit community, some who said that the community engagement from the development team had encouraged them to buy REZ Infinite.

REZ franchise creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi recently hinted that REZ Infinite’s Area X was a hint at what was coming next for the REZ franchise, and said he was waiting for new technology to develop and offer new avenues to explore.

“We have many plans and talking about REZ Infinite; ‘Area X’ is like a prologue to the next future REZ, and so this is just the beginning. So I’m thinking what is the next REZ experience,” stated Mizuguchi in an interview with VRFocus at Gamescom, Cologne. “I’m waiting for the new technology.”

VRFocus will bring you further news on REZ once it becomes available.

The Creator of Rez: Infinite On The Future Of Virtual Reality & The Entertainment Industry

Big fans of the Rez, the musical rail shooter that was released on the Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 will be a big fan of Rez: Infinite. Remastered and made specifically for virtual reality (VR), it was ultimately what Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the creator of the videogame and CEO of Enhance Games, dreamed of when he imagined it in his head. Rez: Infinite received a score of 89 on Metacritic for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR, with the newly released version on PC for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift scoring 91. VRFocus spoke to Mizuguchi about the success of Rez: Infinite and what the future holds for VR.

Rez: Infinite is a shooter, with the objective of saving the world by shooting viruses in cyberspace. The game is a surreal synergy between audio and imagery, completely on-rails as you watch your avatar flying through cyber particles in black space. The title supports HTC Vive motion controllers, Oculus Touch, Oculus Remote and a normal PC gamepad. With the help of these controllers you shoot at enemies as they come towards you and as you take them down, they make a beautiful choreographed sound with the music surrounding around you. Mizuguchi describes it as visually seeing the music. Mizuguchi is very keen on the concept of Synethesia, with Enhance Games developing a Synethesia Suit, with a new version in development.

According to Mizuguchi the order of the videogames is 1) Rez, 2) Child of Eden, whilst 3) is an upcoming videogame, which is hinted at in Area X of Rez: Infinite. Mitzuguchi believes that the mixing of interactivity of VR, sound and visuals is creating a new form of storytelling in gaming but in the entertainment industry as well. He explains that with every new technology, a new idea or influence arises. The introduction of Microsoft Kinect title Child of Eden, the spiritual sequel to Rez whilst VR led to the making of Rez: Infinite. Mizuguchi is now waiting for newer technology to bring out the next big videogame, but says he needs time, money and a great time to put together.

He believes that in 10 years we will have head-mounted displays (HMD) with 8K for each eye, and this will be the moment where seeing through a HMD would almost be identical to real-life. He thinks VR is just the beginning, it will merge with augmented reality and mixed reality as well as newer technologies to create a new medium. Mizuguchi is extremely excited when thinking about the future. He believes that videogame developers who are looking to make future videogames or experiences should look at mixing sound with haptics and sound to create the next generation of storytelling to create new experiences.

To find out more watch our very active interview below.

REZ Infinite’s ‘Area X’ is a Hint of What’s Coming Next

REZ Infinite made its virtual reality (VR) debut last year on PlayStation VR, and subsequently arrived on PC head-mounted displays (HMDs), the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, earlier this month. With the videogame having been met with a great deal of critical acclaim Enhance Games would be foolish to not consider delivering more REZ to such a keen audience, and franchise creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi is already hinting at what’s coming next.

Rez Infinite AreaX 02“We have many plans and talking about REZ Infinite; ‘Area X’ is like a prologue to the next future REZ, and so this is just the beginning. So I’m thinking what is the next REZ experience,” stated Mizuguchi in an interview with VRFocus at Gamescom, Cologne. “I’m waiting for the new technology.”

When questioned about what technology this might be, Mizuguchi seemed particularly interested in the possibility of mixed reality (MR) devices.

“Maybe yes, maybe yes. But the new technology gives the influence to our ideas and inspiration. When we got [Xbox] Kinect a few years ago, [we said] okay let’s make a conductor experience with synesthesia, so we decided to make Child of Eden with Ubisoft.

“PSP –  this is a new technology 15 years ago – ideas like Lumines; easy puzzle game with music. All the time it’s like that. VR is like this (pointing to REZ Infinite).”

Referring back to Child of Eden, Mizuguchi stated that the timeline for REZ offers yet more hints as to what his plans for the future of the franchise might be.

Child of EdenChild of Eden is like a spiritual sequel to REZ; so REZ, Child of Eden, what is next? So if you play ‘Area X’ you can feel something new hint to the next one.”

Mizuguchi goes on to discuss the future of VR, his hopes for improving hardware but also what the future may contain for other emerging mediums.

“Maybe VR is just the beginning? Merging into MR and AR and very exciting thinking about the future.”

REZ Infinite is available now for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest VR titles from Enhance Games, including the full interview with Mizuguchi-san coming soon.