This Week In VR Sport: Recruitment, Table Tennis And The Future Of eSports

Every weekend VRFocus brings you a number of sports and eSports related virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) stories as part of This Week In VR Sport. This week, the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s soccer team is using VR to help with recruitment and training, Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is coming to PlayStation VR, and Oculus talk about the blood, sweat, and tears of eSports at Oculus Connect 5. 

Mount Royal University Cougars

Mount Royal University Using VR Try-Outs For Their Women’s Soccer Team

Those looking to earn a spot on the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s soccer team may soon find that their try-out goes beyond the pitch and into VR.

As reported by globalnews, the University is looking to explore how they are use VR technology to help them recruit players and train athletes already on the team. This came around following Cougars head coach Tino Fusco notices the importance of review match footage. After reaching out to Mount Royal University associate professor Anthony Chaston, a way to incorporate VR into his coaching was developed.

By taking 360-degree video of Cougars players during practice matches the plan is to use the footage to immerse players and recruits into a real soccer scenario and see how they perform. The system could also be used by the coaches to provide them with a unique perspective to review plays and improve their teams performance.

“If I can get a recruit in my office and sit her down and put the headset on her and actually be on the field and be able to see 360 degrees, now I’m able to challenge the athlete and say, ‘Do you understand the game?’” Fusco said.

The solution could see the recruitment process for the team become more in-depth while all allow Fusco a means to challenge the teams knowledge and performances in an immersive way. As the technology continues to get rolled out to the team, VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest.

Racket Fury - PSVR

Racket Fury: Table Table VR Coming To PlayStation VR Next Month

Earlier this week it was revealed that developer 10Ants are bringing their VR table tennis title to PlayStation VR next month. Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR was originally released for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive back in 2017 and then the Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR earlier this year. Now, the title will be coming to the PlayStation VR headset giving even more players a chance to enjoy some sci-fi inspired table tennis.

“We can assure that the game is exceptionally challenging, engaging and fun! Thanks to the advanced physics, developed in cooperation with professional TT players, every match you’re about to play is going to be a really immersive experience” said Sebastian Boczek, CEO of 10Ants Hill in a statement.

Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR gives players the chance to experience a realistic and immersive table tennis experience that will see them traveling to a range of sci-fi locations. With advanced physics and challenging AI opponents to face, the title is able to recreate the real-world feeling while also putting a few twists on things. There is even a workshop where players can develop their unique robot-character to create the ultimate table tennis player.

Oculus Connect 5 eSports

Oculus Talk eSports At Oculus Connect 5

At the recent Oculus Connect 5 event, Christopher K. McKelvy, Head of eSports at Oculus to the stage to deliver a short keynote on the companies current and future VR eSports plans. Titled “Blood, Sweat, and Tears: A Tale of VR Esports” the talk explores what makes VR so appealing within this rapidly growing and expanding market sector. Oculus have a vision to grow the VR eSports ecosystem and feel that it will play a key part in the future of gaming as a whole. 

As mentioned in the talk, the market is on track to have an audience size of over 500 million with $1.5 billion (USD) expected in revenue. Titles such as Onward, Sprint Vector and The Unspoken are some of the titles that are mentioned during the talk as being some of the most played and most successful on the Oculus store.

Oculus are of course heavy invested in the VR eSports scene being involved in the VR League, which held it’s season 2 finals at the Oculus Connect 5 Event. One part of the keynote that is a nice touch as well is that McKelvy spends a moment talking about the players and some of their stories, even sharing his own. The full talk, which last around 17 minutes, can be watched below and goes over Oculus’ strategy to revolutionize eSports and keep creating more excitement.

That is all for This Week In VR Sport. For more on immersive sport news keep reading VRFocus and remember to check back next week for another This Week In VR Sport.

This Week In VR Sport: Vuzix And OnCore Target AR Golf, The VR League Finals Draw Near And Watch PGA TOUR Coverage In VR

Every weekend VRFocus brings you a number of sports and eSports related virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) stories as part of This Week In VR Sport. This week, a reminder that the VR league Season 2 finals are being held at the upcoming Oculus Connect 5 event, Vuzix has announced a partnership with OnCore to produce AR experiences for golf players and fans can now watch PGA TOUR coverage in both VR and AR. 

VR League

VR League Season 2 Final To Be Held At Oculus Connect 5

The ever growing VR eSports scene will be making another big step soon as it has been announced that the VR League Season 2 finals will be features at the upcoming Oculus Connect 5 event.

The Oculus Connect 5 event is taking place on September 26 – 27 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose and it is here that teams will face off against each other in the world finals of the VR League season 2. This will see teams for popular VR titles such as Onward, The Unspoken, Sprint Vector and even Echo Arena battle it out to take home the victory and the prize. The VR League is sponsored by Oculus and ESL so it isn’t much of a surprise that the final will be held at the Oculus Connect 5 event and might even become a trend in the future.

VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest from both the Oculus Connect 5 event and the finals of the VR League Season 2 as they develop, so stay tuned for more.

Vuzix Announces Partnership With OnCore Golf To Bring AR Experiences To Golf Players

Vuzix Corporation, known for their Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses, have announced that they are partnering with OnCore Golf to deliver new AR enhanced experiences for golfers on the Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses.

The two companies will team up to create AR instructional, entertainment, and educational programs that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy at any venue – including driving rangers, golf entertainment centers, on the golf course, and at home – all center around the Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses. The two companies are planning to introduce their first AR golf experience in early 2019 and will leverage third-part ball launch system at driving ranges and practice facilities.

By mid-2019, OnCore expects to launch its smart GENiUS ball and offer it with the Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses to allow for real-time AR tracking and analysis for golfers to use in actual course play. The system will include a range of features such as instructional and caddying advice using a network of both professional golf instructors and artificial intelligence (AI), along with GPS location and sensor technology. More features are expected to be announced in the coming months closer to the release of the product.

“We are excited to enter into this partnership with OnCore Golf and believe it can create an entirely new form of entertainment and training experiences for golfers of all skill levels,” said Paul Travers, President and Chief Executive Officer at Vuzix talking about the new partnership: “Bringing Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses to the golf courses, golf entertainment centers and driving ranges gives us an opportunity to connect with more than 25 million active golf participants that play on more than 15,000 golf courses across the USA.”

“Coupled with an appropriate golf ball launch system, wearers can see their flight statistics in real time. Connecting the digital world to the real world through the Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses allows wearers to keep their phone in their pocket and eye on the ball while offering an opportunity to improve their golf handicap or just simply have a lot fun while trying.”

VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest on this partnership in the future as it develops.

PGA TOUR

Watch The PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoffs In VR And AR

PGA TOUR announced earlier this week that it was going to give fans an immersive way for fans to experience coverage of the FedExCup Playoffs event for the 2017-18 season. On offer are three holes of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club which are being broadcast in VR with fans also able to enjoy some of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings warm up on the driving range.

Fans will be able to enjoy coverage of East Lake’s par-3 9th, par-3 15th, and par-5 18th closing hole in VR with an AR option available as well. In order to enjoy this content fans can watch it on Twitter, Periscope, the PGA TOUR mobile app and on the Samsung Gear VR via the PGA TOUR VR Live Oculus application. The remaining live coverage will run today from 1pm – 6pm (ET) and tomorrow at the same times.

To experience the AR cover, fans will need to download the PGA TOUR AR app to their device and then find a flat, horizontal surface on which to display the content. Once the model has loaded viewers will be able to select a player to watch and then enjoy their shot trails in AR. There are a number of different players and holes available to pick so make sure to try them all out in AR. For more information on the application and setup process, here over to the official website.

That is all for This Week In VR Sport. For more on immersive sport news keep reading VRFocus and remember to check back next week for another This Week In VR Sport.

Team Gravity Secure Spot at VR League World Finals During Oculus Connect 5

Gamescom 2018 may still be underway but the virtual reality (VR) industry is already looking ahead towards Oculus Connect 5 (OC5) next month. Taking place at the conference this year is the VR League: Season 2, created by Oculus in collaboration with ESL. Today, eSports organisation Team Gravity have announced they are the top EU qualifiers across three different titles and are now headed for the VR League World Finals.

Established in 2017 as a VR only  eSports organisation, Team Gravity has competed across multiple VR League titles such as Echo Arena, Sprint Vector and The Unspoken. Comprised of members – Tim ‘VR Jersey’ McGuinness, Dennis ‘Affenterror’ Ahrweiler, Philipp ‘Viatrex’ Rietdorf and Rick ‘Flushgogo’ Bos, the last major event Team Gravity competed at was the 2017 IEM Katowice, where they placed fourth.

In a statement regarding their success Team Gravity said:

“Having welcomed our new members Flushgogo and Affenterror this season, the team have been working hard to incorporate their strategies and style in to our game plan and have emerged stronger than ever before. Qualifying this year hasn’t been easy – the increased interest in VR eSports means there are more players, and less spots. However, we have had an excellent season and have been racking up wins across multiple competitions and games.

“Whilst some matches were very close, we have consistently prevailed, coming top at World Final qualifiers for all three games we compete in. Flushgogo has truly impressed us, placing first and second respectively in The Unspoken and Sprint Vector, and the rest of the team have mirrored his success in Echo Arena. We are proud to say that going into these finals Team Gravity are the top team in the EU, and we can’t wait to continue this success.

Echo Arena artwork

“Right now, we are seeing the start of an industry that will take things to the next level, as it merges the cutting-edge technology and strategy of online gaming with the physical demands of traditional sport. This is the future, and we are more than just a gaming team – our goal is to provide support for players looking to compete in the world of professional VR eSports, and to show the world how truly incredible VR eSports is. We are beyond excited to be attending the finals in San José!”

The VR Challenger League World Finals will be taking place in San José, California at Oculus Connect 5 on September 26th and 27th, where teams from around the world will be competing for their share of the $120,000 prize pool. For further updates on the VR League World Finals and Oculus Connect 5, keep reading VRFocus.

ESL’s VR League: Season 2 Grand Finals Taking Place at Oculus Connect 5

A couple of months ago Oculus announced the second annual esports tournament, VR League: Season 2, in collaboration with ESL. With the competition well under way with players competing from across the globe its been announced that the grand finals will take place during Oculus Connect 5 (OC5) in September.

Echo Arena artwork

Due to be streamed live on VR League’s FacebookTwitch and YouTube channels starting at 11:30 AM PST/19:30 CEST on both Wednesday, 26th September and Thursday, 27th September, competitors will be fighting for a total cash prize pool of $120K USD. The first day will feature military shooter Onward and magical combat title The Unspoken. While Day Two will feature the slightly sportier Echo Arena and Sprint Vector.

Onward is a 5v5 tactical first-person shooter (FPS) which held its first invitational back in June, securing one team a spot in the grand finals. Working in tandem with the VR Master League, the VR League will be putting two more slots up for grabs in an open qualifier on 11th August. For the fourth slot four teams from the VR Master League will be invited to compete live on LAN on 2nd September.

As for The Unspoken, four players are already in the World Finals Qualifier with four places remaining. The Last Chance Qualifier takes place on 14th August with the World Finals Qualifier following on 18th August, where the top two players from each region will get to play at OC5.

Onward screenshot 1

If your more of an Echo Arena fan then there’s still time to join in the fun. Apart from the Echo Arena Invitational in July  there’s still the Stage 3 Finals on 12th August, where the two top teams receive an invite to the World Finals Qualifier. Finally there’s the Last Chance Qualifier on 14th-15th August to get through to the World Finals Qualifier. If you want to compete head here.

Finally there’s the most physical videogame of the lot, Survios’ Sprint Vector. Qualifiers haven’t even begun just yet for this title, with the racing due to begin on 17th August. For further details on how to sign up head here.

With plenty of competition expected over the next month VRFocus will keep you informed of what’s going on.

Oculus Announces VR League: Season 2 in Collaboration With ESL

While esports like CS:GO and League of Legends (LoL) are massively popular, attracting ever growing numbers of fans whilst offering even bigger prize funds, the virtual reality (VR) is hot on their heels. Last year Oculus, in partnership with ESL and Intel created the VR Challenger League featuring multiplayer titles like The Unspoken and Echo Arena that anyone could enter. Today, Oculus has again teamed up with ESL for a new-look VR League: Season 2.

Echo Arena artwork

For season 2 Oculus has expanded the lineup of vidoegames available, Echo Arena and The Unspoken return but are this time joined by Survios’ Sprint Vector and military simulator Onward. Up to seven titles are said to be participating across the five-month competitive period with three more still to be revealed.

The competition begins tomorrow 18th May, with a month of magical combat in The Unspoken. This will then be followed by  a month of frenzied racing in Sprint Vector starting on 4th June. The titles for July and August will be revealed nearer the time.

For Echo Arena fans a four week competition will return on 20th May. Last year Echo Arena saw 258 players across 98 teams worldwide compete. Additionally, later in the year Echo Combat will be introduced to the VR League, with its own competition.

Sprint Vector Final screenshot1

“Oculus is committed to fostering long-term growth of the VR esports ecosystem, and Season 2—with its new format and additional games—is an amazing next step on this exciting journey,” says Oculus Head of Esports Christopher K. McKelvy in a statement.

Oculus’ VR League will also support the VR Master League with an Onward Invitational event from 16th – 17th June. The live event will be held at the ESL UK Studios, also benefiting Stack Up, a charity supporting US and Allied veterans with gaming.

VR League Season 2 will feature a prize pool in excess of $220K USD. The VR League is open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom, who are over the age of 13. For further updates on the tournament, keep reading VRFocus.