Following the successful launch on Magic Leap,Resolution Games to bring Angry Birds to VR.

Fans can soon soar into the world of Angry Birds with the upcoming virtual reality (VR) game, Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs. Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs will allow fans of the incredibly popular franchise to swoop in on a remote island to take on the infamous green pigs with the help of their favorite Angry Birds characters.

Kati Levoranta, CEO at Rovio Entertainment, commented, “Introducing the Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs is an exciting step for Rovio in exploring the future of gaming. We are thrilled that millions of Angry Birds fans will soon be able to literally step into the Angry Birds universe with the powerful sense of presence you get with VR. Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs continues to demonstrate the many unforeseen ways fan can interact with their favorite characters and gameplay.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Rovio to bring their beloved franchise to VR,” said Tommy Palm, CEO of Resolution Games. “Angry Birds lends itself perfectly to VR, where players can experience the already highly engaging characters and gameplay mechanics in a much more tangible and immersive way than ever. Just as Angry Birds was applauded for its intuitive controls and gameplay on mobile, we feel Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs will continue that legacy for VR.”

Resolution Games is a games studio focused on visual computing. In their first three years, they have produced one of the most popular VR titles of all time (Bait!) and their games are among the highest rated on their respective platforms.

Rovio Entertainment is best known for its global Angry Birds franchise, born from the world-famous Angry Birds Classic game. Today, Rovio has a wide portfolio of Angry Birds games which, although primarily designed and marketed for adult players, are always appropriate for all audiences. With over four billion game downloads since 2009 and one of the strongest mobile game brand licensing programs in the world, Angry Birds is one of the most successful IPs in mobile gaming history.

Rovio and Resolution Games are anticipating an early 2019 release for Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs across all major VR platforms. For more information, be sure to follow Rovio on Facebook and Twitter and Resolution Games on Facebook and Twitter.

Mind-bending VR adventure game A Fisherman's Tale will launch on various VR platfroms on January 22, 2019.

In A Fisherman’s Tale, you live a cozy, isolated life until one day you realize you’re just a little wooden puppet trapped inside the model of a lighthouse! Worse, the model is replicated inside and out on an infinite recursive loop. Luckily, you quickly find out you can collaborate with none other than yourself to solve the multi-dimensional riddles that pave the way to discovering your true reality.

Co-produced by ARTE, the European culture channel and digital network with a focus on creation and innovation, A Fisherman’s Tale is a narrative VR production that at its heart tells a story about breaking away illusions to find truth. And who knows, you may even discover something about yourself along the way...

“A Fisherman’s Tale is an amazing story full of surprising and playful gameplay. It explores immersive writing in virtual reality and brings an unprecedented proposition to VR gaming. ARTE is a proud collaborator on A Fisherman’s Tale together with its talented creators at Innerspace and publisher Vertigo Games,” said Gilles Freissinier, Head of Web Department at ARTE France.

A Fisherman's Tale will launch on PlayStation VR, HTC VIVE, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality on January 22, 2019.

A Fisherman's Tale was developed by INNERSPACE VR in co-production with ARTE France with the support of CNC, Ville de Paris New Media Fund and BPI France. Published by Vertigo Games.

For more information, wishlist the game on Steam, subscribe to the newsletter at http://afishermanstale-game.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.



Until Dawn dev Supermassive Games continues to support VR with new game for Google Daydream

BAFTA-winning independent British developer Supermassive Games is proud to announce Shattered State, an interactive cinematic thriller for Daydream. Developed in partnership with Google and published by Supermassive Games, Shattered State features a compelling storyline, blockbuster production values and a branching narrative to deliver an immersive gaming experience that sets the benchmark for cinematic VR gaming on mobile devices. 

A Nation in turmoil. A city under threat where only your decisions can halt catastrophe.

In Shattered State you assume the role of the Director of the National Intelligence Agency in the midst of a national crisis. You must take control of the situation and make tough decisions that decide the fate of your colleagues, the public, and ultimately, the nation. With a branching narrative your choices have far-reaching consequences, impacting both the course of events and the outcome of the game. Shattered State encourages multiple playthroughs, letting players discover how they could have overcome each of the challenges in a time of national crisis.”

 A cinematic VR thriller for Daydream devices, Shattered State is brought to you by the BAFTA award-winning creators of Until Dawn, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and The Inpatient. 

Simon Harris, Executive Producer of VR Games at Supermassive Games said “We are delighted to be partnering with Google to bring our acclaimed storytelling and production values to Daydream.  This partnership has enabled us to create a game which we believe sets a new benchmark for mobile VR.”

For more information on Shattered State, please visit https://www.supermassivegames.com/. You can follow Supermassive Games on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

About Supermassive Games

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning independent game developer with a reputation for innovation in both storytelling and VR. The studio has released a number of successful titles and is best known for the critically acclaimed PS4 hit Until Dawn.Founded in 2008, the studio is now home to over 160 talented individuals working across a range of storytelling and VR titles.  Supermassive Games remains fully independent and has broad ambitions to grow audiences across a range of platforms.The studio has received numerous awards including a BAFTA for Until Dawn, and was included on the prestigious Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 and Deloitte EMEA Technology Fast 500 lists in 2013. In the same year they were listed by TechTrack as one of the 40 fastest growing technology companies in the UK.

Building upon their reputation as cinematic storytellers Supermassive Games recently announced The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of stand-alone, horror games for PS4, Xbox and PC. The first game is Man of Medan, due to release in 2019.

Win the Gungrave VR Loaded Coffin Edition (PSVR US Only)

GUNGRAVE VR, the virtual reality shooter featuring third- and first-person gameplay modes and designs from original character designer Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun), and the standalone episode 2 GUNGRAVE VR U.N in North America for PlayStation®VR on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. GUNGRAVE VR is available for $29.99 and the standalone GUNGRAVE VR U.N  for $14.99 on the PlayStation®Store, or get the combined “Loaded Coffin Edition” bundle, which includes both titles together, for $39.99. A retail version of the “Loaded Coffin Edition,” collecting both GUNGRAVE VR and GUNGRAVE VR U.N on one game disc, is also now available at select retailers for a MSRP of $39.99.  

Featuring both traditional arcade-style first-person shooting and free-moving third-person gameplay sections, along with side-scrolling battles against waves of enemies and massive bosses introduced in the episode 2 content, GUNGRAVE VR and GUNGRAVE VR U.N bring the cult classic franchise into the modern era of gaming after over a decade since the series’ last installment. As part of XSEED Games’ commitment to delivering a complete localization of their titles, both games will include both the original Japanese and new English voice options, with many actors returning to reprise their legendary roles.

About GUNGRAVE VR

In GUNGRAVE VR, players take control of undead assassin BEYOND THE GRAVE with his iconic pair of massive handguns, CERBERUS. They’ll master different playstyles to take down the various foes that stand in Grave’s way. Levels consist either of free-moving third-person gameplay or first-person action that includes both stationary and mobile sections, putting players in the shoes of the resurrected Millennion agent himself. With an array of shooting attacks, close-range strikes using Grave’s Death Coffin, slow-motion Reaper Time, and more, GUNGRAVE VR brings an authentic GUNGRAVE experience to virtual reality.

Win the Gungrave VR Loaded Coffin Edition (US Only)

Kingdom Hearts VR experience launching on PSVR on Christmas.

This Christmas, Square Enix is launching the Kingdom Hearts PSVR Experience they teased prior to Tokyo Game Show this year. The experience has around 10 minutes of content that allows you to relieve the history of the Kingdom Hearts series in VR. Cut scenes, music videos, and more will make up the Dec 25th release but the team does plan to support the VR experience with updates that will add more content heading towards the launch of Kingdom Hearts III.

Though it is not a huge VR game it is still worth a holiday download if you have a PSVR and love Kingdom Hearts.

XSEED to Bring GUNGRAVE VR to European and North American PSVR users in December

XSEED Games, the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc.,announced that GUNGRAVE VR, the PlayStation®VR for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system shooter featuring third- and first-person gameplay modes, will be launching in North America digitally and at retail on December 11, 2018 and December 7th 2018 in Europe.  GUNGRAVE VR U.N, the standalone episode 2 content which greatly expands on the story and gameplay of GUNGRAVE VR, will also launch on the same day. The “Loaded Coffin Edition,” which includes both games at a value bundle price, is now available for pre-order digitally on the PlayStation®Store at $39.99, or at retail stores for the same suggested retail price of $39.99 for the physical version. GUNGRAVE VR will also be sold individually on the PlayStation Store for $29.99, while GUNGRAVE VR U.N., which does not require the base game to play, will be available separately for $14.99. As a bonus, all pre-orders at the PlayStation Store will come with an exclusive “Loaded Coffin Edition” theme.

Launching with both Japanese and English voice options and featuring designs from original character designer Yasuhiro Nightow, GUNGRAVE VR delivers an authentic and immersive GUNGRAVE experience in virtual reality. In addition to pulse-pounding gunplay in the base game, the standalone episode GUNGRAVE VR U.N. adds three challenging levels with new side-scrolling gameplay and massive bosses, plus original opening and ending animated movies.

The GUNGRAVE VR “Loaded Coffin Edition” includes:

• Two PlayStation®VR for PlayStation®4 system games: GUNGRAVE VR and GUNGRAVE VR U.N

• GUNGRAVE VR U.N standalone game features

  • 3 New Levels

  • Challenging new side-scrolling and sliding gameplay

  • 3D sound system

  • New Opening and Ending animated movies

About GUNGRAVE VR

In GUNGRAVE VR, players take control of undead assassin BEYOND THE GRAVE with his iconic pair of massive handguns, CERBERUS, and will have to master different playstyles to take down the various foes that stand in his way. Levels consist either of free-moving third-person gameplay or first-person action that includes both stationary and mobile sections, offering players a variety of modes putting them in the shoes of the resurrected Millennion agent himself. With an array of shooting attacks, close-range strikes using Grave’s Death Coffin, slow-motion Reaper Time, and more, GUNGRAVE VR brings an authentic GUNGRAVE experience to virtual reality for the very first time.

INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY BAOBAB STUDIOS WORLD PREMIERES ANIMATED SHORT “CROW: THE LEGEND”

Baobab Studios proudly announced today the official global release of “Crow: The Legend”. This award-winning story is now widely available online to consumers for the first time, offered as a traditional animated short film (http://bit.ly/2RX73ZP) as well as an interactive virtual reality experience free to download within the Oculus Store (https://ocul.us/2RX9QSR)

Released in conjunction with Native American Heritage Month, “Crow: The Legend” is based on the poignant Native American legend about the bird’s cultural genesis and is the first of its kind to incorporate an indigenous worldview, according to Sarah Eagle Heart, CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy, cultural advisor, and voice of "Luna" in "Crow". Through a partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (https://nativephilanthropy.org), Baobab Studios aims to brings heightened awareness to culturally-important stories like "Crow", that have for so long lacked a major platform.

Randy Edmonds, respected 84-year-old Kiowa-Caddo tribal elder and founder of the National Indian Urban Council, who voices "Narrator" in "Crow" explains, "All Native American tales have a tradition of deep meaning and that’s why we tell the stories, sharing down the generations. When I look at the impact these legends have, the insights they represent, taking that storytelling to a modern medium is extremely exciting. The beautiful work being created -inspired by our folklore- is like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my many years.”

Crow, once the most revered animal in all the forest with his colorful plumage and melodic voice, must choose between himself and his fellow animals when tasked with saving them from a destructive endless winter. Realizing he is their only hope, Crow ventures in seek of help but the arduous trek irrevocably damages his voice and stunning colors. Embarrassed by his physical transformation, Crow ultimately learns that his self-sacrifice is far more beautiful and important than his appearance.  

“We are excited about the opportunity to honor the Native American storytelling tradition and to share Indigenous worldview with the passionate support of Native Americans in Philanthropy. By making both versions available, we are now able to share this powerful tale with audiences everywhere and give viewers the opportunity decide how to participate in Crow’s journey in this holistic animation experience”, said Baobab co-founder and "Crow" producer, writer and director Eric Darnell (“Madagascar” franchise, “Antz”).

Native Americans in Philanthropy CEO Sarah Eagle Heart added, “The film released in both VR and 2D allows a mainstream audience to celebrate stories from the wildly underrepresented Native American community in Hollywood. I could not be happier that these films are available during Native American Heritage Month, which pays homage to the rich culture that indigenous people share.”

Featuring an original song by Executive-Producer John Legend, the project contains a diverse all-star cast of voice talent including: Legend as Crow; Oprah Winfrey who makes her VR debut as The One Who Creates Everything By Thinking; Sarah Eagle Heart (Native Americans in Philanthropy CEO) as Luna, a character named after Legend’s daughter; Kiowa-Caddo Tribal Elder and lifelong Native rights crusader Randy Edmonds as Narrator; Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand) as Owl; Diego Luna ("Narcos") as Moth; Tye Sheridan ("Ready Player One") as Turtle; and Constance Wu ("Crazy Rich Asians", "Fresh Off the Boat") as Skunk.

Niantic and WB Games have unveiled the first teaser trailer for the Harry Potter AR game.

Niantic and WB Games have unveiled the first teaser trailer for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite™,  the upcoming augmented reality (AR) mobile game that will put magic in the hands of players worldwide. The highly anticipated game will launch in 2019.

Co-published and co-developed by Niantic and WB Games, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is part of Portkey Games, a games label dedicated to creating video game and mobile experiences inspired by the Wizarding World.

In Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, players will be able to explore real-world surroundings to unravel a global mystery, cast spells, and encounter fantastic beasts and iconic characters along the way.

Ground Runner: Trials speeds and shoots its way out of Early Access to deliver immersive vehicular VR combat

FPS vehicle-based VR shooter Ground Runner: Trials has left Early Access. Available for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality, the game fuses FPS action, intense vehicle combat and hands-only controls to create a truly immersive and intense gaming experience.

In the game, players take on the role of a Ground Runner: a scavenger whose job is to scour the mining planet on a technologically advanced hoverbike, searching for the extremely powerful and sought after Torsion Crystals, all while being relentlessly hunted themselves.

 To survive, they’ll need to outrun and outgun the shadowy Corporate Alliance that will do everything in their power to acquire these crystals across multiple large-scale maps and a single-player campaign. Players can also jump straight into the action on Arcade Mode, completing objectives on a dedicated map four times larger than the campaign maps.

 The hover-bike is fully upgradeable, as players convert loot into credits to ensure they keep the edge over the Corporate Alliance. Players can use credits to improve their bikes thrust, handling and power.  Scavengers will also need to ensure they are locked and loaded, with a range of deadly weapons to choose from. For an extra punch, weapons can also be dual-wielded and available tools for waging wholesale destruction include rocket launchers and beam cannons.

 Due to the game’s high level of immersion, Comfort Mode can be adjusted in the settings to ensure players have the most immersive and enjoyable experience possible within Ground Runner: Trials without suffering from motion sickness. This includes adjusting the dynamic field of view during acceleration and collisions.

 Ground Runner: Trials is compatible with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, giving VR gamers a wide range of options and platforms to play.

Features:

●      Fully upgradable hoverbike with 360-degree view hands-only controls for total immersion

●      Varied weapons (single and duel-wielded) including Electro-Pulse, Rocket Launcher, Beam Cannon and more

●      Multiple large-scale maps to traverse

●      Single-player campaign for players to conquer

●      Different modes to take part in including Arcade Mode, instantly dropping you into the heart of the action

●      Multiple enemy types to crush

Happy Halloween! We are giving you a chance to win one of the scariest PSVR games of the year, "Home Sweet Home"

Happy Halloween Cats And VR Fans and to celebrate we are giving away a PSVR copy of one of the scariest VR games of the year. All you have to do is follow @CatsAndVR & @MastiffGames on Twitter. Make sure you comment on this page what your twitter handle is for a chance to win.

Interesting about Home Sweet Home is that it comes from a company who specializes primarily in high-end video production for commercials and advertising. Developed by Yggdrazil Group, Home Sweet Home got a Steam release as non-VR PC title and was also recently released on X1. Drawing from many of the tropes of horror games like P.T. Home Sweet Home still delivers its own set of unique scares. One of the most nightmarish moments of the game, a woman throwing up bloody nails into a sink, haunted me for several days. 

A first-person horror adventure game based on Thai myths and beliefs. The core gameplay focuses on storytelling and stealth to avoid perilous spirits hunting you including your dead wife who has a box cutter and will slit her throat in front of you to say "Hi honey, I'm home".

The level of detail in the game is very impressive for a PSVR title and it does have the ascetic of a thai horror film.

“We are very excited to be working with Mastiff in order to bring the dark, Thai-inspired world of Home Sweet Home to consoles,” shares Saroot Tubloy, Chief Operating Officer of Yggdrazil Group. “The game's real-world lore and mythology is sure to captivate and intrigue players, while its brooding narrative keeps them clinging to the edge of their seat.”

 The first in a series of terrifying first-person horror games, Home Sweet Home throws players into a dark and twisted labyrinth, where a miasma of fear fills the air, dread bleeds through cracks in the ceiling and seeps down through broken floorboards, and anxiety grows stronger with every step.

  After a long night filled with mourning and sorrow over the recent disappearance of his wife, Tim awakens to find himself in a strange, dilapidated building instead of the comfort of his own home. Naturally confused, he desperately begins to search for a way out while attempting to solve questions that could lead to answers regarding his wife's disappearance. At the same time, he’ll find himself being hunted by malevolent spirits.

There is a dark and sinister secret casting a shadow over this interconnected labyrinth...and without question, it's no longer the happy home that it once was.

● Gripping Thai Horror – A dark narrative inspired by Thai lore, myths, and beliefs that will captivate players while keeping their palms sweating and pulses pounding with fear

● Sharpen Wits, Not Blades – Without weapons to provide defense against the evil spirits, players must keep their wits sharp at all times in order to survive

● Nicely Tied Together – The use of stealth and investigative skills offers gameplay variety and a chance for players to breathe, but not for long....

● Face Your Fears – Experience a new level of first-person fear and terror with PS®VR compatibility

Borderlands 2 is coming to Playstation VR!

 2K and  Gearbox Software today announced Borderlands® 2 VR, that will bring the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining shooter-looter franchise to VR for the first time on December 14, 2018 on PlayStation®VR. Fans who pre-order Borderlands 2 VR will also be rewarded with instant access to a dynamic PlayStation Theme featuring the game’s four iconic Vault Hunters – Salvador, Maya, Axton and Zer0.

Developed by Gearbox Software, Borderlands 2 VR brings the iconic world of Pandora to life like never before. Fans will virtually become a treasure-seeking Vault Hunter, grab 87 bazillion guns, and face off against the galaxy’s most charming psychopathic dictator, Handsome Jack, to free Pandora from the corrupt Hyperion Corporation.

Key features for Borderlands 2 VR on PS VR include: 

• Virtually Step onto Pandora: Step into the boots of a treasure-seeking Vault Hunter armed with 87 bazillion possible guns on a quest to line your pockets with loot and free Pandora from Handsome Jack’s clutches. Blast bandits with real-world aiming, punch bullymongs in the mouth, find the perfect gun inside a life-sized treasure chest and inspect it from every angle. Catch-aRide and race across Pandora in first-person view and experience the thrill of a psycho running toward you with grenade in-hand yelling, “Boom time!”

• Virtually Slow Time: Borderlands 2 VR includes new features unique to the VR experience to empower Vault Hunters in their fight against Handsome Jack. With Bad Ass Mega Fun Time (aka BAMF Time), players can use this new slow-mo ability to literally slow the speed of the game temporarily to set up their next attack. In addition, with the option to Teleport, players can glide across Pandora as gracefully as Claptrap (if he had grace).

• Become a Virtual Vault Hunter: Take on the role of one of four playable classes – Siren, Commando, Gunzerker and Assassin – each with unique combat styles and updated skills that leverage the new VR functionality, including the new BAMF Time ability. Whether crushing enemies with Maya’s Siren powers, calling in Sabre Turret reinforcements as Axton, feeling the heft of dual-wielded machine guns as Salvador, or the satisfying swing of Zer0’s sword in an enemy’s back, Borderlands 2 VR immerses players like never before.

• Experience Virtual Improvements: For the first time ever, players can experience the sublime exhilaration of driving around the Borderlands in first-person perspective – accelerating and steering with the joystick and aiming the vehicle’s weapons with their headset. With the use of the motion controllers and headset, players can interact with the menu systems in a new and intuitive way for the platform, easily navigating through the menus by pointing, clicking, dragging and dropping. Players will also have the choice of preferred movement styles. Whether that’s the VR popular pointed-teleportation, or the classic direct movement style with joysticks – your experience should feel good for VR and true to form of classic Borderlands.

• Get Virtually Rich: Borderlands VR brings shoot-and-loot mechanics to VR with bazillions of procedurally-generated guns and gear, each with their own capabilities and modifiers. Procedurally-generated shields, grenades, relics, class mods and more round out your Vault Hunter’s arsenal for maximum power and mayhem.

Borderlands 2 VR will be available on December 14, 2018 for the PlayStation®VR. Borderlands 2 VR is rated PEGI 18 and is single-player only. 

VR is not "Dead and Buried" if the Oculus team has anything to say about it. Oh also they not only care about VR but the people that make VR a reality like you and me.

So this is my OC5 recap, there are many like it, but this one is mine.

If you know the history of CatsAndVR you know it is closely tied to Oculus. The site was started prior to the launch of the Oculus CV1 and was inspired by my time spent with the DK1 years prior. In 2016 Oculus showed me an amazing time at E3 and pulled me out of the crowd to stream Dead And Buried on their E3 FB stream. http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/oculuse3

In 2017 I was able to take my experience and join the Oculus LaunchPad class that year, the lessons learned and experience gained will help me in both my career goals and life for years to come. http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/oculusblog1

Over the last year my passion for VR decreased and I became a bit more jaded towards it. Well leave it to OC5 to be an amazing and refreshing event.

Digging @ArmatureStudio #oc5 Game project tennis scramble. Really highlights how amazing #OculusQuest is. #oculus #vr pic.twitter.com/Y78liH8Ss8

— CatsAndVR #OC5 (@CatsAndVR) September 26, 2018

I had a chance to speak to the Armature team who were super excited by the reception of their VR Tennis game. I also spoke with Dead And Buried producer Ryan Rutherford who let me know how happy he was to bring a different element to Dead And Buried as well as to potentially share the game with a bigger audience.

3 v 3 "Arena scale" Oculus Quest demo at #OC5 Playing Dead and Buried. pic.twitter.com/fGmVc3aein

— Shawn Whiting (@shawncwhiting) September 26, 2018

That is the thing about Oculus Connect, it is filled with people who generally want VR to grow and to be shared with as many people as possible. This brings me to my favorite part of Oculus Connect, the Diversity lunch. This year Ebony Peay Ramirez from Oculus helped to highlight so much of the diversity in VR and the keynote speaker was the awesome Deborah Guzman.

Deborah shared her story about leaving Puerto Rico to move to Silicone Valley with a passion to get involved in VR. Her story transcends the space but is an inspiration to anyone with a dream. Hearing her journey and seeing how much Oculus actually cares about the growth of the team was a revelation. They don’t just want to see VR grow but also the people in VR.

Last years keynote speaker was Caitlin Kalinowski, who is this year was listed as one of the most powerful female engineers by Business Insider. The fact that Oculus highlights not only the growth of VR but also the growth of the people within VR is why my passion for VR continues.

VR influencer Jesse Damiani to host one of the largest VR/AR/MR art shows ever featuring CatsAndVR favs JOY and Steve Teeps.

Jesse Damiani, the Editor-at-Large of VRScout and VR influencer is producing one of the world’s largest virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality art shows Sponsored by RYOT, with additional support from Meow Wolf, VRScout, Raptor House Effects, and Magik Gallery, with LACMA curator Britt Salvesen serving as consultant, the exhibit will feature over twenty-five world-class artists working in this cutting-edge space.

Legit two of my favorites artists in the space in Steve Teeps and John Orion Young and will be part of the nine days of fully immersive programming, panel discussions, and demonstrations. Spatial Reality: Artists Explore the Future of XR will be open to the public from October 12 to October 28, 2018, with a VIP opening reception (invite only) on Saturday, October 6, 2018, 6pm - 9pm. Visit space.ayzenberg.com/spatial-reality to learn more.

We are the atoms of humanity. I am you and you are me and I am Dali and Dali is you and you are Dali.

A (Dali Atomicus) x Life is Eternally Eating the Perpetually Melting Ice Cream from @CatsAndVR’s collection.

Philippe Halsman 1948
John Orion Young 2018 pic.twitter.com/xiuOO2TsAl

— JOY (@JohnOrionYoung) August 3, 2018

“XR—a spectrum of ‘extended’ reality that includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR)—takes the virtual world to new dimensions,” explains Damiani. “After a half-century of computing in 2D, we are suddenly adding in the full expression of our bodies and our understanding of space. The advent of mainstream immersive technologies is a paradigm shift so massive we’ve only just begun to taste its impact. Marshall McLuhan famously claimed that ‘’the medium is the message’—that the ‘message’ inherent in any technology is the change of pace or pattern it introduces into human reality.

Damiani added “The work in this exhibition is unlike anything you’ve encountered, and it’s a sneak peek of the reality you’ll soon inhabit on a daily basis. XR is still nascent, but as the art in this exhibition resoundingly asserts: not for much longer.”

The scariest VR horror game of E3 is coming Home Sweet Home on October 9th

The scariest VR game at E3 2018 was Home Sweet Home. While the game was previously released on Steam last September, Mastiff is handling the PS4, PSVR, and X1 publishing. The game launches on October 9. A physical edition of Home Sweet Home, which includes the base game and PS®VR mode, will be released exclusively to GameStop stores across North America on October 16.

Interesting about Home Sweet Home is that it comes from a company who specializes primarily in high-end video production for commercials and advertising. One of the most nightmarish moments of the game, a woman throwing up bloody nails into a sink, haunted me for several days. 

A first-person horror adventure game based on Thai myths and beliefs. The core gameplay focuses on storytelling and stealth to avoid perilous spirits hunting you including your dead wife who has a box cutter and will slit her throat in front of you to say "Hi honey, I'm home".

The level of detail in the game is very impressive for a PSVR title and it does have the ascetic of a thai horror film.

“We are very excited to be working with Mastiff in order to bring the dark, Thai-inspired world of Home Sweet Home to consoles,” shares Saroot Tubloy, Chief Operating Officer of Yggdrazil Group. “The game's real-world lore and mythology is sure to captivate and intrigue players, while its brooding narrative keeps them clinging to the edge of their seat.”

 The first in a series of terrifying first-person horror games, Home Sweet Home throws players into a dark and twisted labyrinth, where a miasma of fear fills the air, dread bleeds through cracks in the ceiling and seeps down through broken floorboards, and anxiety grows stronger with every step.

After a long night filled with mourning and sorrow over the recent disappearance of his wife, Tim awakens to find himself in a strange, dilapidated building instead of the comfort of his own home. Naturally confused, he desperately begins to search for a way out while attempting to solve questions that could lead to answers regarding his wife's disappearance. At the same time, he’ll find himself being hunted by malevolent spirits.

There is a dark and sinister secret casting a shadow over this interconnected labyrinth...and without question, it's no longer the happy home that it once was.

● Gripping Thai Horror – A dark narrative inspired by Thai lore, myths, and beliefs that will captivate players while keeping their palms sweating and pulses pounding with fear

● Sharpen Wits, Not Blades – Without weapons to provide defense against the evil spirits, players must keep their wits sharp at all times in order to survive

● Nicely Tied Together – The use of stealth and investigative skills offers gameplay variety and a chance for players to breathe, but not for long....

● Face Your Fears – Experience a new level of first-person fear and terror with PS®VR compatibility

Please visit www.homesweethomegame.com for key information, video, screenshots, and more

SEGA’ s “Space Channel 5” makes its return as a PlayStation® VR game.

SEGA’ s “Space Channel 5” makes its return as a PlayStation® VR game.

Space Channel 5 VR”) for PlayStation® VR is currently in development and scheduled for release within 2019 commemorating its 20th anniversary since the original release in 1999 - in addition to the VR arcade version which, earlier this year, was announced to be released on HTC Vive hardware. The video game demo will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2018.

Space Channel 5 is SEGA’s legendary Dreamcast rhythm game first released 19 years ago and now brand new stories, characters, stages and sounds... NEW station 5 is going to be on the air soon! Identical twin sisters, Rookie reporters - Lou & Kee assigned to cover a breaking dance news story as your avatars.

Battle X: Birth of the Alliance, the VR- enabled first-person shooter is out tomorrow and features the voice talent of Casper Van Dien

Battle X: Birth of the Alliance, the VR- enabled first-person shooter from the military simulation software veterans at Naviworks, releases Friday September 14th on Oculus VR, HTC Vive, and Steam, with a PSVR version following in early 2019. The game features the voice acting of legendary Starship Troopers actor Casper Van Dien.

Just ran in to #scfi #action #acting legend @CasperVanDien during #gdc2018 #gdc he’s doing voice in #battlex one of my fav #vr games at the show. pic.twitter.com/t7CoP35KdL

— CatsAndVR (@CatsAndVR) March 22, 2018

Naviworks brings an unparalleled degree of military expertise to the first-person shooter genre with Battle X by featuring authentic military gear and dynamic combat controls. Soldiers use authentic weapons, tactical gear, and vehicles in combat. A dynamic combat system uses full-body movements to take cover and perform combat maneuvers missing in other first-person shooters.

Battle X also features multiplayer options for competitive and cooperative play. Two players can work together to take down endless hordes of mutant armies in the Couple Mode. PvP multiplayer offers tactical warfare in eight-on-eight battles online. An 80- person battle royale mode debuts Q2 2019.

“Our experience in the military simulation field makes Battle X the most immersive first- person shooter available today,” said Steve Won, Naviworks CEO. “With virtual reality support and our dynamic combat systems, our mastery over the simulated battlefield is unparalleled.”

After a rogue biotech scientist tries to unleash a deadly pathogen into the world, an elite special forces unit is all that stands in between complete and utter human extinction. Private commandos and bio-hacked monstrosities fight for a ruined world, but the alliance can and will destroy them. Battle X stars Casper Van Dien of Starship Troopers fame stars in the campaign, and Susan O’Connor, known for BioShock, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 2 and Gears of War, wrote the script.

Battle X: Birth of the Alliance is out tommorow in English, Korean, and Simplified Chinese on Steam for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets. A PSVR version is planned to release in Q1 2019.

PSVR title from the creator of Dark Souls and possible Bloodborne tie-in launches Nov 6th

The upcoming PSVR title from FromSoftware will be releasing in on 6th November, 2018.

Déraciné is a VR adventure that allows you to explore a quiet world brimming with mysteries, and recall the joy of discovery. Perhaps the exact opposite of the Dark Souls franchise. 

Players take on the role of an invisible faerie who appears in an old secluded boarding school where six students, and their aging headmaster reside. As players explore a world where time stands still, they will gather various bits of important information that will help unfold a mystery.

As the story deepens, players will come to discover that information you initially thought were simple will take on greater meaning. The core of this experience is found in the small epiphanies – the moments when the dots connect and players learn something new.

Oh and it may be related to Bloodborne 

https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2018/09/10/hidetaka-miyazakis-intriguing-playstation-vr-adventure-dracin-launches-6th-november/#sf197326889

NetEase reveals details about Nostos, the company’s first open-world multiplayer VR game at Gamescom

NetEase, Inc. revealed at Gamescom 2018 new details about Nostos, the company’s first open-world multiplayer VR game, and the integration of SpatialOS technology. Coming in 2019, Nostos is set in a post-apocalyptic world featuring breathtaking natural environments inspired by classic Anime style in which players can explore the mysterious world around them as it nears the end of its days.

Players will explore the vast and desolate world of Nostos where the remnants of civilization remain and, though its cities are long abandoned, the relics they leave behind may be the key to thwarting extinction for the survivors, who face new dangers as the limited resources dwindle. While exploring the mysterious ruins of Nostos across deserts, grasslands, mountains and more, players must survive its increasingly inhospitable climates and fierce enemies. But time is limited, for scattered throughout these lands are the dangerous and ever-expanding “Coralsea”, encroaching and threatening the very lands on which the people depend on for survival. Teamwork is key as players gather resources, build a clan they can trust, and fight to pull the world of Nostos back from the brink of utter desolation.

Leveraging Improbable’s SpatialOS simulation technology, the world of Nostos will have players adventuring through a massive seamless open world as they face unexpected meteorological phenomena, build new wonders and encounter intense combat, all hot on the heels of the apocalypse.

By working with this cloud-based platform, NetEase will provide players with superior physical simulations and an unprecedented virtual world experience.

The game is being produced by ShuiGe, who brings 10 years of game development experience and previously led research and development of several successful massively multiplayer online games at NetEase.

The PSVR demo for Transference from Elijah Wood's VR company SpectreVision is giving me nightmares.

"We want you take off the gear and still feel unsettled." -Lisa Whalen CEO of SpectreVision

I would say that Lisa Whalen is just doing her best to hype up the upcoming SpectreVision psychological horror title but then the nightmares keep coming back. Never has a game demo seeped into my psyche so much that I now dream using the layouts and elements presented in the demo. 

Yeah I get it "Do you even horror game bro?" and yes I do.  I absolutely love horror games, from ClockTower to RE7 I have played many a horror game and consider myself able to handle them.

Transference is something else. The game feels like I am in David Cronenberg film staring Freddy Krueger in which I watch The Cell with them both. Transference is a psychological thriller and the first game collaboration between SpectreVision and Ubisoft looking to bridge the gap between movies and games.

The demo  tells the destructive tale of a man’s obsession as you explore his digitally recreated memories and solve puzzles with a very unique art style to unveil the truth behind these troubled case subjects. The main puzzle that got my attention was a Jenga style puzzle to open a door, this puzzle made great use of the VR space and added to the nightmare. 

My issue is that I literally cannot get the game out of my head. I have been having dreams that use the level and art design of the demo and this is very disturbing to me. The game deals with PTSD and has triggered some of those elements in my mind. This is fucking mind fuck!

Spectrevision is actor Elijah Wood’s development company and they are bringing something special to VR when it launches for PlayStation VR on Sept 18, it will also be on Xbox in non-VR and on PC. 

Vantage Point Secures Seed Funding Round of $1.3M to Bring VR-Based Anti-Sexual Harassment Training to Enterprises

Vantage Point, the world’s first Virtual Reality-based enterprise training platform has announced a Seed funding round of $1.3M to bring immersive Anti-Sexual Harassment Training to corporations. Vantage Point is founded by solo female minority founder, Morgan Mercer. The company is positioned to launch its platform with the first set of notable customers later this month. The funding round was led The Venture Reality Fund, the leading investors with a focus on immersive and intelligent computing.

The round also includes some of the most well-known technology institutional investors including; Village Global, known for their LPs and Network including Jeff Bezos, Reid Hoffman, and Marissa Mayer, and Mark Zuckerberg; Colopl NEXT Fund; M Ventures, with expertise and an extensive network spanning across media, entertainment, politics, finance and technology; Anorak Ventures; and Josh Resnick, who sold his company Pandemic Studios to EA Games for $900M and then went on to found Sugarfina, who are now Vantage Point’s client.

The company, showing strong early traction, was accepted first into The Women in XR Venture Fund’s Cohort 1 in December 2017, who have been early and strong advocates of the company, and was then accepted into Adam Draper’s Boost VC in January 2018. Early customers range across technology, consumer goods, consulting services, school districts, recruiting and other sectors. The company has received extensive support from media, and technology outlets.

The company is located in San Francisco and has expanded operations to both Los Angeles and New York City. In tandem with ramping up recruiting efforts and scaling out the team, Alison Hadden, former Head of Brand Strategy at Glassdoor, has joined on as an advisory member.

“We’re excited, and this is just another step to deliver on our vision. With the support we need behind us, we’re excited to deliver a product that surpasses everybody’s expectations, and really set the standard in the next frontier of enterprise, diversity and inclusion, and anti-sexual harassment training,” says Morgan Mercer, Founder and CEO of Vantage Point. “This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to introducing the world to a new way of thinking about how life, social interactions, learning and development, and behavioral change can better be augmented by technology.”