Category: Skybound Entertainment

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Skydance Interactive to Develop New The Walking Dead VR Experiences

When it comes to brand new and surprising virtual reality (VR) videogames, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2017 does not disappoint – and the list just keeps growing, as Archangel developer Skydance Interactive are teaming with Skydance Interactive to create brand new videogames and experience based on The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead VR will be co-developed by both companies.

More than one videogame is planned however – The Walking Dead VR is just the first of their plans. The Walking Dead VR will be based in a new setting, with a new cast of characters that the player will be able to interact with.

This might’ve been what Skydance Interactive were hinting at in our interview, when they said Archangel was just the beginning of their VR ambitions.

Skybound Entertainment was founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and David Alpert. Alpert’s enthusiastic about Skydance’s ability to bring their vision to life; “Skydance’s ability to build worlds and tell compelling stories matches with our goal to bring The Walking Dead fans new narratives and ways to engage with the world Robert Kirkman created, while staying true to his original vision.”

Skydance’s David Ellison and Jesse Sisgold shared their optimism on the project; “The Walking Dead is an iconic phenomenon and it is absolutely thrilling to work with Skybound to bring its incredibly diverse cast of characters, settings, and storylines together into a complete VR game package.”

They continue; “Our goal at Skydance Interactive is to honor the visceral world that Kirkman has created while giving The Walking Dead’s fans something to really sink their teeth into with robust games that take the franchise to a completely new level.”

There’s no news on release dates or platforms yet for The Walking Dead VR, but the project sounds incredibly promising.

For everything on E3 2017 and VR, stay with VRFocus.

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OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead Postponed Until 2018

Starbreeze AB, the company behind the StarVR head-mounted display (HMD), has announced the delay of OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead until 2018.

In an official statement Starbreeze CEO Bo Andersson Klint said: “Together with the development team for OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead, we have decided to extend the production schedule so that the title reaches its full potential and drive our original vision a further step. Together with Skybound Entertainment, we are fully dedicated to releasing an unforgettable experience for fans around the world and then continuing to support it with high quality content in coming years. ”

Overkill's The Walking Dead VR

OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead was first unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Los Angeles, back in June 2015, and since then Starbreeze Studios has frequently showcased the title at numerous events.

The popular TV series The Walking Dead series, created by Robert Kirkman, began in 2010, and OVERKILL – a Starbreeze Studio – decided to create an immersive co-op title based on that universe, exploring new exclusive characters and storylines.

Additionally, the studio has announced Starstream by Starbreeze, an exclusive live-streamed event taking place on 10th May. Broadcast on Twitch starting 9am PST /12pm EST/ 6pm CEST, it’ll feature first looks and previews, in depth interviews and more on OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead, PAYDAY 2, System Shock 3, Psychonauts 2, Dead by Daylight and a panel titled “Veterans of the Industry” featuring Warren Spector, Tim Schafer and Bo Andersson.

This week also saw Starbreeze reveal a collaboration with RED Games to bring multiplayer VR experience THE RAFT to StarVR.

With OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead postponed until the second half of 2018, the exact launch date is unknown. As further details are released VRFocus will bring you the latest updates.

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The Walking Dead Easter Eggs to Feature in Giant Cop: Justice Above All, Launching this Month

Other Ocean Interactive has announced today that it will launch the highly anticipated Giant Cop: Justice Above All on Oculus Rift during EGX Rezzed in London UK, at 10:00am (GMT), March 30th, 2017. The videogame will debut on Oculus Rift, followed later by versions for the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR.

Giant Cop New 2

“Other Ocean is delighted to get Giant Cop into the hands of players. This is a game specifically designed for a Virtual Reality experience as opposed to a game that was pushed to fit,” said Deirdre Ayre, Other Ocean’s Head of Operations.  “It’s the world’s first, and only, open world, giant-sized, VR comic crime drama,” added Ayre.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All is a videogame that puts the player in the role of, as the title might suggest, a giant cop. They are tasked with keeping peace within the city by interacting with the population and objects in a variety of ways; though not always how you’d expect a lawbringer to behave.

“A key feature in Giant Cop is the open world in which you can explore Micro City,” said Ryan Hale, Studio Head for Other Ocean. “Our team deliberately built Micro City with sandbox gameplay in mind. This allows players a 3-4 hour experience of gameplay uncovering the crime syndicate that threatens Micro City.  But if you want to just explore the world and find hidden interactive objects you can do that too – it’s limitless really.” said Hale.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All has been a regular at VR events throughout North America, with VRFocus having been hands-on many times. In a preview of the videogame on HTC Vive it was stated: “Giant Cop is one of the more hilarious interpretations of the HTC Vive’s Room Scale tracking yet seen.”

Giant Cop New

Other Ocean is partnered with multiplatform entertainment company SKYBOUND Entertainment, founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and business partner David Alpert. The partnership has allowed The Walking Dead characters and Easter Eggs to be integrated into Giant Cop: Justice Above All exclusively to SKYBOUND Insiders. SKYBOUND Insiders is a free membership program which will also grant Giant Cop: Justice Above All players updates, special offers and future merchandise features.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All will first release on the Oculus Store with support for the Oculus Rift and Oculus Touch, priced at $24.99 USD. Releases for other VR platforms will follow in the coming months and VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details.

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The Walking Dead Easter Eggs to Feature in Giant Cop: Justice Above All, Launching this Month

Other Ocean Interactive has announced today that it will launch the highly anticipated Giant Cop: Justice Above All on Oculus Rift during EGX Rezzed in London UK, at 10:00am (GMT), March 30th, 2017. The videogame will debut on Oculus Rift, followed later by versions for the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR.

Giant Cop New 2

“Other Ocean is delighted to get Giant Cop into the hands of players. This is a game specifically designed for a Virtual Reality experience as opposed to a game that was pushed to fit,” said Deirdre Ayre, Other Ocean’s Head of Operations.  “It’s the world’s first, and only, open world, giant-sized, VR comic crime drama,” added Ayre.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All is a videogame that puts the player in the role of, as the title might suggest, a giant cop. They are tasked with keeping peace within the city by interacting with the population and objects in a variety of ways; though not always how you’d expect a lawbringer to behave.

“A key feature in Giant Cop is the open world in which you can explore Micro City,” said Ryan Hale, Studio Head for Other Ocean. “Our team deliberately built Micro City with sandbox gameplay in mind. This allows players a 3-4 hour experience of gameplay uncovering the crime syndicate that threatens Micro City.  But if you want to just explore the world and find hidden interactive objects you can do that too – it’s limitless really.” said Hale.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All has been a regular at VR events throughout North America, with VRFocus having been hands-on many times. In a preview of the videogame on HTC Vive it was stated: “Giant Cop is one of the more hilarious interpretations of the HTC Vive’s Room Scale tracking yet seen.”

Giant Cop Header

Other Ocean is partnered with multiplatform entertainment company SKYBOUND Entertainment, founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and business partner David Alpert. The partnership has allowed The Walking Dead characters and Easter Eggs to be integrated into Giant Cop: Justice Above All exclusively to SKYBOUND Insiders. SKYBOUND Insiders is a free membership program which will also grant Giant Cop: Justice Above All players updates, special offers and future merchandise features.

Giant Cop: Justice Above All will first release on the Oculus Store with support for the Oculus Rift and Oculus Touch, priced at $24.99 USD. Releases for other VR platforms will follow in the coming months and VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details.

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‘The Walking Dead’ Publisher Skybound Brings Interactive Horror Play ‘Delusion: Lies Within’ To VR

‘The Walking Dead’ Publisher Skybound Brings Interactive Horror Play ‘Delusion: Lies Within’ To VR

A Los Angeles-based interactive horror play is becoming a virtual reality series with Skybound Entertainment.

Skybound is the publisher of properties like The Walking Dead and we previously covered Skybound’s collaboration with Samsung on the VR thriller Gone. Now, Skybound has acquired a creative property for a new and thrilling VR horror experience.

Skybound announced a collaboration that will bring into VR a Los Angeles-based horror play known as Delusion: Lies Within. One of our editors had an opportunity to speak at the Sundance Film Festival with Delusion writer/director Jon Braver and Skybound’s Director of Digital Programming Mike Cruz about the new development.

In 2014, horror company Delusion produced a well-received play called Lies Within — an attempt to redefine live theater by including the play’s audience as characters within the unfolding story. The VR version of the story is set in the American south in the 1940s as an episodic feature where a couple fans attempt to find a horror author that has gone missing. Over the 10 chapters (potentially 80 minutes total) visitors can follow those two fans down branching paths, as you realize the author’s fictional creations have come to life.

“It’s a great emotional story; it’s a great horror story,” says Braver. “It’s a great first project to work on together.”

The plan is to build tension using a variety of techniques, like audio that lets you know something is behind you, or a shot where you are reluctantly pulled along even though you might be heading into danger. Skybound’s Cruz explains that, with the 360-degree viewing of VR, when filming you have to put in extra effort to hide things that would normally break immersion. “You have to hide your wires, your lighting, your rigs, your crew, or you have to paint it out.”

The isolated nature of VR headsets can enhance horror elements ten-fold. When asked if the team anticipated people potentially “pooping their pants”, Cruz joked, “That would be great!”

The VR series is expected to start production in Los Angeles this March.

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