The current VR market is undeniably dominated by enthusiasts, but London-based developer Fourthwall wants to capture a very different demographic with its debut release, Dream Horse.
Dream Horse is available now for free on Google Play with support for Google Cardboard and similar HMDs. In it, players find themselves in a forest in which they will grow a bond with a magical horse. Gameplay consists of four main elements. First there’s feeding your horse to keep it healthy, and you’ll also have to take care of it by cleaning it too. Then there are runner-style sections where you’ll practise jumping with your horse and you’ll also be able to explore the forest whilst riding on its back.
Horses can of course be customized with different hair colors, and players are able to take pictures and share them with friends. As for the future, there’s no word on iOS or Gear VR support yet, and no sign of in-app purchases.
Though it’s never outright stated, Dream Horse is undeniably a shot at the tween market of younger girls. It’s easy to see why you’d pursue this audience as such content has thrived on past platforms like Nintendo’s DS.
But that doesn’t seem to be the point of Dream Horse, given that it’s an entirely free experience. It’s a first step into a potentially lucrative market and not a massive gamble that depends upon its immediate growth. After all, there probably aren’t many 10-year-old girls out there with the money for a phone and Google Cardboard, let alone an Oculus Rift. Either way, Fourthwall will no doubt be glad they’re getting into the genre early before it inevitably picks up.
Elsewhere, Fourthwall is also working on another VR title named Dream Cars that’s looking to launch this June. Few details about the project have been revealed, though the developer teased it will explore the potential of both social and competitive play within casual VR titles. It’s early days, but Fourthwall’s own dream is clear; to be the studio that brings VR to younger audiences.
