The VR Concept – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

July 23, 2017

Airhop Bristol to Feature VR for the Next Week

If you happen to be in Bristol, UK over the next week, trampoline park Airhop Bristol will be hosting some extra entertainment courtesy of The VR Concept, virtual reality (VR) experiences that’ll be running for one week only.

Starting this weekend, guests will be able to book from six different experiences: AudioShield (single-player, all ages); Vesper Peak (single-player, all ages); Vortex (single-player, all ages); BombU! (two-player, all ages); Serious Sam (18+, two-player) and Rec Room Quest (13+, two-player).

Serious Sam VR Co-op multiplayer 01

For those interested in diving into a bit of VR before or after their trampolining session you’ll need to pre-book. It’s not cheap however with 30-minute gameplay sessions starting from £25 GBP for two people. That’s not deterred anyone by the looks of it, as at the time of writing a good portion of the sessions are already sold out – especially the ones in the latter part of each day.

If you’ve not tried VR yet, then this is a great way to try the technology. For further updates of VR experience around the UK, keep reading VRFocus.

February 7, 2017

The Concept VR Game Jam: The Closing Hours

24 hour game jams are never easy, but it’s in the final hours that the real test begins. The concept has been evolved into an experience, the gameplay mechanics solidified and the issues have been overcome. For the most part, at least. Now it’s the time for fine tuning and, inevitably, fixing all those bugs.

Here at VRFocus Presents The Concept VR Game Jam, that’s exactly what’s happening. The participants are wrapping up their works and preparing to have other attendees enter their virtual worlds. After a muted few hours the volume rises as a mad dash for the home straight begins. Will fixing that bug work? Will something new an unexpected rear its head? Do you wish you hadn’t attempted to get an hour’s sleep? Or do you feel fresh and reinvigorated for the final hurdles? Check out the video below to see exactly how the participants at The Concept VR Game Jam are tackling all of these issues.

February 6, 2017

The VR Concept Game Jam: Works in Progress

Today saw the start of the VRFocus Presents The VR Concept Game Jam, a 24-hour event in which teams of developers are challenged to create a unique multiplayer virtual reality (VR) experience. To offer our readers a quick insight into the event, VRFocus sat down with the teams to see just how their efforts were panning out.

As is often the case at game jams, each of the participants offered an interesting insight into just what it means to be involved in the speed run videogame development that these events are.

Furthermore, in the video below you can get a taste of just what some of the participants are working on, with some interesting concepts revealed while the work is on-going.

Of course, VRFocus is present at the event and will keep you updated with each of the participants, and their work in VR development, as The VR Concept Game Jam continues.

February 6, 2017

The VR Concept Game Jam: Meet The Owners

One of the early criticisms of virtual reality (VR) was that it would be an isolating experience and not a social one, but that’s not the case. In fact there are those out there that think VR can be not just a social experience among friends in the home but part of a much bigger night out. VRFocus is currently in London, holding a game jam in Clapham’s Four Thieves public house. But The Four Thieves is not just a regular pub, it is also the home of The VR Concept, a group looking to bring VR experiences to those on a night out.

We spoke to the team about their goals, how they’re bringing VR to a new audience and giving both the competitiveness of multiplayer with friends and the experience of a trip to the arcade a new twist. One they’re hoping to expand beyond their current location with new experiences – potentially including that being developed today by those in attendance at The VR Concept Game Jam.

VRFocus will be bringing you more updates throughout the next 24 hours of the stories behind the game jam and how the game is developing.

January 19, 2017

Win a Development Contract at The VR Concept Game Jam

Continuing VRFocus’ event initiative, today we are pleased to announce a collaboration with The VR Concept for ‘VRFocus Presents The VR Concept Game Jam’. Taking place at The Four Thieves pub in Battersea, UK, The VR Concept Game Jam will challenge participants to make a unique multiplayer VR project in just 24 hours.

The VR Concept Game Jam

Sponsored by HTC Vive, The VR Concept Game Jam will see participants design an experience with a unique multiplayer mechanic that anyone can get to grips with immediately: simple but immersive, with a competitive edge. The Game Jam is designed to promote development of a VR videogame aimed a newcomers to the medium.

Offering a unique twist to the traditional Game Jam format, the winning team will be presented with a contract to showcase their experience to attendees of Laine’s public houses across London and Brighton, with a revenue share for paying participants. In addition, the winning team will take home a brand new HTC Vive headset, courtesy of HTC.

The VRFocus Presents The VR Concept Game Jam event will take place 6th – 7th February 2017, at The Four Thieves, 51 Lavender Gardens, SW11 1DJ, with light snacks throughout and dinner on Monday, 6th February provided by HTC. Applications for The VR Concept Game Jam are open now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-vr-concept-game-jam-tickets-29557403991 and are free for all.

November 21, 2016

How to Introduce Newcomers to VR, That’s the Challenge for The VR Concept Game Jam

Virtual reality (VR) videogame jams have been massively popular in the industry, they help spawn new inventive ideas, share learning and build a sense of community. There have been numerous titles developed at such events, going on to grow beyond their original ideas and parameters, becoming fully fledged projects in their own right. Today VRFocus is proud to announce a partnership with The VR Concept – a specialist in VR consulting and entertainment – on a new initiative, ‘VRFocus Presents The VR Concept Game Jam’, taking place this weekend.

While VR’s popularity continues to grow, reaching new heights across multiple disciplines, it’s still very much a niche technology at the moment. There are still a great many consumers who haven’t heard of it, or even tried immersive content.

The VR Concept Game Jam

So what’s the best kind of VR experience to introduce newcomers to? That’s the aim of The VR Concept Game Jam, to create a title that showcases VR to someone who’s never tried it. Developers will be tasked with creating an experience with a unique multiplayer mechanic, that’s easy to pick up and play straight away.

The VR Concept Game Jam will commence on Sunday 27th, November 2016, concluding on Monday 28th, November. The participating teams will be given a theme which they can interpret how they wish. Then over the 24 hour period they must design and build a VR experience based on the theme using the HTC Vive head-mounted display (HMD).

The winning team will then get an exclusive contract with The VR Concept to continue development and promotional opportunities. This will also include the experience being shown to visitors of The Laines public houses across the UK, with a contract including revenue share.

If you’re a VR developer that would like to apply head to the eventbright page for registration details. The VR Concept Game Jam will be held at The Four Thieves, 51 Lavender Gardens, SW11 1RB, with light snacks included and dinner on Sunday provided by The VR Concept.

As the event gets underway, keep reading VRFocus for the latest updates.