Towards the end of 2016 First Contact Entertainment released its first virtual reality (VR) ROM: Extraction for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Now with the end of 2017 approaching the studio has teased it’ll be bring something to PlayStation VR by the end of the year.
Adam Orth – best know for creating Adr1ft prior to moving to First Contact – sent out a teasing tweet recently, simply stating: “Something cool coming from us for PSVR and PSVR Demo kiosks before the end of the year…” He then followed that with an image (seen below). Whilst the tease could relate to a new title, it most likely pertains to ROM:Extraction, which the studio announced back in June would be coming to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) headset.
That summer reveal only stated a release this year, so with the days ticking away a November/December launch on PlayStation VR is looking most likely for ROM: Extraction.
For the festive period Sony Interactive Entertainment America (SIEA) is bringing back its in-store demo program for PlayStation VR – in the US – with more than 200 Best Buy and GameStop locations featuring a playable headset. Demos confirmed so far have included Gran Turismo Sport, Final Fantasy XV: Monster of the Deep, Superhot VR, Dino Frontier, Raw Data, and Voltron. And it looks like there’s another to add to that list, so you be able to try ROM: Extraction before you buy.
At E3 last week in Los Angeles Sony’s media showcase included a demo of ROM: Extraction paired with the PSVR’s Aim Controller — adding a cool new element to the shooter.
The arcade-style shooter from First Contact Entertainment released late last year for both Rift and Vive, allowing players to throw orbs and slow down time then shoot the orbs when they are close to enemies for highly satisfying kills. Obviously, with its single camera PSVR doesn’t have solid 360-degree tracking so the game has been adapted to use snap turns to get the robots coming at you from all directions.
In addition, the aspect of physically throwing orbs has been removed in favor of using the buttons on the front of the Aim Controller to send orbs toward your enemies and slow down time.
Overall, the modifications worked well to adapt the game for PSVR. It is easy to access the time-slowing and orb-throwing superpowers while still taking aim at the robots. The Aim Controller continues to be a fantastic addition to the system and definitely feels missing on the other headsets — though Vive is likely to get similar accessories as soon as the Vive Tracker is more widely available.
It did feel like the precision I was able get out of the Aim Controller on a game like Farpoint wasn’t quite matched just yet by ROM. That said, my experience with the Aim Controller is limited — so it’s possible I just wasn’t used to looking down the barrel of an actual gun in VR. Either way, what I saw was still early as ROM remains in active development. So it is likely major improvements can be expected prior to release on PSVR, which is planned for sometime this year.
“You should expect us to take ROM using the Aim Controller as far as possible,” said developer Adam Orth. “We have a lot of amazingly cool uses for the Aim Controller planned.”
What do you think of this addition? Do you want to see more games get PSVR Aim Controller support? Let us know in the comments below!
PlayStation VR has sold over 1 million units and had more success in sales compared to the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. VRFocushas put together a list of games that we know are coming to the PlayStation VR. If you prefer watching all the games coming to PlayStation VR, scroll down to the bottom to view it.
Farpoint is a first-person shooter on the PlayStation VR. When it launched, it debuted at number two in the UK Sales chart and is sold alongside the new Aim controller. Starting with a bloke putting on a PlayStation VR in his basement he then finds himself transported to an uncharted alien world filled with all manner of enemies.
Survive in an unknown alien world after a crash, search for fellow human survivors whilst shooting hoards of alien creatures. The new DLC Cryo Pack coming on the 27th of June, a 2 player co-op with challenge levels in an ice world.
This VR game is a multiplayer racing title based on slot car racing. You can play with up to four friends or race AI opponents. Taking inspiration from toys by Scalextric and Carrera, FuturLab has created a title that evolves slot-car racing in a way only videogames can do.
Featuring both a singleplayer – against AI – or an online multiplayer for up to four people, Tiny Trax includes six vehicles to select before heading out onto the track. Friends can select either single races or go for a tournament to test their skills.
Is a first-person shooter set in the year 2076, where you must throw, slow and shoot your way through extraterrestrial-bots inspired by classic arcade shooters, the studio only released one image, showing a vicious looking robot. First Contact Entertainment describes ROM: Extraction’s gameplay mechanic as “Throw, Slow & Shoot.” Whereby players will have the ability to slow down time – called “Reflex” power – to help defend themselves against these dangerous looking, extraterrestrial robots. The videogame will be a first-person shooter (FPS) using motion-based controls, three difficulty settings and global and local leaderboards.
Gran Turismo Sport was original slated for release at the end of 2016, but the developers were forced to push back the release date to 2017. Polyphony Digital are known among fans as being perfectionists, so it was not a huge surprised that an ambitious project such as Gran Turismo Sport ended up taking extra time.
The game now has a new Racing wheel designed exclusively for Gran Turismo Sport on the PlayStation 4. Specifically designed specially to enhance the experience of playing Gran Turismo Sport, the upcoming driving and racing simulator from Polyphony Digital on the PlayStation 4. Gran Turismo Sport is also offering virtual reality (VR) compatibility, which in combination with Thrustmaster’s racing wheel, could offer even more immersion to players.
THESEUS is a third person action-adventure where you play the titular character on a quest to slay the Minotaur from the ancient Greek mythology.
Taking inspiration from titles such as ICO, Shadow of the Colossus and the Last Guardian, Forge Reply has gone for a third-person viewpoint for its VR adventure, with Theseus employing a mix of static and dynamic cameras to aid immersion and gameplay.
Play this survival horror game where you wake up from a cryrosleep in the year 2521. Survive an experiment gone horribly wrong to save the ship.
Sneak around and hide behind cover, being stealthy will feel natural in VR and give you the upper hand.
7. Bloody Zombies – nDreams
Bloody Zombies is a side-scrolling brawler set in London. It supports one to four players online or locally. Follow the story of four lone survivors and fight zombies who appear as 2D cardboard cut-outs in a virtual environment.
A real-time strategy game announced at the 2016 PlayStation Press Conference and will be released in Japan in 2017. You’ll play as the demon load with the aim to conquer the world.
Play the the God of Destruction and fight against those heroes of justice by using the food cycle, breeding monsters and repelling incoming heroes while conquering strongholds.
Is a Chinese developed game set in a medieval-themed world and strategic gameplay where you assume the role of a commander. You have to build up your team to enjoy PVE and pvp, each battle lasts about 5 minutes and you will win the game after you destroy the enemy’s forts.
It’s cross-platform and is supported by HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR, Google Daydream and Samsung Gear .
Archangel is coming exclusively two PSVR for two weeks before coming to any other platform. In this story-driven shooter where you become a six-story-high war-machine and fight against the tyrannical HUMNX.
AI-controlled teammates in different vehicles will need your protection and will support you when your shields have failed.
SUPERHOTVR is finally coming to PlayStation VR, after debuting on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
SUPERHOT had heaps of critical acclaim at launch, and its VR version received equal praise. We can only assume the PlayStation VR version will be equally beloved.
The acclaimed shooter is finally coming to PlayStation VR, but this isn’t simply a port of a game you’ve already played, but an all-new installment built for VR.
Developed by id Software, the studio that created the DOOM franchise, DOOM VFR casts the player as the last known human survivor of the demonic invasion of the UAC’s Martian research facility.
Bethesda’s beloved The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is making its way to VR on PlayStation 4.
Publisher Bethesda Softworks has announced that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is set for a November 2017 release on PlayStation VR, and all of the original console downloadable content (DLC) will be included with both the digital and physical editions of the videogame.
Star Child was announced with a short trailer during Sony’s E3 press conference.
Star Child takes place on an alien world, filled with mysterious creatures and futuristic space ships. The man-made interiors of the planet hide many incredible fluorescent and neon creatures, all of which are sure to look incredibly imposing in VR.
Final Fantasy XV: Monster of the Deep will offer PlayStation VR players the opportunity to explore the world’s oceans, lakes, ponds and rivers and participate in a wide variety of fishing challenges. Many returning characters from the original Final Fantasy XV will appear in the videogame, including familiar faces such as Noctis, Prompto, Ignis, Gladiolus, and more.
17. Bravo Team – Supermassive Games
Bravo Team, appears to be a military first-person shooter (FPS). Releasing at the end of the year for PlayStation VR, Bravo Team will be one of the first competitive multiplayer VR shooters for the platform.
In Moss you will be focusing on puzzle solving and exploration, slowly finding your path forward through these huge stages. Butterflies and insects appear huge next to your mousey character as they are entirely dwarfed by trees and other creatures – something that becomes very obvious when coming face-to-face with a hungry snake.
Sparc is a skill-based, physical sport, where two players use PlayStationMove motion controllers to aim and throw projectiles at each other inside a virtual arena, all the while defending themselves by dodging, blocking, or deflecting incoming attacks from their opponent.
Sparc includes multiple two-player game modes where players can compete against their friends or find challengers via online matchmaking. Additionally, a selection of single-player challenges and training modes are included, plus a wide range of customization and personalization options for competitors.
The highly-anticipated Farpoint is launching exclusively for PlayStation VR today, and is compatible with a brand new accessory: the PlayStation Aim controller. A bundle including the PlayStation Aim and Farpoint is available, but there’s more to this new device than just one videogame.
The Brookhaven Experiment
An update to introduce support for the Aim controller is coming on 6th June, 2017 to this horror shooter title from Phosphor Studio. The Brookhaven Experiment was previously a HTC Vive exclusive before being ported to PlayStation VR with some changes, including implementing more realistic graphics and simplifying the inventory and loudout system.
Dick Wilde
First-person wave shooter Dick Wilde features a whole array of strange weaponry, such as nail gun, paintball guns and harpoon rifles, all of which will be made compatible with the Aim controller in a future update along with the other two-handed weapons to make shooting alligators and piranha easier.
Arizona Sunshine
Airzona Sunshine is one of the most popular VR first-person shooters available on the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Featuring the zombie apocalypse and a desperate struggle to survive in the harsh desert conditions, this title will also feature support for the Aim controller when it comes to PlayStation VR in June 2017. Using the Aim controller limits players to a single weapon, but by recompense, accuracy is much increased.
Rom: Extraction
Fast-paced action shooter Rom: Extraction has a unique feature where instead us using a standard arsenal of guns, players instead throw orbs that have two potential functions: igniting the orbs to attain kills, or activating an effect that slows down time allowing the players to strategically pick off targets. The Aim controller will effectively act as an orb launcher. Rom: Extraction will be coming to PlayStation VR sometime in summer.
VRFocus will bring you further information on when Aim Controller support is introduced and what other titles will support the Aim controller as that information becomes available.
December 2016 saw newly formed studio, First Contact Entertainment release its fledgling virtual reality (VR) title, ROM: Extractionfor Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Now the team has released its very first expansion for the videogame called Overrun.
The update adds a selection of new features, primarily there’s a new weapon, the two-handed EOS-15 rifle, a new level, and a jumping suicide robot.
The EOS-15 rifle gives players an orb-launching, auto-firing weapon of destruction which can only be unlocked with a power-up token in game. While the new Overrun level not only provides more gameplay options and destructible scenery, it also continues the ROM: Extraction storyline.
All of this is complimented with improved animations, a leaderboard for the new level and a new music track, Kill Room by Delta Heavy. Check out the new mixed reality (MR) trailer for Overrun below and for the latest updates from First Contact Entertainment, keep reading VRFocus.
Full Patch Notes:
New level – Overrun
Audio volume adjustment
New music – “Kill Room” by Delta Heavy
Updated animation sets
New Hit reaction animations
New Fire stance animations
EOS-15 two-handed rifle via power up token
Robot head decapitation of jumpers
Jumping suicide-robot AI type (beware!)
Updated front end environment
New leaderboard for Overrun level
Widescreen output for better recording/streaming (when social screen is disabled)
Improvements in framerate optimization—in ROM’s graphical settings, users can opt for MSAA instead of TAA (Temporal AA), increasing GPU frame time by 25%. MSAA bringing additional crispness to the rendering.
The HTC Vive tracker is a little black "puck" that opens the door to a new wave of VR simulations, the kind where we aren't confined to the limitations of a controller.
Shooting a gun in VR is a pretty powerful experience, and the feeling of being able to look down the sights and blast away the baddies with a well-aimed shot is pretty cathartic to say the least. With games like Space Pirate Trainer (2016)and Raw Data (2016) at the forefront of the HTC Vive’s commercial release though, the ‘shoot the robot’ trope is pretty well-trodden territory by now, so what does VR’s newest wave shooter ROM: Extraction do that other games don’t? The answer: exploding grenades and tactical ‘bullet time’.
ROM: Extraction Details:
Official Website Developer: First Contact Entertainment Available On: HTC Vive (SteamVR), Oculus Touch (SteamVR) Reviewed on: HTC Vive, Oculus Touch Release Date: December 7th, 2016
Gameplay
In the near future, humanity has started mining the Moon for resources. To our surprise, we find a cache of mysterious orbs containing a highly volatile energy source that—in true human fashion—we instantly want to weaponize. Continuing our mining operations throughout the solar system, we happen upon a sort of security system made up of hostile robotic drones. Perfect targets for our bouncy balls of death.
This is where the game’s explosive orb grenades take the center stage, offering a standard explosive variety (infinite) and a number of limited use power-ups that can lock-on to enemies, or cover increasingly large areas of effect.
The game offers three game modes: Normal and Hard modes, which last 3 minutes long, and an endless Survival mode—all of which have online leaderboards. Online multiplayer, although shown in the main menu as an option, is currently not yet available. First Contact has told us that ROM “has a bunch of content in store for 2017 with multiplayer being a big part it.”
Combined with the game’s bullet time function, which recharges periodically and can be activated by holding the grip button on either Vive controller or Touch, you’re effectively able to toss orbs into the air and detonate them above a group of alien drones by shooting the orb directly in slowmo—something that takes practice (and a little luck) to achieve, but is really satisfying when you do. If you think you can toss orbs wildly at normal speeds and get a good result, you’re almost guaranteed to fail, so precision is important.
Tossing orbs isn’t always easy or consistent though, because throwing things in VR doesn’t give you the same physical feedback cues like in real life. Releasing a controller trigger while whipping an orb into any given direction isn’t as straight forward as looking down the sights of a pistol and firing, so you’ll definitely need practice to get the sort of results you’d expect to have throwing a real world ball.
For better or for worse, ROM: Extraction is missing some variety you might find in other, more gun-centric wave shooters. While there are several classes of orbs to chuck around, only one semi-automatic pistol is available in the game and only one enemy type. Again, if you’re not great at tossing the game’s orbs, you’re pretty much screwed, because a drone requires multiple headshots to take down, making the pistol pretty useless by itself.
As for ROM: Extraction’s sci-fi backdrop, I’m honestly conflicted whether brush-off or actually admonishthe game for its lack of multiple environments, as you’ll only be able to shoot down robot aliens in a single sci-fi spaceship area. I keep telling myself that Space Pirate Trainer (SPT), arguably the most popular VR wave shooter, only has a single gameplay environment too, but then again, SPT hasn’t attempted to weave a story around its shooting gallery either.
My point is this: ROM is dripping with style, has a cool premise, competent voice overs, a well-polished environment and real heart-pumping action—what I’d consider the beginnings of a multi-hour AAA shooting odyssey. I can’t help but shake the feeling that the scope of the game was drastically reduced somewhere along the way though, and what we ended up with amounts to an extremely good-looking, albeit single-level wave shooter. To its credit, it’s currently on sale for $16.99 on Steam.
Immersion
The game’s spaceship environment gets high marks for style and execution, and really feels like it’s been ripped from Battlestar Galactica (2004) or Avatar (2009).
To get the most out of ROM’s highly detailed environment, super sampling is strongly suggested, which thankfully can be torqued all the way up to 2× in the game’s settings menu. Some farther away enemies, like those in the upper gallery, aren’t nearly as clear as I’d like, but it’s likely more of a limitation of the headset’s display than the game’s graphics.
The game gives you two arms but no body to speak of. For now though, this is one of the best solutions I’ve seen for the sake of immersion simply because you don’t have to deal with any of the inverse kinematic weirdness that usually comes with full-body avatars. When joints bend the wrong way, and your legs and body aren’t in natural positions, it really can damage the feeling of being immersed.
Robotic baddies also don’t invade your play space, staying well outside of the barricades surrounding you. This is both good and bad. Good, because it means you won’t accidentally clip through bad guys that come too close, a phenomenon that tends to crap all over immersion. Bad, because they end up waiting patiently to be murdered when they could easily jump over the knee-high barricade and shoot you in the face, which really dials down the urgency of eliminating enemies.
When too many robots surround you though, you’re sure to notice it, as your vision slowly turns a deeper shade of red.
Comfort
As a room-scale game that has no virtual locomotion, and relies solely on your own two feet (and trust me, you’ll be shuffling and dodging around), ROM: Extraction is by virtue an extremely comfortable game.
Some discomfort could come from the end stage elevator in Normal and Hard modes, which drops you out of the level after the obligatory 3 minutes, but it’s quick and smooth enough for a majority of people not to notice.
We partnered with AVA Direct to create the Exemplar 2 Ultimate, our high-end VR hardware reference point against which we perform our tests and reviews. Exemplar 2 is designed to push virtual reality experiences above and beyond what’s possible with systems built to lesser recommended VR specifications.
First Contact Entertainment’s debut virtual reality (VR) title ROM: Extraction arrived last week for HTC Vive and Oculus Touch. A first-person shooter (FPS), ROM: Extraction features 15 Steam Achievements to unlock, which VRFocus has listed below.
ROM: Extraction combines frantic FPS action with a time bending mechanic called ‘Reflex’. Players throw orbs at enemies with one hand while the other contains a gun that slows time. This can also be used to ignite the orbs for devastating explosions.
Full Achievement List:
Strike
Destroy an enemy using the Standard Orb
Skeeter
Destroy an enemy by shooting a Standard Orb mid-flight
Can’t Hide
Destroy an enemy in cover using the Homing Orb
You did good, kid
Complete the Normal difficulty without dying
Threefer
Destroy three enemies using one Standard Orb
Stick’em
Destroy an enemy with a direct hit from a Clinger Orb
Trick Shot
Bounce one Orb off of another Orb and destroy an enemy
Hat Trick
Destroy three enemies in a row using the Sequencer Orb
Enforcer
Destroy 40 enemies in one round
Relentless
Complete the Hard difficulty without dying
Slayer
Destroy 50 enemies in one round
Wipe Out
Destroy ten enemies with one Splitter Orb
Eliminator
Destroy 60 enemies in one round
I survived, but all I got was this lousy achievement
Complete the Survive difficulty without dying
Perfect Game
Complete any difficulty by only throwing Orbs
It was only last month when fledgling studio First Contact Entertainment announced its debut virtual reality (VR) title ROM: Extraction. Since then the developer teased the first screenshots as well as a trailer. Now owners of HTC Vive and Oculus Touch can download the fast-paced action shooter.
Created on Unreal Engine and released through Steam, ROM: Extraction combines the AAA first-person shooter (FPS) heritage of First Contact Entertainment (Starbreeze, Blizzard, Treyarch and Infinity Ward) with modern VR technology, paying homage to classic arcade videogames.
While ROM: Extraction is an FPS at heart, it features several twists to the usual mechanic. The first is a time bending function called ‘Reflex’. Rather than having an arsenal of guns, players throw orbs at approaching enemies to destroy them. In their other hand is an energy pistol which has two functions, the first is to ignite the orbs for more strategic kills, while the other unleashes the time mechanic.
“ROM: Extraction is all about dropping players right into the action and keeping them coming back for more,” said Hess Barber, co-founder and president of First Contact Entertainment. “The addictive fun of its high-energy, round-based play sessions is the foundation on which we’re building an evolving, groundbreaking VR game.”
For its launch this week ROM: Extraction comes with a limited time discount available. Running until 14th December, players can pick up the title for £12.74 GBP rather than £14.99, saving 15 percent off the normal price.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of First Contact Entertainment, reporting back with any new updates.
I duck behind the control panel, spawn an orb in my left hand, toss it over the top of the console, slow time, and pop up from behind cover to shoot the orb, exploding it amidst the group of sinister alien robots. It’s so satisfying, I almost want to hold the gun up to my lips and blow away the smoke like an action star, but I refrain.
ROM: Extraction, a game we revealed last month from new game studio, First Contact, is a visceral arcade-style shooter that’s all about making you feel like a badass. The core gameplay loop involves throwing small, glowing orbs, slowing down time, then shooting them out of the air to cause massive explosions of light and energy. The game calls it “throw, slow, shoot” and it’s dead simple, but it’s incredibly addictive and fun.
In the new gameplay trailer above, you can finally see how this works in action. The build that’s releasing today on Steam is the first iteration of the title and is not being labeled as Early Access, even though it’s clearly not the fully-realized game. Instead of waiting until everything was finished, they’ve instead shipped the basic gameplay on a single map and will release new updates over time as a mixture of paid and free DLC.
Early next year that will include a free multiplayer update, which you can already see as a locked option in the main menu. Details are scarce at this time, but it is aimed to be a cooperative asynchronous form of multiplayer. Currently, you can enjoy some lite-coop elements due to the fact that when the game is mirrored on your computer monitor, it actually displays a top-down map of the level (shown below) so people outside of VR in the room can see where enemies are spawning and give you help if you’d like.
Currently, there is only a single game mode on one map. You load into the world, standing at the center of a control panel, and alien-engineered robots start to swarm in on you. You throw orbs, slow down time, and shoot your way through the 3-minute long mission, fighting off wave after wave, until the time is up and you’re able to escape down into the floor via the descending platform. You can’t move from your spot other than simply dodging and ducking in roomscale, as there is no teleportation or other form of locomotion in the game.
It’s unclear which DLC will be paid and which will be free down the line, but there is a mixture. Content will include new maps, weapons, enemies, and levels. The multiplayer update though, specifically, will for sure be a free inclusion early next year.
ROM: Extraction is a highly-polished arcade shooter that asks you to compete on the same level over and over to climb up the leaderboards. It’s addictive and fun, but will likely grow old quickly for most VR gamers that have spent time in more advanced experiences already. Raw Data, for example, while more expensive, offers a similar experience with significantly more content and a sprint-based teleportation mechanic. Other wave shooters like Blasters of the Universe or the horror-themed The Brookhaven Experiment feature much more variety. Island 359 has a massive island to explore with varied dinosaurs to hunt and Arizona Sunshine even has a full campaign on top of its wave-based horde mode.
The most applicable comparison would be Space Pirate Trainer, a game that launched with only a gun and a few firing modes, plus a shield, and a slow-down mechanic that you could trigger in some situations. Mostly the same enemies, a single level — it had a lot of similarities to ROM: Extraction when it first released in Early Access with the Vive’s launch. However now, several months later, it features a tremendous amount of variety, while building upon that foundation.
Clearly First Contact has the talent to make something hyper-polished and engaging, but I’m mostly looking forward to see how they expand on this early mold of ROM: Extraction. They’ve told me about the lore of the orbs, how they’re actually alien eggs, and all of the mining operations that led you to the mission you play in the game right now, but none of that backstory comes through in what’s available today on Steam, unless you opt to read the paragraph-long ‘Prologue’ in the main menu.
Multiplayer will be a great addition, as will more maps and content, but until then ROM: Extraction is just a wave shooter with a single 3-minute long level. Judging from the quality though, I am excited to see what they make next.
ROM: Extraction is now available on Steam for $19.99 with a 15% launch discount and official HTC Vive and Oculus Rift with Touch support.
4. 
6. 
7. Bloody Zombies – nDreams 
8. 
10. 
11. 
