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noaksey · 8 years ago

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New Post has been published on http://noaksey.com/egx-2017-retrospective/

EGX 2017 - Retrospective

Join me as I cast my mind back over the 2017 EGX event in Birmingham, below I have decided to highlight some of the titles that left an impression on me, what kind of impression you ask?

Read on!

The Mystery Box – Milo Keeble

Ever wanted to play a box of many games, where every time you opened said physical box, you are treated to an amazingly entertaining game at random? Well, Milo and his team of wonderful developers have achieved exactly this bringing to you a box covered in buttons, sliders, switches and sticks all that have different effects depending on the game that is selected for you. During my playthrough, I had to defuse a bomb, drive a train and bounce coins. It was so exciting not know what game you were getting next and to change the game you just closed the box and reopened to find if the game selector had given you a new one or the same one again.

There’s this video I took of @NoakseyV1 trying out Hot Button, Tom’s first game for the box. c: pic.twitter.com/4voX51sWmW

— Chloe Goodchild (@genderTruckery) September 25, 2017

Smash Tanks! – Dumpling Design

Making successful use of AR (Augmented Reality) seems to only be seeing achieved by a handful of development teams, but, teams such as Dumpling Design are making it look easy to implement this technology with the introduction of their most recent title Smash Tanks! The premise of the game is super simple you take three tanks and you literally catapult them (smash them) into your opponents tanks. Adding to their premise the addition of skills/powers that will cause mines to drop or cluster bombs and rockets to fire across the playing field. At this time the playing field is applied using the mobile AR tech which can allow almost any surface to be the playground which means for more fun gameplay.

Ava Airborne – Laser Dog

Taking the concept of those side-scrolling flappy bird types and actually making a well thought out entertaining game, in my opinion, is next to impossible! Yet Laser Dog step up and take a casual yet challenging approach to the side-scrolling flying genre, bringing to it an air of beauty (pardon the pun) when they designed this with the art seemly taking the main stage then they mixed in simple mechanics which as you start to fine-tune your skills the game will incrementally become harder and challenge you more, the difficulty curve for this title is just too perfect!

Lost Words – Sketchbook Games

Mixing storytelling and gaming is something I love, the idea of following a story through like reading a book was one of the reasons I loved Tengami. Lost Words takes this to a whole new level, adding elements of puzzle, platforming and swapping between styles 2D and 3D throughout to help to set the stage for the story and to allow the adventure to played with and directly influenced by you. In an aim to not completely spoil the experience the game, you use the words placed on the pages/in-game to literally affect the world you are exploring and moving through.

Toast Time – Force of habit

This mobile title is very simple and fun, you play as a toaster that fires different types of bread in an attempt to save time from invading Inter-dimensional time-blob beasties. Packed out with plenty to do with the additional modes such as Ironman survival mode & bonus COFFEE TIME mode this game is something to sink your teeth into!

Forgotton Anne – ThroughLine Games

From the very moment I stood waiting to play and watching others playing this game, my mind immediately spoke to me in the form of an inner monologue “Hey Ghibli have a new game coming out” it didn’t take me long to realised I was mistaken and in fact this game is only inspired by Ghibli and was, in fact, its own game in its own right. Expertly mixing anime style with beautifully stylised back and foregrounds you play as a female lead who is the enforcer who keeps order in the Forgotten Lands, where the game world is based. There are rumours of a rebellion which she sets out to bring a stop to as failure might prevent her master, Bonku, and herself from returning to the human world.

Monster Hunter World – Capcom

Are very fun game where you hunt monsters, the newest release in an already well-established series of games. If you are looking for a challenging RPG monster hunting game in a 3D beautiful land. Simply purchase this game.

Yoku’s Island Express – Jens Andersson

Team 17 has a real talent to find, well, talented developers and bring their games to shows like EGX and show them off in the right way, in this game you play as a beetle whom dreams of becoming a postal worker, in this game you pinball yourself around the caverns and the underground collecting fruit to deliver to those that need it. It’s fun, entertaining and easy to pick up and play, everything you’d expect from a Team 17 produced title.

BFF or Die – ASA Studios

This title has been covered by me before, see here, however I felt it worth highlighting it as once again the game as taken onboard feedback from the players and have been expertly implemented into the game making is feel like a totally different game, while keeping the very essence of the direction the team were trying to achieve. I love this game for two very distinct reasons;

1) You quickly learn which of you and your friends are the “weak link”.

2) You find you encourage each other throughout the whole experience, not many games naturally achieve this, this game does!

Hyper Sentinel – Huey Games

This title has been covered by me before, See here, This game is very bloody good, the legacy of this team and the skill clearly implanted into this title is glowing like a radiated bed sheet in the deeps of the moon’s craters. But the reason I felt it worth mentioning once again is that I was given the chance to play this at the time the unannounced Switch version. The controls where tight the game played like a grade 1 musician in concert. If you ever want to experience what the sitch does well for games, get Hyper sentinel when it launches onto the Switch!

It’s Quiz Time – Snap Finger Click

OMG, I can not correctly craft the words, nor, explain exactly why this title is a massive deal to me, I’d have to go over about 3 pages of history and back story to perfectly paint you the story setting you up for the explosion of happiness I felt when I saw the team behind the Buzz games was back, with another question panel quiz show game. These guys did not disappoint either this game has all the perfect levels of with, fun and love I remember from those days old. Hosted by an A.I. avatar called Salli whom will store data on you as a player to personalise its interaction with you while you try to out quiz your friends and family. It’s so perfect, buy this game.

Silent Streets – Funbakers Limited

This title has been covered by me before, see here, A story driven game based on the user actually being rewarded for real-time events is not something to take lightly. You are an investigator who is trying to unearth overarching plot, however, to do this you will be expected to travel, and I mean travel. The game actually tracks your movement throughout a day adding to a step counter which when filled will allow you to unlock parts of the story and in some of the cases you can even interact with crime scenes using AR technology. There is a lot here to unlock and explore and if you are the type to want progress without adding to the step counter, well, there are microtransactions available, but this does greatly reduce the play time of the title.

Supremely Excellent Goblins – NFTS Games

So this game is a student project and as such will be given the same level of criticism as a developed title, this game is clearly heavily inspired by the likes of Undertale, the game focuses on a kid and their helper and defender goblin, but in this title the kid can not fight, at all, only the goblins can. you are encouraged to make your way through challenging dungeons with an aim to survive with the help of goblins. The art supporting the game is super cute and interesting, however, the gameplay was clunky, slow and frustrating. I found myself not giving this game much time because of the lack of gameplay fine tuning missing, but I can see that it had its gem qualities and there was really rough talent in the development of this title more time and experience and these guys will be making me eat my words I bet.

The Lost Bear – Oddbug Studio

One of the few VR titles I spent the time to play, this one was being shown on a PSVR (PlayStation Virtual Reality) system, in the game you are given the perspective as someone watching a “puppet” show but instead of wooden dolls you have paper-crafted worlds and characters which you control one of, during parts of the story the room you seem to be sat in gets affected by the game world and sometimes things will interact with both you the on-looker and the character you are controlling. It’s really entertaining and immersive, I loved it.

The Peterson Case – Quarter Circle Games

This VR game is a detective novel and interactive horror/thriller you play as a detective who has decided to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the entire Peterson family. You explore the past, future and present in a desperate attempt to unearth what happened to the family. While you unravel your own dark past and how all paths interlinks. It has all the hallmarks of a good story and horror title and the demo sets up whats to come well.

Sprinkle Palooza – NFTS Games

So this game is a student project and as such will be given the same level of criticism as a developed title, this game was without a doubt the most confusing and yet addictive title I played out the title NFTS students brought that I had played. You are a balloon animal moving around, well floating, well shuffling, no moving, yes moving around and you use Kinect power to charge up stuff you dodge cakes who are out to kill you. I found myself sat there playing this game for ages and I honestly can’t exactly tell you why but I really loved the game, despite all its weirdness and inaccurate controls and movement.

Megaquarium – Twice Circled

I have covered Twice Circled before, this title is something similar when you consider their last title Big Pharma. You are placed in charge of an aquarium and you are tasked with growing it and making a profit in this sandbox world. It is all about managing the aquarium until you achieve the challenges and then moving on and starting all over again.

2000 to 1: A Space Felony – National Insecurities

This is one of the gems of the show for me and not exactly what I was expecting, but something I gladly sat throughout until I successfully finished the build. You are a detective who is investigating an A.I. of a space colony who have had all of its crew murdered. You are tasked with finding out who the culprit is. You collect evidence and challenge statements with facts. Until you unearth the true criminal behind the mysterious deaths of all the crew.

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overcluster · 8 years ago

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Un oso indie llega a PlayStation VR

Desarrollado por el británico Oddbug Studio, el plataformas 2D The Lost Bear confirmó su salida para PlayStation VR. (more…)

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#Destacadas

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vrheadsets · 7 years ago

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The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017

The PlayStation VR is the most youthful of all the leading virtual reality (VR) platforms, and while the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift have the benefit of powerful PC systems behind them the PlayStation 4’s unique VR offering can stand tall thanks to a hugely impressive software line-up. A mixture of AAA titles and indie releases makes the PlayStation VR a space for both impressive and innovative gameplay design.

2017 was a big year for the PlayStation VR; the head-mounted display (HMD) celebrated its first year of consumer availability and hosted the VR debut of huge franchises such as Resident Evil and The Elder Scrolls. The below selection of videogames, in no particular order, represents the best that the PlayStation VR currently has to offer.

DOOM VFR – Bethesda Game Studios

Arguably the best first-person shooter (FPS) videogame currently available for PlayStation VR, DOOM VFR showcased that it’s wholly possible to have a fast-paced, action-heavy experience in VR. Misgivings about the control systems aside – a common issue with the current-generation of VR hardware – DOOM VFR is a balls-to-the-wall adrenaline rush.

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The Lost Bear – Oddbug Studio

Conversely to DOOM VFR, The Lost Bear is a slow-paced 2D side-scrolling puzzle/platform videogame that prefers to challenge the player’s logical dexterity over their trigger finger. It’s less about chaos and more about careful consideration, and in VR the showcase piece is how that consideration affects your surroundings: the entirety for The Lost Bear is played out upon a stage with the player as the solo audience member. It’s unique and innovative approach to VR deserves as much commendation as the inviting gameplay mechanics.

Farpoint – Impulse Gear

While DOOM VFR posits to take the crown from Farpoint as best FPS on PlayStation VR, Impulse Gear got there first. And ranking highly amongst the PlayStation VR community Farpoint remains, thanks in no small way to the development team’s continued commitment to bring updates and new features to the videogame.

Resident Evil VII biohazard – Capcom

One of the first AAA titles launched on PlayStation VR remains one of its best. Resident Evil VII biohazard rebooted the gameplay of the Resident Evil franchise in a way not seen since Resident Evil 4, and with it brought the thrills of survival horror into VR for the first time. Resident Evil VII biohazard’s PlayStation VR exclusivity period is set to close in January 2018, and many PC gamers are hoping to get the chance to play the videogame on their Oculus Rift or HTC Vive soon thereafter.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR – Bethesda Game Studios

Bethesda Game Studios second entry in this feature and also the other of the two PlayStation VR titles released by the publisher thus far. See a common theme? Despite ongoing grievances with Oculus VR, Bethesda Game Studios’ efforts to progress VR as a medium are unquestionable. Even if they chose a six-year-old videogame to do it.

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Manifest 99 – Flight School Studio

Manifest 99, like The Lost Bear, takes the VR medium in a wholly unexpected direction. The player is taken on a journey in which the storyline unfolds around them; interaction is limited to player position, but the choices they make therein have an impact on the events that play out in Manifest 99.

Polybius – Llamasoft

A visual feast as only Jeff Minter and his team at Llamasoft can do, this unique VR experience plays on your nostalgia glands by taking inspiration from the 80s arcade scene in ‘the best of ways’, as stated in VRFocus’ review of Polybius. It’s a frenetic shoot-‘em-up that challenges the player with steadily increasing difficulty as much as it does with the weaving of dynamically timed colours and lighting.

Statik – Tarsier Studios

A puzzle videogame in which your hands are tied and hidden? Tarsier Studios obviously has a creative mind, but your better be a logical one in order to successfully beat Statik’s many challenges. Your hands are kept within a box upon which you must assess and correctly execute the solution to a unique puzzle, without the typical holding hands of clues and hints. Instead, Statik will do it’s best to break your concentration. Tarsier Studios lay out a challenge, and then do the best they can to prevent you from accomplishing it. Pride is what Statik will earn you.

Sparc – CCP Games

A sad goodbye to one of the most adventurous development teams in VR, CCP Games’ Atlanta studio had grand ambitions for Sparc. A title with the potential to define VR eSports, Sparc pitches two players in a competitive arena not to dissimilar to tennis, relying on your own physical ability more than your knowledge of videogame convention. Sparc remains an enjoyable experience, but the possibilities for what it could’ve been in two years will forever remain a shameful reminder that jumping into VR this early has had its consequences.

The Solus Project – Teotl Studios

A first-person exploration videogame set on an alien planet. Does anything scream VR ambitions louder? Teotl Studios don’t seem to think so. The Solus Project is a videogame that relies as much on the player’s own ambition and curiosity as it does the depth of the world Teotl Studios has created for this passion to exist within.

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2DFG0Me

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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Oddbug Studio’s Charming VR Adventure The Lost Bear Confirmed for Oculus Rift

It was only a few short months ago that British indie videogame developer Oddbug Studio launched its first virtual reality (VR) title onto the market, a puzzle-platformer called The Lost Bear, for PlayStation VR. This week the team have announced that they’ve been working on expanding support, with the aim of porting the experience to Oculus Rift prior to Christmas.

Oddbug Studio made the announcement via Reddit and Twitter, alongside the above image. As a traditional platformer mixing it up with an immersive VR setting, The Lost Bear is played on PlayStation VR using the DualShock 4 controllers. As the Oculus Rift no longer comes supplied with a gamepad, the studio has wisely ensured the videogame is compatible with Oculus Touch.

The Lost Bear’s story line revolves around main character Walnut, a young girl on her way home who becomes separated from her brother. She must now must venture through a world corrupted by the toy stealing Snatcher, overcome her fears and rescue her beloved teddy.

When VRFocus reviewed The Lost Bear on PlayStation VR, the title got a full five stars, saying: “Despite being a relatively compact experience, OddBug Studio has created a tightly knit series of challenges invested in an eye-catching world topped-off with a VR implementation that will undoubtedly be copied by many other titles before the year is out. It’s hard to fault the team for what content is there, as in those few hours of gameplay it’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.”

As VRFocus was impressed with Oddbug Studio’s first VR offering, The Lost Bear made it onto ‘The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so Far‘ list. Should the studio plan on expanding support further or release additional content, VRFocus will let you know.

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2Bdshvc

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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The Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 so far – Resident Evil 7 biohazard & The Lost Bear

So where to begin? Well it’s not that hard really. At the beginning of the year this little developer/publisher you may have heard of, Capcom, released the next installment of its long running zombie franchise, Resident Evil 7 biohazard. Whilst essentially the same videogame whether you played on a TV or using the PlayStation VR, using the headset made for a far more intense experience that more than likely helped ship a few headsets if you could get hold of one at that time. Whilst showcasing that 2D titles can still have a place in virtual reality (VR) is The Lost Bear, the most recent addition to this content lineup.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard

Set in a seemingly abandoned farmhouse, in a creepy Louisiana plantation, it soon becomes clear that there’s a whole family living there, the Baker’s, and as you may expect they’re not exactly friendly to outsiders.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard goes back to its roots as a proper survival horror, rather than the more action-based experiences of the last couple of titles. Because of this, it’s received plenty of good feedback from the press and players who were happy that Capcom embraced the horror aspects of the franchise, especially when playing in virtual reality (VR).

While updating the videogame, thankfully the studio kept some of the more familiar aspects of Resident Evil, so the green herbs are still in play. Of course the biggest change is the viewpoint. Whether in VR or not, it’s now solely from a first-person perspective rather than third-person. This greatly benefits the immersive qualities of the technology, as a third-person horror just doesn’t have the same scary effect.

Out of all the titles on the list Resident Evil 7 biohazard is the only one with an 18 age rating certificate, so while VRFocus does recommend the title it’s best to keep it away from any youngsters – you don’t want them getting nightmares!

The Lost Bear

Arriving on PlayStation VR this month from indie developer Oddbug Studio was a unique 2D title called The Lost Bear, an original adventure that tells the story of a girl called Walnut, who sets out on a journey to rescue her lost teddy bear, overcoming obstacles and her own fears along the way.

Featuring hand-drawn animation based around puppet show theatre, gameplay in The Lost Bear revolves around platform-style progression and environmental puzzle solving. Players are sat in the middle of a VR environment with all the action taking place on a screen in front. To add that immersive VR element, the players surroundings then mimic what’s going on during a particular level. So when Walnut talks through a corn field, corn will start appearing around the player

VRFocus reviewed The Lost Bear giving it a full five star rating, saying: “It’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.”

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Best PlayStation VR Games of 2017 So Far

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2y0IQry

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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Competition: Ten Chances To Give The Lost Bear A Home

A second competition in but a few days on VRFocus? No, you’re not mistaken. However, if you’re not in the mood for some urban legend-based horror courtesy of Don’t Knock Twice we’ve another competition where you can win one of ten codes – split between the US and European region stores accounts – for a game we also reviewed very recently.

The Lost Bear is a hybrid of platformer and puzzler in a similar vein to that of Playdead indie hit Limbo. The plot follows a girl called Walnut who must learn how to face her own fears and overcome the many obstacles that are in her way and she seeks to recover her lost teddy bear. A journey more perilous than she might have first thought.

VRFocus rated The Lost Bear a full five stars out of five, Editor Kevin Joyce declaring that “OddBug Studio has created a tightly knit series of challenges invested in an eye-catching world.”

As mentioned above we’ve got ten codes to give away and you have just over a week in order to enter. You’ve until midnight (UK Time) on Sunday, 17th September 2017. The competition is open to everyone, though naturally you’ll need a PlayStation account for Europe or the US and a PlayStation VR to enjoy the game in virtual reality (VR). To enter all you have to do to is use the app below and be either a follower of VRFocus on Twitter, be a subscriber to our YouTube channel or visit our Facebook or Google+ pages. That’s it. You get an entry for any of those so make sure you check everything out.

Be sure to enter one of the two widgets below relevant to your location – and the best of luck to you.

US Contest

Win The Lost Bear on PlayStation VR (US ONLY)

EU Contest

Win The Lost Bear on PlayStation VR (EU ONLY)

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2gNWPKg

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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Watch the Story of The Lost Bear Come to Life on PlayStation VR

OddBug Studios and Fabrik Games launched the PlayStation VR exclusive, The Lost Bear, to critical acclaim earlier this week. For those VRFocus readers still on the fence, we’ve prepared a gameplay video showcasing six minutes of the videogame in action.

Walnut, on her quest to rescue her lost teddy bear, has fallen deep into a world corrupted by the Snatcher. In the video below you can see the unique interpretation of virtual reality (VR) in action. Watch as the 2D experience is played on a screen directly ahead, while the area surrounding the player pops with life in every scene.

Prior to launch, VRFocus delivered a review of The Lost Bear, stating: “It’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.”

The gameplay video can be watched in full below, and VRFocus will bring you more on The Lost Bear very soon.

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from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2gLayBr

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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The Lost Bear Launches with Discount for PlayStation Plus Members

Fabrik Games has today launched The Lost Bear a unique 2D adventure designed for PlayStation VR, available now via the PlayStation Store. PlayStation VR owners who also subscribe to PlayStation Plus can benefit from a 10% price reduction for a limited time.

The Lost Bear offers the player the opportunity to immerse themselves in a hand-drawn world as they attempt to help Walnut on her journey home. Along the way however, they must face corruption at the hand of the toy stealing Snatcher. The player will frequently break the fourth wall by using intuitive virtual reality (VR) interactions that connect you with the world and help Walnut escape Snatcher’s Hounds and find her way back home.

The Lost Bear started as a project at Norwich University of the Arts and ‘Dare to be Digital 2013’. The team at OddBug Studio were inspired both by Limbo and Eastern European puppet shows and teamed up with Fabrik Games to create and release the final version of the videogame on PlayStation VR. VRFocus recently delivered a review of The Lost Bear, stating: “It’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.”

The Lost Bear is available to download now, exclusively for PlayStation VR, priced at £9.99 GBP on the PlayStation Store. VRFocus will keep you updated with future titles from OddBug Studio, and other VR experiences from Fabrik Games.

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2eZoU1d

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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vrheadsets · 8 years ago

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Review: The Lost Bear

Fabrik Games’ virtual reality (VR) debut was expected to come by way of the PlayStation VR edition of Filthy Lucre, however instead of acting as developer the team are publishing OddBug Studio’s debut as their entry into the new medium. The Lost Bear is a very different kind of videogame to Fabrik Games’ own steal-‘em-up, instead telling a much more whimsical tale deep in a dark, corrupted land.

Playing as young Walnut, the quest before you is to rescue a stolen teddy bear. However, soon after the hunt begins Walnut becomes lost in a mysterious world corrupted by an evil being known as The Snatcher. Robot dogs, ghost bears and other creatures will help or hinder you as your journey continues, and while many of the challenges you will face may at first appear obvious in their solution, often not all is as it seems.

A 2D adventure videogame, The Lost Bear is an unusual candidate for VR, and yet it makes such wonderful use of the medium. The core gameplay loop revolves around platform-style progression and environmental puzzle solving; using levers to create pathways, avoid the line-of-sight of bad guys and other familiar convention. The arrangement and pacing of the action will be somewhat familiar to anyone who experienced Ubisoft’s Valiant Hearts: The Great War, while the delivery of the storyline doesn’t stray too far from the heartstring-tugging Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. What makes The Lost Bear different however, is the near-immaculate depiction of its unique world.

The action plays out on a screen in front of you almost as if it were a puppet show, while your surrounding environment takes on many different forms relating to the scene the protagonist is experiencing. Walking through a corn field will see shoots of corn protrude through the floor of the wooden shack you reside in, bees and fireflies will break the fourth wall, and later in the videogame things become significantly darker.

‘Later’ is The Lost Bear’s biggest problem, however. The mixture of platform and puzzling gameplay is engrossing, but the duration of the videogame is very much limited. Even when taking your time and soaking-up the ambiance of every varied scene, The Lost Bear is unlikely to last more than two hours at most. It’s a short-lived, yet very sweet adventure.

Offered at a launch price of £9.99 GBP, The Lost Bear offers value for money in its creative use of the medium opposed to longevity, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Despite being a relatively compact experience, OddBug Studio has created a tightly knit series of challenges invested in an eye-catching world topped-off with a VR implementation that will undoubtedly be copied by many other titles before the year is out. It’s hard to fault the team for what content is there, as in those few hours of gameplay it’s likely that you’ll find The Lost Bear to be one of the most compelling PlayStation VR videogames to date.

100%

Awesome

Verdict

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2ez48Vv

#VRFocus #vr #virtual reality #canada

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