Category: tripwire interactive

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E3 2019 Interview: A Sneaky Talk With Espire 1: VR Operative Dev Digital Lode

There were a number of interesting virtual reality (VR) titles at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) such as Gearbox Software’s Penn & Teller VR and Survios’ Battlewake. Tripwire Interactive (Killing Floor: Incursion) was also there to promote a title it’s publishing, Espire 1: VR Operative, by Australian studio Digital Lode. A couple of the team came over to the show, and VRFocus decided to find out more (that’s what we’re here for). 

Espire1

Espire 1: VR Operative is a first-person shooter (FPS) with plenty of stealth elements to allow players to conduct missions however they please. The sensible option might be to stay hidden, using gantries, zip lines and other environmental objects to stay out of sight, only engaging enemies if you really need to. This way you can truly explore the Espire 1: VR Operative world without bullets whizzing past your head.

Or there’s always the second option, throwing caution to the wind, grabbing some guns and practising the delicate art of turning enemies into swiss cheese. Both options are equally open to all players, but the first requires patience and skill, the other a deadly aim. Plus there’s the little issue of altering all the guards should you get spotted or somewhat trigger happy.

Digital Lode is keen on ensuring Espire 1: VR Operative can be played by anyone (something not all VR FPS titles are good at), so the team created the ‘Control Theatre’ movement mechanic. This is actually intertwined with the story as you play an Espire Agent, operating a fully remote-controlled Espire model 1 robot. The theatre is the area the player character is in – a holodeck of sorts – so when movement takes place part of this location comes in rather like a vignette. This can be turned off if players so wish.

Espire1

In the interview, VRFocus had a chat with Michael Wentworth-Bell, Espire 1: VR Operative Game Director at Digital Lode about the videogames’ production, inspiration as well as all the cool stuff you can do when remotely controlling a robot body that’s strong and more agile than a human.

Espire 1: VR Operative is scheduled to arrive in August 2019, supporting Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. A PlayStation VR has yet to be dated. Check out the interview below and for further updates on Espire 1: VR Operative, keep reading VRFocus.

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Stealth Experience Espire 1: VR Operative Dated for August Launch

Today there have been quite a few announcements when it comes to virtual reality (VR) content coming in 2019 and beyond. Getting in on the action is Digital Lode and Tripwire Interactive, revealing that their stealthy first-person shooter (FPS) Espire 1: VR Operative will be coming to most major headsets in a couple of months.

Espire1

Hoping to become the definitive VR stealth videogame, Espire 1: VR Operative puts you in the role of a drone operator, not some little flying device to film scenic views but a fully remote-controlled robot. You become an Espire Agent, operating the Espire model 1 from the safety of a “Control Theatre.”

This Control Theatre lays at the heart of Espire 1: VR Operative’s gameplay, with developer Digital Lode spending significant time ensuring a comfortable experience for all players. “Any time a player performs any artificial locomotion, the game world shrinks down to the size of a floating tablet, with the Control Theatre visible in the player’s peripheral vision,” explains the studio. “This “VR within VR” system allows for precise full freedom of movement, maintains immersion, and also eliminates “VR motion sickness” for almost everyone.”

Espire 1: VR Operative will be a dedicated single-player experience with individual story missions and scenario missions that use the story mission environments for short challenges. You’ll have complete freedom to explore the environments to plan the most suitable stealthy routes, with dozens of unique gadgets and weapons to play with, such as a tranquillizer pistol and deployable spy cameras.

Espire1

Other features will include voice control, so you can make commands and perform actions simply by speaking. A global leaderboard awards players a competitive score based on mission time, movement, stealth, ammo conservation, takedowns and other factors. Espire 1: VR Operative will be as natural as possible so you can crouch to enter cover for example.

Espire 1: VR Operative will arrive for Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets in August. A date for PlayStation VR and other platforms will be revealed in the near future. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Espire 1: VR Operative, reporting back with the latest updates.

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The VR Job Hub: FundamentalVR, StartVR & Tripwire Interactive

Hopefully, it’s a beautiful Spring day and everyone’s out enjoying the sunshine. If you’re reading this then maybe not, and the garden is enjoying some torrential rain instead. Whatever the case, here’s a new batch of jobs from VR companies around the world, from the UK, US and Australia.

Location Company Role Link
Boston, US FundamentalVR Operational Sales Support Executive Click Here to Apply
Boston, US FundamentalVR Client Success Executive Click Here to Apply
London, UK FundamentalVR 3D Artist Click Here to Apply
London, UK FundamentalVR Unity Gameplay Developer Click Here to Apply
London, UK FundamentalVR Senior/Lead Designer Click Here to Apply
London, UK FundamentalVR Senior Haptics Engineer Click Here to Apply
Sydney, Australia StartVR VR Developer Click Here to Apply
Sydney, Australia StartVR VR Producer Click Here to Apply
Roswell, GA Tripwire Interactive Design Director Click Here to Apply
Roswell, GA Tripwire Interactive Lead Engineer Click Here to Apply
Roswell, GA Tripwire Interactive 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.

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Killing Floor: Double Feature Bundles Two Games in one for PS4 and PlayStation VR

The rather visceral and entertaining Killing Floor: Incursion has been repackaged this week as developer Tripwire Interactive has announced Killing Floor: Double Feature, a bundle featuring the virtual reality (VR) title as well as its standard cousin  Killing Floor 2 for PlayStation VR. Not only that but the VR version gets a small update.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

For the Killing Floor: Double Feature, Killing Floor: Incursion now includes the Espire 1 “Control Theater” mechanic, a free movement system for VR that aims to eliminate motion sickness for all players. They are able to switch between teleportation and the newly enhanced Free Move with “Control Theater” overlay in the options menu or turn the feature off altogether.

The mechanic was developed by Melbourne-based VR developer Digital Lode for it’s upcoming title Espire 1: VR Operative which is due for release later this year, published by Tripwire.

Killing Floor: Double Feature will also come supplied with the Mrs. Foster Playable Character DLC from Killing Floor 2.
Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot
Killing Floor: Incursion originally arrived for Oculus Rift back in 2017, before seeing ports to other headsets including PlayStation VR. VRFocus gave it a solid four-stars in our review, saying: “Killing Floor: Incursion’s single-player campaign is a glorious action romp that’s easy to play through in one sitting.”
In Killing Floor: Incursion players must take on the role of an elite Horzine Security Forces soldier as they team up with allies to fend off the horrific Zed hordes using an array of weapons including pistols, shotguns, blades and more. Players will be able to freely explore as they move throughout the environment, scavenging for weapons and ammo while searching for the best locations to fight the monster onslaught.
Available at videogame retailers as well as PlayStation Store, Killing Floor: Double Feature retails for $39.99 USD / €39.99 EUR / £34.99 GBP. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Tripwire Interactive and the Killing Floor franchise, reporting back with any further updates.

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VR Stealth Game ‘Espire 1’ Coming to Vive & Rift in 2019, Teaser Trailer Here

Espire 1: VR Operative is an upcoming single-player Metal Gear Solid-style stealth game developed by Melbourne-based Digital Lode and published by Tripwire Interactive. It not only aims to be the “definitive VR stealth experience,” but also looks to kill VR-related nausea with its unique locomotion system.

Players take on the role of a drone operator of the future in Espire 1: VR Operative, wherein you remote-operate the ‘Espire model 1’ stealth robot from the safety of what the studios call the ‘Control Theatre.’ Outside of silently shooting down baddies with an arsenal of silenced weaponry, Espire 1 offers up a locomotion system that Tripwire and Digital Lode say eliminates VR motion-related sickness “for almost everyone.”

When a player wants to move across the map, an extreme version of what some developers call a ‘comfort cage’ will automatically pop up, reducing the size of the game world to a small window.

Image courtesy Digital Lode

Once you’ve made your move, chosen your angle of attack and come to a full stop, your peripheral vision comes back in. Tripwire and Digital Lode maintain that the Control Theatre is fully customizable, and depending on player comfort, can be completely disabled provided you can handle full locomotion.

The game is said to include a single-player story and scenario missions that reuse story environments for short challenges. Dozens of weapons will be available including assault rifles, silenced pistols, tranquilizer pistols, and deployable spy cameras in order to complete your mission objectives. A global leaderboard will also award players a competitive score based on mission time, movement, stealth, ammo conservation, and takedowns.

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Using the VR headset’s on-board microphone, you can also make commands and perform actions simply by speaking, although any noise could draw the enemy to your location. AI will respond to light, sound and other factors that could end your mission.

Espire 1 is Digital Lode’s debut title. Besides acting as publisher of the game, Tripwire has also lent Digital Lode its producers, marketing, tech, art and audio leads to assist on Espire 1’s development.

There’s no exact release date yet, although the studio is shooting for release sometime in 2019.

The post VR Stealth Game ‘Espire 1’ Coming to Vive & Rift in 2019, Teaser Trailer Here appeared first on Road to VR.

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‘Killing Floor: Incursion’ to Land on PSVR May 1st, Arriving With ‘Tron-style’ Bonus Level

Last month Killing Floor: Incursion (2017), the co-op zombie shooter from Tripwire Interactive, made its transition from Oculus exclusive to multi-platform title when it launched via Steam with support for HTC Vive and Rift. Now, the zombie-splattering sci-fi horror game is headed to PSVR too.

Update (04/09/18): Tripwire Interactive has released the street date for the PSVR version: May 1st, 2018 for $30 / €30.

On the PlayStation blog, Tripwire detailed the PSVR-only bonus level, which was first announced late last year. Called ‘The Crucible’, the Holdout Mode map departs visually from the base game by offering a “Tron-style virtual sci-fi aesthetic.”

image courtesy Tripwire Interactive

It’s still uncertain if the PSVR version of ‘Killing Floor: Incursion’ will allow cross-play with other headsets.

Original Article (12/11/18): According to a PlayStation blog post, the game is “coming soon” to PlayStation VR headsets, with an unspecified launch date slated for sometime in 2018 May 1st, 2018.

PSVR will also be the first to get a special Holdout Mode map, although Tripwire says it’s only a timed exclusive.

It’s uncertain if the game will feature cross-play with other supported platforms, but if the latest Steam release is any indication, it might never. The Oculus Store version and Steam version don’t use the same backend, meaning you can’t matchmake depending on where you purchased the game.

Here’s how the studio describes the game:

Killing Floor: Incursion includes a full story based campaign with four to six hours of gameplay. The campaign takes the player through diverse environments fighting through a cast of mutated creatures that range from shambling zombie-like monsters to massive biomechanical abominations. Keeping the player company on this journey is NODE, a helpful robot companion that not only shares transmissions from the outside world, but also can be ordered by the player to hunt out ammo, health and more.

The post ‘Killing Floor: Incursion’ to Land on PSVR May 1st, Arriving With ‘Tron-style’ Bonus Level appeared first on Road to VR.

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Killing Floor: Incursion Confirmed for May Launch on PlayStation VR

Tripwire Interactive launched its first-person shooter (FPS) Killing Floor: Incursion on Oculus Rift in August, followed by a port to HTC Vive. In December the studio confirmed that a PlayStation VR version was in the works. Today its now been revealed Killing Floor: Incursion will arrive for the headset next month.

Killing Floor PSVR Catacombs 01

Based on Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor franchise, yet entirely standalone, in Killing Floor: Incursion players must take on the role of an elite Horzine Security Forces soldier as they team up with allies to fend off the horrific Zed hordes using an array of weapons including pistols, shotguns, blades and more. Players will be able to freely explore as they move throughout the environment, scavenging for weapons and ammo while searching for the best locations to fight the monster onslaught.

Killing Floor: Incursion will be playable at the Sony booth during PAX East this weekend and available for pre-order later this month on the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation VR version will come with a timed exclusive Holdout Mode map, “The Crucible”, essentially a ‘Survival’ mode that can be played in either co-op or single-player. In addition, players can expect the PlayStation VR version to include all post-launch content updates released for HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift platforms, including the Hardcore difficulty mode, Katana weapon, leaderboards, and more.

In a recent PlayStation Blog posting John Gibson President, Tripwire Interactive, explains a bit more about The Crucible, saying: “The map contrasts sharply with the realistic style of the rest of the levels in the game with its Tron-style virtual sci-fi aesthetic. The Crucible started out as our development arena for trying out gameplay ideas in the Holdout game mode. When playing it though, we found the map was so fun that we made the decision to fully flesh it out and add it in for PS VR players to enjoy.”

KillingFloor PSVR The Crucible 02

VRFocus reviewed the Oculus Rift version of Killing Floor: Incursion, giving it a solid four-stars, saying: “So is Killing Floor: Incursion still worth getting? Damn right it is. The videogame does have its faults but they aren’t gameplay breaking. Killing Floor: Incursion’s single-player campaign is a glorious action romp that’s easy to play through in one sitting. One thing not mentioned so far is the fact that there’s a co-op option, and as every gamer should know, bringing a mate along to cover each others back only increases the fun factor.”

Killing Floor: Incursion will launch worldwide for PlayStation VR on 1st May, 2018 for $29.99 USD/ €29.99 Euro. For any further updates and announcements, keep reading VRFocus.
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Killing Floor: Incursion’s ‘Holdout’ Horde Mode is all About Those Power-ups

Fans of creepy zombie shooter videogames will not have missed the Killing Floor: Incursion. Released in August this year, Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor: Incursion for Oculus Rift included Oculus Touch support from day one. With four to six hours of campaign to play in virtual reality (VR) many fans felt like there was still something missing that they were accustomed to playing in Killing Floor: Horde Mode. VRFocus speak to John Gibson, president of Tripwire Interactive about how they’ve added ‘Holdout’, a horde mode for one or two players, just in time for the PlayStation VR launch of the videogame.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

The story unfolds with you as an elite Horzine Security Forces soldier who is tasked with dealing with an outbreak called Zed, unleashing hordes of horrific creatures which have similarities to zombies. With a range of weapons from pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, grenades and knives you can also have melee weapons for close combat fighting. Now for anybody who owns a copy of Killing Floor: Incursion you now get a free update that allows players to access Holdout mode, more commonly known as a ‘horde mode’.

Players will find a single location that they will be charged with defending for as long as possible, the Zeds become progressively more powerful, aggressive and boss-level creatures start entering the location to the point where you might have to fend yourself against four simultaneously. Gibson explains that there is a strategy to defeating the enemies, and it comes to timing and choosing the appropriate power-ups. These will help you get further and get you higher scores as well, which help when it comes to ranking on the global leaderboard.

Choose power-ups options such as:
  • Unlimited ammo: eliminates the need to reload and reduces recoil of the barrel
  • Vampire: steal health from enemies
  • Berseker: gives you 4x strength
  • Nuke: Kills every enemy in the vicinity
  • Zed Time: slows time

To make things even more challenging you’ll have to not only prepare, fight and kill Zeds that come at you but also long range Zeds as well. Gibson says that various enemies can really scare people trying it out in VR, some of them ripping the headset off or even jumping on desks. Since speaking to Gibson at Oculus Connect 4, Killing Floor: Incursion has launched for HTC Vive as of the 7th Novembe2017, and is now also moving to the PlayStation VR, but with no specific date confirmed.

For more tips and tricks on ranking higher on the global leaderboard watch the video below and stay right here at VRFocus for all the latest details on Killing Floor: Incursion.

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Killing Floor: Incursion Confirmed for PlayStation VR in 2018, Exclusive Holdout Mode Available at launch

When Tripwire Interactive launched its first-person shooter (FPS) Killing Floor: Incursion on Oculus Rift in August the title made quite an impact. It quickly saw a port to HTC Vive a few months later and now the studio has confirmed a PlayStation VR version is in the works with some exclusive timed content.

In Killing Floor: Incursion, players take on the role of an elite Horzine Security Forces soldier as they team up with allies to fend off the horrific hordes of monstrous creatures called Zeds, using a formidable arsenal of weapons including pistols, shotguns, blades and more. Players are able to freely explore their environment – although the levels do have a linear design to them – scavenging for weapons and ammo while searching for the best locations to fight the monster onslaught.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

This will be Tripwire Interactive’s first PlayStation VR title, with only a broad date of 2018 given so far. When Killing Floor: Incursion hit HTC Vive last month the studio also released a major update adding a Hardcore difficulty setting, a Katana weapon, leaderboards, achievements, and the new “Holdout” game mode. Essentially a ‘Survival’ mode that can be played in either co-op or single-player, when the PlayStation VR version launches the headset will get a exclusive Holdout Mode map for a limited time.

Tripwire made the announcement during the PlayStation Experience event this past weekend. The annual consumer showcase run by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) in California usually sees a few videogame announcements and 2017 was no different. As a Christmas present to PlayStation VR owners the company announced a short free videogame called The Last Guardian VR Experience, as well as the latest Wipeout title getting a VR mode.

Not only that but PlayStation VR will see Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Firewall Zero Hour, and Jupiter & Mars all confirmed for launch in 2018.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Tripwire Interactive and Killing Floor: Incursion, keeping you updated with the latest developments.

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Killing Floor: Incursion Hits HTC Vive, Major Update Released

Tripwire Interactive’s first-person shooter (FPS) Killing Floor: Incursion launched on Oculus Rift back in August. Today, HTC Vive owners get to take on hordes of monstrous nasties as the videogame is now available through Steam. Additionally, both versions will also get the major content update that’s now been released.

The new update includes a Hardcore difficulty setting, a Katana weapon, leaderboards, achievements, and the new “Holdout” game mode. Essentially a survival mode in which players can choose to go it alone or team up with a friend in co-op, defending a random location in one of the game’s maps against increasingly deadly hordes of Zeds in a frenetic, arcade-like action experience. The mode features six power-ups to aid players; a limited time unlimited ammo perk; Vampire, where each attack regenerates a players health; Berzerker, adding explosive damage to attacks; Zed Time, for some slow motion action; 4x Damage, for extra stopping power and finally Nuke, which obliterates all enemies.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

If you’ve not been keeping up with VRFocus’ coverage of Killing Floor: Incursion, players must take on the role of an elite Horzine Security Forces soldier as they team up with allies to fend off the horrific Zed hordes using an array of weapons including pistols, shotguns, blades and more. Players will be able to freely explore as they move throughout the environment, scavenging for weapons and ammo while searching for the best locations to fight the monster onslaught.

Or read up on the title with VRFocus’ Oculus Rift review, which gave the title 4 stars, saying: “Killing Floor: Incursion’s single-player campaign is a glorious action romp that’s easy to play through in one sitting.”

“With Killing Floor: Incursion, we’ve managed to create VR gameplay experiences we couldn’t have achieved with a traditional game,” said Leland Scali, Project Lead at Tripwire Interactive. “The Killing Floor universe has never felt this immersive and we’re excited for more players to experience it first-hand.”

Killing Floor: Incursion is available through Steam for £30.99 GBP. For any further updates from Tripwire Interactive, keep reading VRFocus.