Mint Virtual Reality

Want to play Beat Saber on Oculus Go or other low-end VR devices? There’s a way, though we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

VRidge Controller is the latest release from RiftCat, a company best known for its PC VR streaming app. The $4.99 download turns your Android smartphone into a three degrees of freedom (3DOF) pointer-based controller similar to a Go or Daydream remote. That means you can flick your wrist to slash a sword in Skyrim, for example, but not reach out to thrust it forwards or anything of that sort. Many PC VR games would still be unplayable.

Beat Saber Oculus Go? It’s Possible… But Not Very Good

You can connect two phones to the service, though, allowing you to play apps like Beat Saber, or just pair one phone with an existing motion controller. Here’s us playing it with the help of Oculus Go; the controller on the right is the standard Go remote and the one on the left is a first generation Google Pixel. It’s a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster of VR.

As you can see, once I’d turned off many of the options I was able to have a little fun playing. My phone controller was very jittery (RiftCat says quality varies depending on the phone) and I couldn’t realign them. I had to turn obstacles off because I couldn’t move my head and I had to turn failing off because, well, it was really hard even on Easy difficulty. I can imagine it being slightly better on Vive Focus with 6DOF head tracking, but not dramatically so.

How It Works

But here’s the catch; the app only works through streaming with VRidge on another phone or standalone VR headset. You couldn’t use this as a replacement controller for your Rift, for example. So if you have a VR PC but no PC VR or standalone headset, jumping into Beat Saber would require three phones for inferior 3DOF controls. It’s not exactly sounding like a great alternative to buying a headset anymore, is it?

It does make slightly more sense if you have a standalone device and want to sample what’s available on PC. Still, without 6DOF tracking in either the headset or the controllers, it’s bound to be pretty awkward.

To get it to work you’ll need to download the standard VRidge software on your platform of choice. Then you have to connect the first device for streaming and then to phone connects to that. Once it’s connected your phone will turn into a surrogate motion controller. The touch screen will include buttons staple VR interactions like gripping objects, pulling triggers and accessing menus.

RiftCat told me that it is considering making the application separate for use with other headsets in the future. For an app that started life as an easy workaround to buying a PC VR headset, though, this is all starting to get a bit complex. We’ll just keep waiting for that rumored Oculus Quest port, thanks.

Tagged with: Beat Saber, Oculus Go, RiftCat, VRidge

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For several years now RiftCat has allowed SteamVR users to stream virtual reality (VR) content to their smartphones using its software solution VRidge. A low-cost solution to using more expensive VR headsets, RiftCat has recently updated VRidge as well as releasing a new product, the VRidge Controller.

The new piece of software essentially turns a smartphone into a controller for VR experiences, whether that’s a gun, a hand, sword or anything else. The app also allows up to two smartphones to be used simultaneously – great for videogames like Beat Saber. It is also compatible with other tracking devices e.g. Daydream controller provided with Lenovo Mirage Solo.

VRidge Controller not only supports the motion control functionality of normal VR headset controllers but also their particular buttons, like triggers, menu and grip.

The app is part of a larger ‘Tracking Update’ for VRidge, updating to version 2.3. This brings new tracking methods allowing you to use an Xbox controller or mouse with a keyboard to emulate VR controllers within SteamVR.

Be aware that you will need the core VRidge software for VRidge Controller to work.

VRidge’s last update, version 2.2, concentrated on standalone devices, introducing support for the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus.

There are two versions of VRidge, one is the full version while the other only a trial. The free version includes complete functionality, but you can only use it for 10 mins per session. If you enjoy the demo the full version costs €14.99 EUR. VRidge Controller retails for £4.49 GBP on Google Play, for any further updates from RiftCat, keep reading VRFocus.

While Ubisoft is still in the process of developing its virtual reality (VR) shooter Space Junkies for home use, the studio has taken an unusual step by announcing the launch of the arcade version, and with it a special tournament in conjunction with the Virtual Athletics League.

From today, Space Junkies is available in over one hundred VR arcades worldwide, allowing players to engage in both local games with friends and online matches with other locations. The arcade version will feature a variety of maps, characters to choose from and weapons to take down opponents. Head on over to the blog post to find a continually updated list of Space Junkies locations.

And to celebrate the launch of Sapce Junkies Arcade, Ubisoft has teamed up with Virtual Athletics League for a tournament starting later this month. Called the Space Junkies International 2v2 Tournament, you can register at one of the 32 participating arcades from today until 18th February 2019. Players can also ask their local VR arcade to contact the Virtual Athletics League to join the tournament.

The first phase of the tournament will then start on 19th February, running through to 6th March. The remaining teams will then face off in the play-offs starting on 11th March, with the Grand Finals happening on 15th March 2019. Any team of two players can enter, with $4,500 USD + in prizes up for grabs.

Described as: “A visceral, jetpack-fueled VR Arcade Shooter where you fly through deadly Orbital Arenas in hostile space, facing off in extreme battles!,” by Ubisoft, Space Junkies has already seen several open betas take place during the course of 2018. Players engage in either 1-v-1 or 2-v-2 matches using a variety of weapons such as “Sunblasters” and “Bioguns” to dispatch enemies.

When it comes to an actual launch for home systems like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, Ubisoft has merely stated 2019, without ever giving a definitive date. With the launch of the arcade version, it surely can’t be too long before Space Junkies gets an official consumer launch. As and when further details are released regarding the home version VRFocus will let you know. In the meantime find a local arcade to play Space Junkies.

Virtual reality (VR) gaming at home is great fun, but there is something even more uniquely special when you take the online multiplayer element and bring it all into one physical spot, and that’s location-based entertainment (LBE). VRFocus has already waxed lyrical about content providers like The VOID, Zero Latency, and Sandbox VR, however, there are many more looking to make their mark in the industry, one of which is PlatformaVR.

Hailing from Russia, PlatformaVR opened its first location back in 2017, in the capital city of Moscow. Three more locations in the city followed, and then the company set its sights on expanding globally. This month to coincide with CES 2019 PlatformaVR opened its first location in Nevada, inside Bally’s Las Vegas. Which is where VRFocus caught up with CEO and co-founder of PlatformaVR, Ilya Kuzyuk.

Like the other LBE companies previously mentioned, PlatformaVR doesn’t use standard VR titles developed for home use and then ported to free-roaming arenas. The team has developed its own in-house videogames for guests to experience, meaning they can offer something unique that you can’t get anywhere else. Currently, PlatformaVR offers three titles; The Arrival – a saga of space voyagers at an abandoned futuristic station, The Poisoner – a detective story of two police officers investigating a series of mysterious murders, and MATCH – a high-adrenaline combat player-vs-player experience, with a fourth on the way.

PlatformaVR’s setup uses out-the-box hardware, using HTC Vive Pro headsets, Vive Trackers for full-body tracking, and an HP VR Backpack. Where it does differ from rivals like The VOID is gameplay time. When testing The VOID’s experiences like Ralph Breaks VRthey tend to be fairly short but sweet, around 10 – 15 mins in length. PlatformaVR, on the other hand, will keep you in VR for around an hour.

Chating to Kuzyuk, the CEO discussed how PlatformaVR came about and its plans for the future, namely looking at opening more flagship locations not only in the US but also Europe eventually as the market hopefully continues to grow. Check out the interview below, and for further coverage of PlatformaVR in the future, keep reading VRFocus.

Subnautica is often regarded as one of the premier examples in PC gaming of how to introduce VR support to a title that was originally developed without VR in mind at all. Everything from the sound design, visual smoothness, and head tracking are excellent and provide a serious sense of presence. You spend most of your time submerged in the ocean as you explore and craft things so the sensation of wearing “goggles” on your face only adds to the realism.

Granted, Subnautica only has keyboard and mouse or gamepad support (no motion controllers) but VR is still arguably the very best way to experience it. This week, the brand new expansion dubbed Below Zero hit Steam Early Access for $19.99 and while the reception is very positive so far it’s missing one major feature: VR support.

You see, VR was added very late in the original base game’s development cycle by popular demand and it’s just not in the project scope for the expansion. According to a developer on the Steam forums, they don’t think they have the time or resources to do VR justice for the add-on:

“Sadly we don’t think we’ll be able to do VR justice. Not because we don’t love VR (we do) or all own multiple headsets (we do)….We wanted to do a better job with SN1 but time and availability of people was difficult. We just don’t want people having a bad experience in VR for Below Zero, so we’re likely not doing it unless we can find the time. Making the game itself is the top priority.”

Maybe if people request the feature enough they’ll change their minds but as of now it seems pretty unlikely that Below Zero will have VR support. For more details on the expansion and the base game itself check out the official website and read our full review of Subnautica here.

Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

Tagged with: Below Zero, Subnautica, unknown worlds

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A new VR experience focused on race made waves at this week’s Lumiere Awards.

The Messy Truth VR Experience, which is the latest addition to TV host Van Jones’ long-running series, took the Social Justice Award at the event on January 30th. The experience stars Winston Duke, best known for playing M’Baku in last year’s Black Panther. In it, viewers step into the shoes of a 12-year old African American boy. Based on a real-life incident, the story follows both him and his father (Duke) when they’re pulled over by the police.

The piece is directed by Elijah Allan-Blitz and produced with the help of research from Time Magazine. But it’s not just a simple 360 video; the piece used Leap Motion hand-tracking to put you in the body of the character.

“Sometimes it seems nearly impossible to truly understand what a person of a different race, gender or worldview is going through,” Jones said of the piece. “But a Virtual Reality experience can give life-changing insight. VR has the potential to be the world’s most powerful tool for generating empathy and understanding. It’s time to start using this new technology to bring us together across old divides.”

For now, The Messy Truth VR Experience is on display at LA’s Technicolor Lab. The production team plans to take it on tour, though, visiting sites like airports across the country. No word on a home release just yet, though. This is the first in a planned series of VR episodes.

Interested in other VR apps about race? We’d definitely recommend I Am A Man, a powerful retelling of transformative days for America.

Tagged with: The Messy Truth VR, vr movies, Winston Duke

The post The Messy Truth Is A VR Experience About Race Starring Black Panther’s M’Baku appeared first on UploadVR.

Onward‘s 1.5 update is just a little late for Christmas but still offers some snowy slaughter.

The latest version of Downpour Interactive’s military simulation shooter adds a host of new features. Chief among them is a new map, named Snowpeak. It’s set in Russian mountains and has one team making their way into an enemy base. You can check it out in the trailer below.

But that’s far from all that’s new here. In a new game mode, Uplink Assault, you’ll finally be able to respawn in a match. The mode is largely similar to Onward’s core online mode, getting one team to secure an uplink and the other to defend it. The attacking team will now be given 20 respawn tickets, though, giving the match a little more space. The defending team will have infinite respawns.

There’s also another new mode called Gun Game. In this 10 player deathmatch, you get a new gun every time you kill another player. The first player to cycle through all of the weapons wins. Gun Game is the first in a rotating series of modes that will switch out every two weeks. These will be more casual game types and will feature the return of Spec Ops.

Still going: update 1.5 adds the RPG7, M203 Grenade Launcher for both frag and smoke, flare gun, and new AK-74, SKS, and Makarov models. There’s also new hand models, gestures and new animations. And, of course, 1.5 rounds out with a massive list of changes and tweaks including bug fixes and more.

Whew! That should keep you happy for a while. You can see the full list on a Steam blog post.

Tagged with: onward, vr shooter

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