After last week’s flood of new releases, it’s unsurprisingly quiet on the Gear VR and Oculus Rift front this week. That’s somewhat offset by some new announcements from E3, like Wilson’s Heart, Ripcoil, and others, but it’s still disappointing to look down a list of such dreary, uninspired games and apps coming to both platforms. Hopefully we’ll have something a little more exciting for you next week.
If you missed last week, you can see those here. And don’t forget that UploadVR now has its own SteamVR 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. Let’s get to it.
Dogfight Elite, from Echoboom –
Release Date: 06/11/16 Price: $19.99 (Oculus Rift)
You can take one look at Dogfight Elite and pretty much tell that it’s not optimised for VR, or really just optimised in general. A third and first-person flight game, it’s a pretty scrappy-looking piece of work that has in-app purchases on top of the already lofty price tag. Granted it’s early, but environments are painfully basic and the UI looks dreadful. There might be something here, but it’s going to take a lot of work to realise it.
Recommendation: Not right now. Come back in a few years, maybe.
Zero-G VR, from Linkus Studio –
Release Date: 06/15/16 Price: $3.99 (Oculus Rift, currently discounted)
Zero-G VR is designed to offer the “ultimate VR high-speed game simulation.” Before you reach for the sick bag, it might be worth pointing out that reviews for the game are actually largely positive. You’re armed with a jet pack and tasked with reaching a shuttle, spending a previous few moments in a gorgeous space environment. It’s a short experience, but there are a handful of different modes to keep you going.
Recommendation: It’s the most interesting thing out this week, not that it has much competition. Give it a look if you’re desperate for something new.
exVRience relaxation, from exvrience –
Release Date: 06/15/16 Price: (Gear VR)
At this rate, you could view VR more as a stress relief tool over anything else. This is yet another relaxing VR experience that uses five looping 360 degree videos to bring you to beaches, caves, lagoons, waterfalls and a lookout. You can choose to turn on some soothing music and even add in effects from rain and snow to butterflies and birds. Ironically, we’re getting a little tired of developers trying to get us to relax, though.
Recommendation: With Guided Meditation VR now available, it’s tough to recommend any other relaxing VR experience, especially one that relies on video over CG.
VRing In, from VringIn –
Release Date: 06/15/16 Price: Free (Gear)
Here’s a 360 video app with a difference; VRing in curates the most watched VR videos on the internet, putting them into one easy list for you to keep track of. With an overwhelming number of brands and people now capturing 360 video and yet more to follow with the release of consumer cameras like the Gear 360, this could well be a handy tool to have to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Recommendation: If 360 video still appeals to you in its primitive stage, this could be worth keeping track of.
OhanaChan, from Dazzle –
Releaste Date: 06/15/16 Price: Free (Gear VR)
Look at the artwork for OhanaChan. Just look at it. I haven’t seen anything this strange since, well, probably just NEKOPALIVE to be fair. In this 360 degree shooter, you protect a flower as bees approach with a ‘bubble gun’, knocking them down to raise your score. Okay so it sounds like just about every other Gear VR shooter, but at least it has a completely wacky concept going for it, right? Okay, well it’s free, so we’ll at least give it that.
Recommendation: I’m pretty sure you can live without playing this. Cool artwork, though.
Within, from Within –
Release Date: 06/16/16 Price: Free (Oculus Rift, already available on Gear VR)
Vrse is a studio that anyone interested in immersive film should be following. Or should I say was; the company this week changed its name to Within. Accompanying that shift is the launch of its content app on the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, offering you access to a wide range of 360 degree videos, such as the captivating Clouds Over Sidra, and even music videos from the likes of U2. Expect plenty more to come in the future, too.
Recommendation: It’s a free app with some of the best 360 films to date. Get it.
