VeeR Pong is the technological evolution of the backyard beer pong drinking game. Instead of red cups and a ping pong ball, though, you need an HTC Vive and a $1,000 PC.
You should also add a friend with another HTC Vive and another $1,000 PC. Thankfully, though, this second person can be anywhere in the world. VeeR Pong joins other games, like Pool Nation, that attempt to use realistic physics combined with multiplayer gameplay to recreate fun games we have in the real world. I suspect VeeR Pong — just like real life beer pong — would be much more enjoyable playing against an actual person. Though, if you wish, you can play a solo game of VeeR Pong. You could certainly stand alone in your living room with a big VR headset on, a beer can with a straw in it in one hand (to protect your equipment) and then play virtual beer pong against that computer. And as the computer slowly makes you sip your beer with well-aimed ball throws, you could question the meaning of existence.
Both multiplayer and lonely options are built into VeeR Pong, an early access VR game on Steam selling for $10. It’s discounted at the time of this writing.
Let me be clear that near the front of the HTC Vive “safety and regulatory guide” it says “do not use the product if you are…under the influence of intoxicants…as it may exacerbate your condition.” You don’t have to play VeeR Pong with an actual beer in one hand, but I have to admit I’d be tempted to ignore the warning and try scheduling a game or two with far away friends from college if VR headsets were more prevalent. Still, it’s probably a bad idea to drink actual beer while playing VeeR Pong if for no other reason than it’s doubtful friends and family would see you the same after they saw you drinking beer from a straw.
