A new week and a few new roles to immerse yourself within on this collection of new releases for HTC Vive. First up we have VRtender, an escapist experience of sorts where you learn to become a bartender with around 50 different real cocktail mixes to make for your patrons. Next up is Conductor, which we recently reviewed. It’s an adventure through a post-industrial apocalyptic world where you solve different puzzles as you maneuver down the tracks while driving a train.
In the meantime, if you missed last week, you can see those new releases here. And don’t forget that UploadVR has a Steam community group, complete with a curated list of recommendations so that you don’t have to waste any money finding out what’s good in the world of VR.
We also have a top list of the absolute best HTC Vive games — which is updated every few months with the latest and greatest options.
New HTC Vive Releases on Steam
MovingPictures: VR Video and Image Viewer, from Aaron Kunkle
Price: $2.99
MovingPictures aims to be a simple, minimalist home for your video and image viewing pleasures. You can use one or two controllers to upload, move, and resize your media as you shape a comfortable viewing experience.
Recommendation: It’s definitely not the prettiest solution and there are others in the wild with more options.
Fine China, from Fine China Games
Price: $0.99
In Fine China, your goal is to move carefully throughout a handful of establishments without breaking too many things. You’ll accumulate a score based on what you have to pay for. There’s also the option to just embrace your inner bull and destroy everything. Your call.
Recommendation: This is an inexpensive high-score challenge you can do with friends and watch the hilarity ensue, but there isn’t much to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW2KpEu1t_k
Elite Encounter, from BubbleFish Entertainment
Price: $4.99
With your own weapon and an unbreakable shield to move around, Elite Encounter is an arcade style VR shooter where you’re to take down as many enemy spaceships as possible. The game includes 3 different difficulty levels, aggressive enemy AI, and a lot of ships.
Recommendation: Pass on this one.
PsychLabVR, from Noah Robinson
Price: Free To Play
PsychLabVR is a virtual research center led by a psychology student at Vanderbilt University. The data collected during play will be used for a free, automated intervention to treat social anxiety. The team plans to update with more experiments and treatments.
Recommendation: Check it out and contribute to a potentially good cause.
Pixvana SPIN Play, from Pixvana, Inc.
Price: Free To Play
The SPIN Play app is an end-to-end solution for VR/360 content in multiple formats. Using Pixvana’s OPF format, users can play multiple types of encoded content in spherical form or a tile format.
Recommendation: Keep an eye on this as it evolves and more content becomes available.
Climbtime, from Saluda Systems
Price: $2.99
Climbtime challenges users to climb, fly, and glide around procedurally generated levels. Move quickly and efficiently to destroy cores as you chase leaderboard times. You can also explore real-world based terrain modeled after the Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and more.
Recommendation: The motion of climbing isn’t the most accurate but there’s fun to be had flying and gliding around.
VRIQ, from 3DIQ
Price: Free
VRIQ is a quick puzzle experience, challenging your problem-solving abilities within 5 minutes. Act quickly and then see how you match up against other users.
Recommendation: A free test of your ingenuity? Sure.
Strata inStudio VR, from Strata Mixed Reality, Inc.
Price: Free
Strata inStudio is a virtual playground for 3D models that includes 12 interactive preloaded environments. You can toggle physics to manipulate your models, utilize real-time lighting, and more.
Recommendation: This targets a pretty specific set of interests, but grab it if it tickles your fancy.
VRtender, from Further Beyond Studios
Price: $4.99
There have been plenty food vendor sims in VR, but what of the bartenders? In VRtender, you’ll make drinks and entertain patrons within a couple different modes. The game includes over 50 real-life cocktails so you just may be able to take this show on the road once you’ve become proficient.
Recommendation: I think you know already if you care about this or not. It’s aimed to be a sim-light experience.
Conductor, from Overflow
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
Taking place in a post-industrial apocalypse, Conductor is an action-adventure with puzzle elements. You work through the game on a locomotive and must engage in different activities to clear your path to escape the pursuit of Overcorp.
Recommendation: This one is a moody and interesting looking adventure that is worth your gaze. Read our review and give it a go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j3z4bkkEKQ
Big Hit VR Baseball, from Big Hit Games
Price: $22.49 (Currently Discounted)
Big Hit VR challenges and hones your baseball skills, sending you sinkers, curveballs, and more all with realistic physics. Batting practice allows you to slow things down and get your timing and angles just right before heading into the Home Run Derby. You can also manipulate the ball size and tailor the game to your skill level.
Recommendation: This is a decent idea, but its issues limit the experience. Catch it on a steep sale.
Seance: The Unquiet, from Holospark
Price: Free To Play
This version of Seance: The Unquiet is a free demo that introduces you to an upcoming ghost story. You’re treated to the tense environment, jump scares, and wonderfully acted NPCs in anticipation of the full experience.
Recommendation: Absolutely check this one out. The voice acting alone is worth the effort and you can read more here.
VectorWars, from Red Iron Labs
Price: $2.99 (Currently Discounted)
VectorWars is an arcade style shooter that takes place in 2842 when the aliens finally attack. You play as Andy, an asteroid miner, that must defend humanity and continuously upgrade his ship while taking down the alien threat.
Recommendation: Getting this for VR doesn’t add a great deal to the experience. Pass for now.
Spud Cricket VR, from Hairy Man Games
Price: $7.99
Spud Cricket is a virtual cricket experience where you can play 5, 10, or 20 overs against a friend. The game also includes 3 difficulty levels and customizable settings for local multiplayer.
Recommendation: Pass for now, but keep an eye on it to see if it improves throughout Early Access.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRnKClcSaWU
Duel VR, from Booster Space
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
Including PvE and PvP, Duel VR is a western dueling game that includes 4 different weapons and 8 different characters to use in your online battles.
Recommendation: Skip this one.
New HTC Vive Releases on Viveport
There are no new releases on Viveport this week.
