Kickstarter Plug: MATH-Commander - VR/AR

MATH-Commander is an arcade game combining both Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and everyone’s favourite: Mathematics. Out from Wulum Ltd in Calgary, you play as the Math-Commander in a twist on the typical shoot-em up, detailed on the Kickstarter:

“If you are playing from VR you will see the playing action in front of you. An Iron Man–style virtual console display will inform you how many targets you must destroy, how much time you have, and what your next target is.”

And for those who want to play on Augmented Reality:

For those playing the AR version, the scenario will display over a real surface previously identified by your mobile's camera. You will see your base cannon and enemies through your mobile device and choose your targets by tapping.

You can check out some of the videos below to get another idea.

We have been working on an inspiring project for Kickstarter called MATH-Commander, a VR and AR Game to keep minds sharp and inspire the love for math. We appreciate if you can make a moment to check it out and offer some feedback we can use for the success of our campaign.

This video is a concept test of AR for the ga MATH-Commander is a game currently on development by Wulum Ltd - www.wulum.com .- MATH-Commander is a game for Virtual Reality (Oculus Go and Cardboard) and Augmented Reality (iOS and Android).

You can check out the Kickstarter right now, which at the time sits at around 13% of their goal with 11 days left, however they have a modest goal of $9500 - so check them out! And in the meantime, follow them on Twitter.

Math Commander is 10+% funded! We are so grateful and can't wait to see how this journey goes on.

All we say for now is THANK YOU! If you want to help even further, tell your friends and spread the word!#mathcommander #oculusgo #kickstartercampaign #madewithunity pic.twitter.com/oMEiSFQIqF

— Wulum Ltd (@WulumLtd) December 24, 2018

Transference Out Now In Both VR And Non-VR

Ubisoft Monreal have released Transference for VR (PSVR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive) and non-VR (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) this week. You can check out the details below for their psychological thriller:

Jump into an escape room set in a deranged mind and experience a first-person exploration game in a chilling new dimension. Shift between three perspectives and attempt to unravel the mystery hiding in this mind-bending psychological thriller. Project yourself into a riveting narrative experience and become immersed in an unsettling psychological thriller. Piece together a family's mystery as you recover fragmented memories from the corrupted consciousness of each perspective. In this first-person narrative mystery, you must explore the walls of the family's home to interpret events and discover the truth. Playable in VR and non-VR modes.

Journey into a corrupted mind, where the only way to escape is to attempt to solve the mystery. With each perspective, you will unleash new truths. Welcome to Transference! Available Now in VR (PlayStation®VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive) and traditional platforms (PS4, Xbox One and PC).

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES TRANSFERENCE™, NOW AVAILABLE IN BOTH VR AND NON-VR

Montreal — September 18, 2018 — Today, Ubisoft announced the first-person exploration game Transference™ is now available at the suggested retail price of $33.49 in both VR and non-VR on PlayStation®VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, as well as on PlayStation®4 system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X and Windows PC. The game is rated “M” for Mature.

“Whether playing in VR or non-VR, players will find themselves in an escape room like situation inside the experiment of a troubled scientist. They’ll shift between the three perspectives of family members and attempt to find out the disturbing truth,” said Transference producer Kévin Racapé. “Transference is a visceral, engaging experience, and we can’t wait for players to enjoy unraveling the mystery in this mind-bending psychological thriller.”

While exploring and solving the mysteries of the house, players will cross paths with a family where each member has a story and a unique perspective on the events buried in their memories. 

There is a free downloadable demo, The Walter Test Case, available now on Playstation VR and PlayStation 4 system in both VR and non-VR that serves as a prequel to the full game.

Transference was developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with SpectreVision, the production company founded by Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and John C. Waller.

For further information about Transference, please visit: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-ca/game/transference

Below please find the embed link to the Transference launch trailer: https://youtu.be/8jQYGPDoafU

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

ABOUT SPECTREVISION 

Founded in 2010 by partners Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller, SpectreVision was created to tell character-driven stories tackling emotional and human experiences that test the boundaries of the genre space. In 2015, Lisa Whalen joined the company as the fourth partner.

The SpectreVision productions of A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Cooties, Open Windows, The Boy and their latest cult hit, The Greasy Strangler, have earned spots at the most prestigious festivals in the world, as well as numerous awards and nominations. SpectreVision has also released, under its SpectreVision Presents banner, the acclaimed films, Toad Road, LFO and, in partnership with Cinefamily, the enormously successful restoration and re-release of the lost animated classic, Belladonna of Sadness.

SpectreVision has expanded its focus, with new and exciting forays into the worlds of television and digital media, and has a partnership to create virtual reality content with Ubisoft. At the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, SpectreVision's parent entity, Company X, premiered their first production, Bitch, which sold to MPI.

© 2018 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Transference, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Pirate Themed VR Game - Furious Seas Out On Steam

Future Immersive is a recently created studio from Toronto, who starting in 2017, set themselves out to make AAA VR games. The developer got to work rather quickly because in July of this year their first game Furious Seas was launched into Early Access on Steam for the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

Take the helm of a deadly pirate ship and embark on a thrilling tale of revenge and destruction in VR. In Furious Seas, you will adventure out onto the high seas during a dangerous era, where ruthless pirates and fearsome enemy vessels await. Reach out and take control of your ship and your crew as you navigate through treacherous waters, bringing destruction upon any foes who dare cross your path. Reclaim what is yours and carve out your legend amidst the furious seas.

You can check out the game right here on Steam, with a trailer, and some screenshots below.

Special Launch Week Discount on Now! http://bit.ly/Steam_FS Pick it up on Steam before the sale ends: Available for the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Follow us! Twitter: https://twitter.com/FuriousSeas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FuriousSeas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furiousseas Learn more: http://www.furiousseas.com

Game Developers At VRTO

I was given a list of game developers (both local and out of city/country) that will be attending/presenting at VRTO (which we've talked about here). Remember that TorontoGameDevs.com readers have a chance to save! Use the code: TOGameDevs15 to save 15% on tickets.

Game Dev Speakers

• Steve Gaynor - Fullbright (Gone Home, Tacoma) - Portland, OR

• Paloma Dawkins - NFB (Alea, Gardenarium, Palmystery) - Montreal

• Blair Renaud - IRIS VR (Road Warrior, GTA: London, Technolust) - Toronto

• Phillip Rosedale - Founder (Second Life, High Fidelity) - San Francisco

• Johnny Montsarrat - Founder (Turbine) - Boston, MA

• Elli Raynai - Cinehackers (Circuit Rider) - Toronto

• Lee Vermeulen - Alientrap Games (Apotheon, Cryptark, ModBox) - Toronto

• John Bolton - Globacore - Toronto

Game Dev Exhibitors:

• Stephen Shew - (Battleverse  - Multiplayer Augmented Reality RPG) - Toronto

• Martov Co. - (Chiaro and the Elixir of Life) - Montreal

• Paloma Dakwins - (Museum of Symmetry) - Montreal)

• Chris Cooper - Singular Dream (Shatter Everything) - Toronto

• Dustin Freeman - Escape Character (Moatboat, Shapeshifter/Tweetris) - Toronto

• VRulez - showcasing the Katwalk Premium VR treadmill seen in Ready Player One with various VR games - Toronto

• Globacore - Various

First Impact: Rise of a Hero to Leave Early Access on June 8

The VR game which launched into Early Access in February 2017 will see it's official release on June 8th, according to developers Red Meat Games. 

Members Of Gamma Space And Dames Making Games Speaking At VRTO

Friends of the site Henry Faber (from Gamma Space), and Jennie Robinson Faber (from Dames Making Games) will be speaking at the upcoming VRTO along with a bunch of other panelists. The event itself is this weekend, but this panel is on Sunday and can check out the full details here.

Titled: "SUPER SESSION: Artist-Run Media Art Centres and VR" - the event will look at non-profit's, and artist driven organizations and what they are doing with VR.

Artist-run media art centres typically provide access to production resources as well as training. The first equipment access centre for artists in Canada was founded 45 years ago. Trinity Square Video has been able to foster and support the birth of many other similar organisations which formed the foundation of our digital media culture of today. Their example has inspired a generation of artists, not only in Canada but internationally.

Media artists rise to the level of technology they can access. Media art centres make prohibitively expensive technology available to artists. Their art is driven by personal vision, not corporate interests or politics. Independent artists are a research engine for new media. They create content that demonstrates the range of possibilities for a particular technology. In short, artists contribute to the success of new technology, great content leads sales.

In Canada, we have cultivated a tried and true infrastructure for private industry to partner with artists by supporting artist-run media art centres with financial and/or equipment donations. Equipment manufacturers and software vendors can be certain their support will be made available to the maximum number of artists in an honest, reliable and democratic process.

Make sure to check out all the details here, and register for the event on Eventbrite.

One last LevelUP TO Preview: Interview with Livius Grosu

One last preview as Levelup TO is today, at the Design Exchange (234 Bay St.) from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  I interviewed Livius Grosu, a Ryerson University student in Computer Science.  He has created a VR horror game that he will be showing today at LevelUP TO.

TGD: Tell me a bit about yourself. (Is this your first experience at LevelUP? Have you created games in the past?)

Livius Grosu: I'm currently attending Ryerson University for Computer Science and I plan on breaking into the game dev field.  I've had an interest in making games ever since I got my hands on it!  From gamer maker studio to the latest version of Unity, I've been making games ever since.  This LevelUp that I'm attending will be my first and I'm super excited about it!

TGD: What is your game for LevelUP TO this year?

L.G:  This year I'm submitting a VR horror game called MK.  My goal for this game is to create a dark/sinister world with unwelcoming 'inhabitants'.

TGD: What did you get your inspirations for this game?

L.G:  The VR horror games theme stems from the games Amnesia, Penumbra, and Thief the Dark Project.  Ever since I played those games, I always wanted to mimic the horror and tension atmosphere that those games created.  Amnesia and Penumbra helped me understand different types of horror.  What those games really tried to emphasize was the horror of the unknown, which in my opinion, is the best kind of horror as it pulls through the core of what horror is.  Thief had tension between the player and the environment such as hiding in the shadows while a guard is nose hair away from you.  I wanted that kind of tension in my game to emphasize the fear and horror that a player might encounter.

TGD:  What are you most excited to show off about MK, and about LevelUP?

L.G:  We're excited to show off how the game can bring out the fear in a player.  Every asset from sound, models, lighting, and more, pushes this principle and it all ties nicely into a horrifying bundle.  I'm also excited to talk to members from Unity, AMD, and Ubisoft and get a slice of how the game dev field works!

Thanks again to Livius for taking the time to interview.  We'll see everyone tonight at LevelUP TO!

Mervils: A VR Adventure Out Now On PlayStaiton VR

As announced earlier, the VR fantasy adventure game Mervils is now out on PlayStation 4 - which you can download right here. It's also available on Steam (Vive), and Oculus.

Mervils is an open-world RPG platformer built specifically for third-person VR. Explore the four picturesque worlds and save the Mervil Kingdom from Balazar the Evil!

You can pick it up on the PlayStation store for $26.99.

New Trailer For Where Cards Fall - Coming Fall 2017

Snowman announced today that Where Cards Fall will be coming Fall 2017 iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and PC. With the announcement they also delivered a new trailer which you can see below:

Where Cards Fall is a coming of age story where you build houses of cards to move through imaginative puzzles and bring vivid memories of adolescence to life. Coming to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and PC in Fall 2017.

From the blog post, Snowman described the game a bit more in depth:

It may look cinematic, but what you’re seeing here is a real glimpse of our gameplay and story. In Where Cards Fall, you’ll build houses of cards to form and shape the world around you. These houses not only help you move through imaginative puzzles, but also bring to life vivid memories of adolescence.

This particular memory is of teenagehood in the suburbs. Filled with far more cacophonous uncertainty than the playful magic of the forests, the suburbs are home to a crucial question: who will you become? Would you rather remain comfortable at home, or venture into the world outside?

Where Cards Fall is expected to hit PC, Mac, and iOS devices this Fall, so in the meantime, make sure to download the studio's previous game, Alto's Adventure.

Mervils: A VR Adventure Comes To PSVR This Month

London developer VitruviusVR have already released Mervils: A VR Adventure on Vive, and Oculus, and now PlayStation users will get a taste of the Fantasy RPG later this month.

With merely a sword and a few coins your quest begins in the Mervil Countryside. The pages of the Great Mervil Book have been scattered throughout the land and the dark sorcerer Balazar the Evil has risen from the shadows. It’s up to one brave hero, to collect the lost pages, rebind the Great Book, and defeat Balazar once and for all. Will that Mervil be you?

Mervils is an open-world RPG platformer built specifically for third-person VR. Explore the four picturesque worlds and save the Mervil Kingdom from Balazar the Evil!

Mervils: A VR Adventure will come out on PlayStation 4 on February 21st. Consider that the Steam and Oculus price is $21.99 and $22.99 respectively, I think we can expect a similar price range on PSVR.

2nd Annual TorontoGameDevs.com Game of the Year Voting!

Poll Closed! Results are in!

Last year, N++ won the Game of the Year voting. Who will be the winner this year? Vote below, and in the new year I'll post the winners!

Only one vote per person, but you can vote for as many games as you want. If I missed any there is a Write In feature at the bottom, or let me know on Twitter. 

Note: Ports didn't count (sorry Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, and N++), but DLC, and extra episodes do. Feel free to use the search on the right hand side to find out more about that game.

Toronto Developers Highlight the 7th Annual Canadian Video Game Award Nominations

The nominations for the 7th Annual Canadian VideoGame Awards have been announced, and there are quite a few Toronto developers being nominated for various awards. I tooked at the local games being developed, which you can check out below.

Nominations (Local Developers Only)

Game of the Year:

• Severed
• Far Cry Primal (Ubisoft Montreal nominated)

Best Console Game:

• Far Cry Primal (Ubisoft Montreal nominated)

Best Mobile/Handheld Game:

• Alone With You (Benjamin Rivers)
• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)
• Loud on Planet X (Pop Sandbox Inc)

Best PC Game

• Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander (Massive Damage)

Best Virtual Reality Game:

• Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Steel Crate Games)
• Modbox (Alientrap)

Best Animation:

• Far Cry Primal (Ubisoft Montreal nominated)

Best Art Direction:

• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)

Best Audio:

• Far Cry Primal (Ubisoft Montreal nominated)

Best Educational Game:

• Modbox (Alientrap)

Best Game Innovation:

• Modbox (Alientrap)

Best Indie Game:

• Alone With You (Benjamin Rivers)
• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)

Best Musical Score:

• Alone With You (Benjamin Rivers)
• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)

Best Narrative:

• Alone With You (Benjamin Rivers)
• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)

Best New Character:

• Sasha - Severed (Drinkbox Studios)

Best Technology:

• Modbox (Alientrap)

Fans’ Choice Award: Best Canadian-Made Game:

• Alone With You (Benjamin Rivers)
• Severed (DrinkBox Studios)

You can check out the full nominations at the official site.