Category: Rhythm of the Universe

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Rhythm Of The Universe: Ionia Is A VR Fantasy Game coming To PC In Q4 2020

The Rhythm of the Universe series was announced back in January 2019, with an aim to release the first episode later that year. While the development team didn’t make that release window, the first episode, IONIA, now has a revised release for PC VR headsets in Q4 this year.

We were really impressed by the announcement trailer for Rhythm of the Universe last year. The footage featured some stunning visuals and presented some amazing landscapes and creatures. Now, a new trailer for the first episode, IONIA, has been released this week and it looks equally stunning. The developers previously stated that real music theory would play a big part as a game mechanic, and you can begin to see some of that in the new trailer. There are various instruments and musical elements at play, alongside more truly breathtaking visuals.

Here’s a few more story details about the episode, from ROTU Entertainment:

Step into Ionia, a lush and richly detailed forest teeming with instrument-inspired flora, fauna and mysterious ruins. Traverse the landscape alongside Allegra, a vivacious young girl, as she seeks to heal the forest and its inhabitants. Solve puzzles with music-based magic as her brother Allegro to unlock the path forward. Head deeper into the Ionian forest to save the Harpa, a mythical being facing terrible danger it cannot overcome alone.

According to ROTU, the game will also raise environmental awareness and teach the players about the importance of animal habitat rehabilitation. To that end, two percent of all the proceeds from IONIA will go to the environmental non-profit organization Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors.

Rhythm of the Universe: IONIA will launch in Q4 this year for $9.99 for PC VR, including Valve Index, Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive, Vive Pro, HP Reverb G2 and Windows MR headsets, plus Oculus Quest via Link. The developers did originally announce a native Quest release, but there’s no word on whether that is still on the cards this year and the Q4 date is for PC VR headsets only.

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E3 2019 Interview: Get in the Groove With Rhythm of the Universe

One of the great things about the virtual reality (VR) industry is the experimentation being employed by developers and hardware manufacturer’s alike. There always seems to be something interesting being thought up, as enthusiasts of VR better understand what it can do and the boundaries which can be pushed. ROTU Entertainment is a company currently creating a rather abstract title for home and location-based entertainment (LBE) use called Rhythm of the Universe (ROTU). Attending the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019 for the first time, VRFocus got an update on the progress of the project.

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Rhythm of the Universe only came to VRFocus’ attention back in January when the studio announced the successful completion of a financing round as well as debuting a teaser trailer. The videogame will be episodic, with seven instalments planned in total. The storyline and gameplay mix some curious variables, with music, history, and mythology the three main factors.

During E3 2019, ROTU Entertainment showcased a demo called Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia featuring two heroes, Allegra and Allegro, siblings from the land of Ionia who need to save the beloved creatures of the Ionian forest. As Allegro, VRFocus was able to test some of the musical puzzles and see the grand environments that will be making up this virtual universe. One of the main sequences in the demo revolved around a giant frog (or maybe a toad) needing to find food to heal the creature, setting off musical notes in the process.

From the looks of it, ROTU Entertainment’s concept is ambitious, with gorgeous looking scenery, intricate puzzles and some beautiful audio. The first episode is expected later this year for LBE venues with a home version planned for 2020.

Rhythm of the Universe

To find out more about the project and what the studio has planned VRFocus spoke with ROTU Entertainment’s CEO Jason Parks in the interview below.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Rhythm of the Universe, reporting back when further announcements are made. In the meantime take a look at VRFocus’ other interviews from E3 2019 with Oculus’ Jason Rubin, Vertigo Games, Gearbox Software, Ready at Dawn, nDreams, Digital Lode, Sensorium, Survios and Rebellion.

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Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia Debuts at E3 2019, Arriving for VR Arcades December

Back in January ROTU Entertainment released the first details for its episodic location-based virtual reality (VR) project,  Rhythm of the Universe. For the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019 this week the studio is giving attendees a chance to play the first instalment ahead of its launch later this year.

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Called Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia, the new demo will give players a first glimpse into the mythology and lore which forms a core part of the experience.

“The saga begins with the creation of the universe as matter and time collide and reverberate into the origin of a rhythmic god like being, Pan,” explains ROTU Entertainment. “In this ultimate interactive storytelling experience, feel the power of music like never-before as you explore vivid landscapes, charismatic characters, and dynamic worlds generated through global rhythms that pulse before your very eyes.”

Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia features two heroes, Allegra and Allegro, siblings from the land of Ionia who need to save the beloved creatures of the Ionian forest. You play Allegro, a boy with a world-shattering secret.

Rhythm of the Universe

“For lovers of superpowers, fantasy, and epic stories. Rhythm of the Universe is a saga for all ages,” said Jason Parks, CEO of ROTU Entertainment in a statement. “We are designing ROTU to be fun and thought provoking. We are conscious of the issues our world faces and utilize the strengths and opportunities of VR to share a message of hope with everyone.”

Rhythm of the Universe will be a seven-episode series, with the studio forecasting that each episode will be released every six months. The first will be made available for licensing to VR arcades in December 2019. A consumer version is scheduled to happen in 2020, with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Oculus Quest previously mentioned.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Rhythm of the Universe, reporting back later in the week with a hands-on assessment of Ionia.

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Rhythm of the Universe: Musikalisches VR-Abenteuer für PC-Brillen und Oculus Quest

Entwicklerstudio Rotu Entertainment kündigte eine neue interaktive VR-Serie mit innovativem Konzept an: Rhythm of the Universe soll in insgesamt sieben Episoden erscheinen und die Welt der Musik mit Geschichte und Mythologie kombinieren. Dabei soll Musiktheorie eine zentrale Rolle im Gameplay spielen.

Rhythm of the Universe – Musikalisches VR-Projekt für PC-Brillen und Oculus Quest erscheint 2019

Mit Rhythm of the Universe erwartet uns ein siebenteiliges, narratives VR-Abenteuer rund um Mythologie, Geschichte und Musik. Basierend auf Musiktheorie werden die verschiedenen Perspektiven und Aspekte durch Instrumente und musikalische Symbole in Charaktere und visuell beeindruckende Landschaften transferiert und dadurch digital und interaktiv zum Leben erweckt. Ein erster veröffentlichter Trailer gibt erste Einblicke über eine derartige Umsetzung:

Rotu Entertainment beschreibt das ambitionierte Projekt folgendermaßen:

“Jede Episode kann entweder für sich alleine stehen oder kollektiv eine lange, einzigartige Geschichte erzählten, die es den Spielern ermöglicht, VR in Verbindung mit Musikmythologie zu erleben. Das Konzept vereint unter einer einzigartigen Perspektive, drei verschiedene Faktoren: Musik, Geschichte/Mythologie, Musiksymbole, Instrumente und Musiktheorie, welche in Charaktere, Ökosysteme und Game-Mechaniken transferiert werden. Wir erschaffen ein gigantisches neues Universum mit echter Musiktheorie!”

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Image courtesy: Rotu Entertainment

Für weitere Informationen kann man sich derzeit für einen Newsletter auf der offiziellen Webseite anmelden. Durch die Anmeldung erhält man Zugriff auf exklusive Informationen, Giveaways und mehr.

In einer ersten Finanzierungsrunde konnten sich die Devs die nötigen Gelder für ihr Projekt von amerikanischen sowie europäischen Investoren sichern. Die insgesamt sieben Episoden sollen in einem Zyklus von sechs Monaten erscheinen.

Die erste Auskopplung erscheint noch dieses Jahr für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive und die kommende Oculus Quest.

(Quellen: VR Focus | Video: Rotu Entertainment YouTube)

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The Best HTC Vive Games Coming in 2019

HTC Vive owners have been able to enjoy a plethora of virtual reality (VR) titles over the last year, from single-player adventures to multiplayer shooters, the headset has something for everyone. Having already covered ‘The Best HTC Vive Games of 2018‘ it’s now time to look at what’s to come, with cross-platform action as well as open-world escapades. 

The Best HTC Vive Games Coming in 2019

Vacation Simulator – Owlchemy Labs

After the massive success that was Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives in 2016, Owlchemy Labs plans to launch the next title in the series Vacation Simulator this year. Originally due in 2018, the launch was pushed back in November. Just like its predecessor, Vacation Simulator is a comedic, hands-on experience, taking you away from the workplace and onto the idyllic shores of a sun-kissed island. Here you’ll be able to customise your character, take selfies, play with beach balls, test your barbecuing skills and much more.

Vacation Simulator does have an exact 2019 launch date, but it’ll support HTC Vive, plus Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR.

Space Junkies - Key Art

Space Junkies – Ubisoft

After first making an appearance during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2017, Ubisoft has held a couple of open beta’s during the course of 2018, so you may have already played Space Junkies. A zero-gravity, competitive shooter experience, players engage in either 1-v-1 or 2-v-2 matches using a variety of weapons such as “Sunblasters” and “Bioguns” to dispatch enemies.

As it is a purely multiplayer experience Space Junkies is another multiplatform title, due for release some point this year.

Population One - Screenshot

Population: ONE – BigBox VR

The battle royale genre has dominated standard videogaming for a while thanks to titles like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The genre hasn’t quite had the same effect in VR with BigBox VR’s Smashbox Arena being one of the more notable examples. It’s not stopping there, however, with an even grander project, Population: ONE. Currently in private beta, players will be able to climb, fly and build with up to 24 others in a match, with cross-play compatibility for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

Impressed when we first saw it during Gamescom 2018, Population: ONE is shaping up to be even better than its flat screen cousins. Scheduled for launch in 2019, no date confirmed just yet.

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Rhythm of the Universe – ROTU Entertainment

Having only released the first teaser trailer a couple of weeks ago, there are still a lot of questions surrounding Rhythm of the Universe. The videogame is going to be episodic, with seven chapters in total, each released around six months apart. Each can stand on its own but their stories will be part of a bigger narrative. From details released so far, Rhythm of the Universe looks to be a puzzle adventure involving music and music mythology.

Rhythm of the Universe has been confirmed for three headsets, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Oculus Quest, with the first episode arriving sometime this year.

Nostos – NetEase Games

Last but not least is the epic looking Nostos by NetEase Games. This is a massive open-world adventure that just so happens to be multiplayer. Worlds in the videogame can have a maximum of 20 players and are fully adaptable, so they can destroy and build at their leisure, creating ecosystems in a post-apocalyptic environment. Definitely one for those who love role-playing games (RPGs), Nostos will have you fighting for survival.

NetEase Games is currently working on just the HTC Vive version of the title – the closest to an exclusive the headset is getting on this list – but it hasn’t ruled out a release on Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR. The HTC Vive release is planned for Q3 2019.

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Rhythm of the Universe Is A Breathtaking Musical Adventure For Quest, Rift And Vive

rhythm of the universe rift vive quest music vr

Well here’s a trailer that’s immediately caught our attention. Rotu Entertainment’s Rhythm of the Universe looks unlike anything else we’ve yet seen in VR.

This Boston-based developer recently announced that it had secured an undisclosed amount of funding from investors in America and Europe. Now the team is sharing the first trailer for the game. It boasts stunning visuals that capture fantastical beasts and landscapes not yet seen in VR. Most importantly, though, it introduces you to the game’s arresting audio work, which seems to play a central role. Rotu says the game will use real music theory as a key mechanic.

While the developer is yet to share more details, there is a brief gameplay video on an official website. It shows players interacting with creatures and creating music in the same environments from the trailer. Rotu says that the game will unfold over seven episodes expected to release around once every six months. Each will stand alone in the experience they offer but contribute to the story of the overall series too.

Rotu expects to start rolling the series out this year on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Facebook’s upcoming standalone headset, Oculus Quest. That makes Rhythm of the Universe one of the first games confirmed for Quest following the headset’s reveal at Oculus Connect 5 in September 2018. In a prepared statement, studio CEO Jason Parks said he expects the device to be a “big step toward” VR mass adoption.

Anyone interested in the game can sign up to a mailing list here.

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ROTU Entertainment Reveals a Sneak Peak at Rhythm of the Universe, Coming 2019

Boston-based virtual reality (VR) developer ROTU Entertainment is currently in the process of building its first immersive title, a family friendly episodic series called Rhythm of the Universe. The studio recently announced the successful completion of a financing round alongside the first official teaser video for the experience.

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Rhythm of the Universe will be a seven-episode series that will intertwine a rich-story narrative with music-based gameplay.

Explaining a little more about the videogame ROTU Entertainment notes: “Each episode can stand alone and collectively build a long unique story allowing gamers to experience VR coupled with Music Mythology. The concept comes from a unique perspective of three factors: Music, History/Mythology, Music Symbols, Instruments, and the Theory transformed into characters, ecosystems, and game mechanics. We create a giant new universe utilizing real music theory!”

Currently, ROTU Entertainment forecasts that each episode will be released every six months, with the first being sometime this year. Rhythm of the Universe has been confirmed for three headsets, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Oculus Quest.

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“Extended reality has a big future in entertainment and gaming. The new VR headsets including the wireless Oculus Quest will be a big step toward mass adoption. High-quality content like Rhythm of the Universe is key to its success. We have already presented to crowds at CES, PAX, AWE, and many more showcasing our unique proprietary VR preview,” said ROTU Entertainment & Media, Ltd. CEO Jason Parks in a statement. “The story is based around today’s problems which tackles these issues through storytelling. Top VR devices need superb story-driven content.”

Alongside the new video – seen below – ROTU Entertainment has confirmed the closure of additional financing during Q3 2018, simply stating it involved ‘leading American and European investors.’

For those that want even more details regarding Rhythm of the Universe, you can subscribe to ROTU Entertainment’s newsletter. You’ll gain access to exclusive content such as giveaways, early release material, and exclusive “Road to ROTU” content highlighting character storylines. There’s even a chance to win a limited edition ROTU T-Shirt.

As further details are released VRFocus will, of course, keep you updated on the latest announcements.