High on Life: Release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
High on Life is heading to Xbox and PC this October. Here's everything we know about the quirky FPS from Squanch Games, including trailers, gameplay, and more.
The VR Job Hub: Felix & Paul Studios, Resolution Games & Squanch Games
Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.
| Location | Company | Role | Link |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Gameplay Animator | Click Here to Apply |
| Linköping, Sweden | Resolution Tech | Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden/Hybrid Remote | Resolution Games | UI Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden/Hybrid Remote | Resolution Games | Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | VFX Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden/Hybrid Remote | Resolution Games | Senior Game Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Technical Artist – Shaders | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | 3D Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden/Hybrid Remote | Resolution Games | Monetization Specialist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Sound Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Senior Programmer – AR | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Producer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Producer – AR | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Concept Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Technical Artist – Tools | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Programmer Manager | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Shared Tech Client Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Shared Tech Backend Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Programmer – VR | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | IT Support Specialist | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Senior Game Designer – AR | Click Here to Apply |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Resolution Games | Art Director | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, QC, Canada | Felix & Paul Studios | Production Coordinator | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, QC, Canada | Felix & Paul Studios | Stereo VR Compositor (Contract) | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, QC, Canada | Felix & Paul Studios | Virtual Reality Composer (Contract) | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, QC, Canada | Felix & Paul Studios | Chief Financial Officer | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, QC, Canada | Felix & Paul Studios | Pipeline Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Concept Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Concept Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Visual Effects Artist | Click Here to Apply |
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
The VR Job Hub: Squanch Games, Magnopus, Interaptix & Vicarious Surgical
Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.
| Location | Company | Role | Link |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Visual Effects Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Animator | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Animator | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Environment Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Environment Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Content Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Gameplay Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | React Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Security and Risk Management Engineer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Senior Backend Server Multiplayer Engineer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Lead Software Developer, Pipeline | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Lead Engineer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Human Resources Business Partner & Employee Relations Specialist | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Technical Art Director | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Associate Art Guild Manager | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Senior DevOps/Build Engineer | Click Here to Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | Magnopus | Product Manager | Click Here to Apply |
| United Arab Emirates | Magnopus | Technical Project Manager (Location-based) | Click Here to Apply |
| Toronto, Canada | Interaptix | Executive Assistant | Click Here to Apply |
| Toronto, Canada | Interaptix | Full Stack Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Ottawa, Canada | Interaptix | Full Stack Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Halifax, Canada | Interaptix | Full Stack Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Montreal, Canada | Interaptix | Full Stack Developer | Click Here to Apply |
| Waltham, MA | Vicarious Surgical | Unity Software Developer | Click Here to Apply |
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
The VR Job Hub: Ready at Dawn & Squanch Games
Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.
| Location | Company | Role | Link |
| Portland, OR | Ready at Dawn | Senior Engine Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Senior Systems Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Lead Level Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Lead Environment Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | UI Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Lead Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Senior Environment Model and Layout Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Senior Environment Texture Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Irvine, CA | Ready at Dawn | Audio Director | Click Here to Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | Squanch Games | Senior Character Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | Squanch Games | Character Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | Squanch Games | Visual Effects Artist | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Sr Game Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Burbank, CA | Squanch Games | Content Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Burbank, CA | Squanch Games | Level Designer | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Senior Gameplay Programmer | Click Here to Apply |
| Fully Remote | Squanch Games | Associate Producer | Click Here to Apply |
Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.
If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).
We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.
Camp Marshmallow Review: A Dark And Twisted Must-Play For Oculus Quest
Camp Marshmallow on SideQuest is a dark, twisted VR experience about life, death, and s’mores created by solo developer Chris Pavia that’s available for free on Oculus Quest. You can finish the whole thing in just about 10-minutes and it’s a must-play for fans of dark humor and introspective stories.
From the Camp Marshmallow SideQuest page:
“Four young Scouts and their Scoutmaster venture into the forest to sing campfire songs and assert their dominance over nature. A chill breeze pushes through the branches, carrying hushed whispers about the curious newcomers. The fire sizzles and pops as shadows dance across the trees. With sticks in hand and visions of gooey marshmallows in their eyes, the Scouts look to their leader to provide them with the forest’s bounty.”
NOTE: Spoilers for Camp Marshmallow follow. It’s impossible to talk about this experience without discussing the details, so if you are at all intrigued thus far I urge you to stop reading and go download it for yourself!
You can watch me play through Camp Marshmallow in the video above (it’s only about 10-minutes long after all) during the latest episode of our VR Roulette random-selection live VR game show. After spinning the wheel this was the game I landed on for the episode’s finale and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
In Camp Marshmallow you take on the role of the Scoutmaster, presumably an adult that’s taking a group of kids out on a camping trip — similar to something you might see in the Boy Scouts. Everyone is sitting around the campfire, singing songs, and blissfully enjoying the ignorance of childhood.
It’s nostalgic and sweet, but something feels off.
“The fire is roaring and our sticks are sharp, Scoutmaster,” one child says. “The only thing missing are the marshmallows. Here, consider this the Spear of Destiny. It can transform an ordinary marshmallow into a beautiful memory.”
The child then hands you a stick as you walk to a clearing between some trees where a collection of anthropomorphic marshmallows stand waiting, smiling, and dancing. Apparently they didn’t get the memo about why they’re here tonight.
What follows can only be described as graphic violence — at least, in so far as you consider impaling a screaming marshmallow to be violent. Instead of blood gooey, sugary fluffiness drips onto your hands and splatters out. Screams of pain, pleas for mercy. It’s got it all.
And yet despite it all, it’s hard not to laugh. The way the little creatures beg for their lives is tongue-in-cheek at first and quite silly, but after the second or third mutilation it starts to take a turn. The children get creepier, the song gets stranger, and the marshmallows become more lifelike. Instead of just shivering as you cower over them they’re running away and hiding.
I don’t want to spoil things too, too much here but suffice to say you should absolutely let the marshmallows speak, listen to the children, soak in the song, and pay close attention to the small details to really enjoy this brief, but insightful VR experience.
Camp Marshmallow Review Final Impressions
Camp Marshmallow feels like an early experiment from a rare talent with an eye for atmosphere. During my playthrough I couldn’t help but be reminded of the unnerving scenarios in Accounting from Squanch and Justin Roiland and I can’t wait to see what this experience’s creator, Chris Pavia, does next. If you enjoy dark and introspective stories that make you both laugh and feel uncomfortable at the exact same time, then Camp Marshmallow has you covered.
Camp Marshmallow is available now to sideload on Oculus Quest, for free, via SideQuest. When downloading the game, you can opt to donate a custom amount to the developer via itch.io to help support efforts. Fore details on how to sideload games using SideQuest, check out our guide here.
This review was conducted on an Oculus Quest, using v1.0.0 of the game. For more on how we arrived at this score, check out our review guidelines. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Review: Trover Saves the Universe
When it comes to comedy in virtual reality (VR) Squanch Games certainly has a major advantage as one of its co-founders is Justin Roiland, one of the creators of Rick and Morty. That humour vibe has arced from the cartoon over to videogame projects Accounting/Accounting+ and the studios’ biggest to date, Trover Saves the Universe. Originally an Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR release in 2019, the outrageous and funny sci-fi adventure has now made its way to Oculus Quest, losing none of the factors which make it such a standout VR experience.
Trover Saves the Universe is a VR platformer designed for a comfortable, easy gameplay experience suitable for any player because its entirely seated – so grab a nice spot on the sofa. You play a character who lives on a floating armchair, so to explore this colourful title you get to control an eye-hole monster called Trover. He’ll run around carrying out the majority of the actions but Squanch Games has ensured it has a co-op participation feel with plenty of dialogue coming from the headline character.
If you’ve seen Rick and Morty then you’ll know the kind of humour that awaits, if you’ve haven’t then prepare for a massive amount of swearing, ass jokes and general toilet humour. The big hint is right at the start where you can choose between a mature or censored version. Needless to say for the full comedic/offensive effect you shouldn’t neuter Trover Saves the Universe as one of its best elements is the level of writing.
Squanch hasn’t been lax when it comes to the use of the f-word, in fact, Trover Saves the Universe probably has more foul language than Roiland’s other projects – and that’s saying something. What you will find is some clever and witty humour which can truly make you laugh, not just a little chuckle but actual standup comedy levels which surprisingly helps increase the level of immersion as it creates an emotional connection. Trover may be crude and rude but he has character which is rarely seen in other videogames – Roiland does voice him after all.
So the writing’s top-notch, how about the gameplay? The problem here is that Trover Saves the Universe is a restricted affair when it comes to enjoying the bizarre planets in this universe. If you enjoy roomscale VR where you can freely wander around, pick stuff up and enjoy things at your own pace then you won’t find that here because the title has your character holding a controller the entire time. This makes it feel confined, especially as there are almost no options to adjust variables like the snap turning.
To get around levels are populated with teleportation nodes which you have to walk Trover up to to activate. Through various upgrades you can then start to exploit the features which make sense in VR, adjusting the height to survey the area, locating those adorable power babies which creatures love putting in their eyes and finding more nodes to move to. Further down the line you can also remote grab items to solve puzzles whilst Trover rattles on about the latest task. There are moments if you don’t solve a task quickly you will get ribbed which can be quite funny to just see what the reactions will be.
It can be easy getting carried away with listening to some of the random dialogue even in the midst of battle. The action elements are fairly basic with Trover able to swipe at enemies with a lightsaber-style weapon, unlocking more powerful attacks along the way. Yet it never seems to get old hearing attackers f and blind when they get hit.
While Trover Saves the Universe doesn’t have that same level of interaction a lot of other VR titles tend to feature as standard nowadays, its elevated from being a standard VR platformer to one with a unique atmosphere thanks to all the other elements. Trover Saves the Universe is the funniest experience you’ll have on Oculus Quest, plus there’s plenty of content thanks to the included free DLC. It’s a fun experience which should give most players a good 5+ hours of entertainment.
Watch First 17 Minutes Of Hilarious Trover Saves The Universe On Quest Gameplay
Trover Saves the Universe hits Oculus Quest today and it’s just as good as it’s ever been. Check out the first 17 minutes of Quest gameplay to see how it fairs:
When I first played Trover Saves the Universe, Tanya Watson from Squanch Games handed me a PSVR headset with googly eyes on it. I smiled and I don’t think I stopped smiling until I was out of the elevator on my way to my next GDC appointment.
In Trover Saves the Universe you play as a Chairorpian, a being from a planet of perpetually chair-bound people. Using your handheld device, shaped like a game controller, you spin your chair around and teleport to stationary nodes to move around. Once Trover arrives he lets you take control of him using the thumb sticks and face buttons of the Touch controllers. The entire game is like this: it’s one giant, hilarious, meta experience that is fully aware it’s a video game and constantly breaks the fourth wall.
At one point in the gameplay demo above I demonstrate this by not pressing a button even though a character is yelling at me to leave. If you just linger, they’ll continue to argue. I genuinely don’t know how long this can go on,since they continue to have new and hilarious things to say for quite a while.
Like any good source of comedy, revisiting Trover still brought smiles to my face even though the jokes were no longer brand new. The bright, colorful style looks almost as good as ever on Oculus Quest. You can tell the resolution isn’t quite as sharp as the PC counterpart and some textures are a little undefined, like in the starting town when you try to read things on objects at a distance, but it doesn’t impact actually enjoying the game at all.
Here is our interview with Rick & Morty Co-Creator and Squanch Games Co-Founder, Justin Roiland from E3 2019 last year:
One of my favorite things about Trover, and Squanch Games VR content in general, is just how deep the dialogue goes. This isn’t like most games where an NPC issues you a command or response then stops. These characters will not shut up and continue to spew hilarious, vulgar, and often unrelated dribble that’s nearly impossible not to laugh at. Obviously if you don’t like Justin Roiland’s sense of humor or don’t like Rick & Morty, then sure, you might not laugh much, but I’d wager you’re in the minority.
If you missed out on playing Trover on PSVR, PC VR, or in non-VR, the Quest version is extremely solid and serves as a great way to check out the game on the go. You can watch the first 17 or so minutes of gameplay footage in the video at the top of this post.
Here’s the trailer we debuted earlier this week during the UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition 2020:
Trover Saves the Universe releases for Oculus Quest today for $29.99.Read our full original review of Trover from when it launched first on PSVR.
Did you miss out on the UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition? Check out every trailer, article, announcement, interview, and more from the UploadVR Showcase right here.
The post Watch First 17 Minutes Of Hilarious Trover Saves The Universe On Quest Gameplay appeared first on UploadVR.
‘Trover Saves the Universe’ to Get Free ‘Cosmic Jobs’ DLC in October
Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland loves VR, and his latest VR game, Trover Saves the Universe (2019), is getting its first DLC drop next month.
Called ‘Trover’s Important Cosmic Jobs’, the free DLC is headed to all supported platforms on October 8th. Trover Saves the Universe supports both PC and PS4 console as well as PSVR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Valve Index.
According Trover—the weird eye-baby monster protagonist that help you along your way to find your stolen dogs—you’re going on a trip to where he actually works, Important Cosmic Jobs (ICJ).
There’s little else to go on for now, as Squanch Games says more information will arrive closer to the DLC’s launch, although the studio did release a PAX West trailer showing an extremely brief clip at the end.
Funnily enough, as soon as Trover’s introduction to the DLC starts, the reel runs out of tape, and you’re left wondering just what awaits.
The post ‘Trover Saves the Universe’ to Get Free ‘Cosmic Jobs’ DLC in October appeared first on Road to VR.
‘Trover Saves the Universe’ Launches on PSVR, Coming to PC Next Week
Trover Saves the Universe, the latest VR title from Squanch Games and the mind of Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, launched today on PS4 with support for both PSVR and non-VR. The game will launch for PC VR headsets via Steam next week.
Trover Saves the Universe is now available on PS4 for $30, and can be played in both VR and non-VR. It’s a third-person adventure game that’s clearly built around the zany, unique humor and voices of Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty and co-founder of Squanch Games. PlayStation Underground has a look at the final gameplay:
The game is also coming to PC next week on June 4th on Steam, with official support for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, and also non-VR play. A 10% pre-order discount is in place until the game launches.
Trover Saves the Universe developer Squanch Games says that it’s planning to add ‘free DLC’ to the game by “keeping Trover at full price for longer than usual, instead of lowering the game’s cost over time and charging for new content.” That’s an interesting approach, though the company hasn’t offered any detail on what future content will look like beyond saying that players can expect “lots of new Trover adventures coming your way until it doesn’t make sense to do that anymore.”
The post ‘Trover Saves the Universe’ Launches on PSVR, Coming to PC Next Week appeared first on Road to VR.
Trover Saves The Universe Review: A Hilarious Action Adventure
It’s rare for me to find a game that genuinely makes me laugh. I’ve never really been the type of person that likes to watch comedy movies on my own as I prefer to treat laughter as a social experience. I also spend the vast majority of my time gaming alone — especially in VR. So color me skeptical when faced with the prospect of Trover Saves the Universe from Squanch Games: a comedy-focused game with VR support.
It’s also crafted from the mind of Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty, if that tells you anything about the tone. But after having played Accounting+, Rick and Morty VR, and non-VR comedy games like South Park: The Stick of Truth, I had hope. And thankfully Trover delivers where it needs to most.
In Trover Saves the Universe you actually don’t technically control the titular hero but are instead a chairopian — a being that is restricted to sitting in a chair at all times. Using creepy little squishy baby blob creatures in his eye sockets, Trover turns over control of his body to you by way of a trusty game pad, which lays the foundation for plenty of fourth-wall breaking humor.
What follows is a fairly straightforward action adventure game, but if you enjoy Roiland’s style of humor then this is anything but ordinary. Characters will just ramble on and on for minutes on end if left unattended and it’s often more important to just stop and listen to dialog than it is to actually try and progress in the story. It feels like getting sucked into Roiland’s mind which is equal parts hilarious ad terrifying.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of Rick and Morty then the character voices in Trover Saves the Universe should sound immediately familiar. It’s hard to shake that feeling that this is somehow connected to the wildly successful cartoon series, but it’s actually just a case of Roiland leaning into his iconic style and brand more than anything.
Although, if you’re not a fan of those nasally sounding characters and frequent cursing then this probably isn’t for you. But if you enjoyed Accounting+ and think the trailers linked here on this page are funny then you’re in for a good time.
From a gameplay perspective Trover Saves the Universe is reminiscent of 3D platforming action adventure games from a bygone era such as Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, or Spyro the Dragon. You spend much of your time exploring environments, fighting off enemies, and listening to Trover make impatiently snide remarks. Using nodes spread across stages you teleport your chair around to gain new perspective on environments and control Trover from there. He’s got a nifty beam sword and as you progress you’ll unlock new powers for both him and yourself.
I hate when a third-person VR game doesn’t explain your perspective so luckily that’s the entire premise that Trover’s built around as one giant self-referential parody. If it weren’t for the jokes and silly worlds then Trover would be an aggressively mediocre action adventure title, but its creativity helps tilt the scales in its favor.
Final Score: 7/10 – Good
Trover Saves The Universe is without a doubt one of the funniest games I’ve ever played. It honestly had my side hurting from all the laughter. Despite some generic core gameplay, repetition, and an overall grating comedic tone that isn’t for everyone, Trover gets a lot right. The bottom line is that if you liked games such as Lucky’s Tale and Astro Bot and also appreciate Justin Roiland’s style of vulgar fourth-wall breaking comedy, then this is a match made in third-person action-adventure heaven.
Trover Saves the Universe will cost $29.99 and is coming to PS4 with optional PSVR support on May 31 and then releases on June 4 for PC with optional VR support. Read our Game Review Guidelines for more information on how we arrived at this score.
Tagged with: Squanch Games, Trover Saves the Universe
The post Trover Saves The Universe Review: A Hilarious Action Adventure appeared first on UploadVR.