Skyrim VR

So I broke down during the Steam winter sale last year and decided to pay for Skyrim again since it was half price – all so I can try it in VR! I also dusted off my giant PRIMA game guide as well but referring to a game guide while playing in VR isn’t so easy 🙂 I have been playing for quite some time and I am probably two thirds of the way through… Continue reading

LOST LOOT Pre-Alpha Update #3 Released!

This latest update to Lost Loot brings CV1 support and a variety of other minor improvements!  It also works beautifully with the DK2 if you are still waiting for a CV1.  Anyone who purchased at any price can simply login to itch.io and download the new version.  If not, now is the time to get it on the itch.io page.     Things have been a little slow but there will be more updates soon.  I… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 8)

Time again for some wandering thoughts on the Rift and VR.  Let’s start off with some exciting news – my Rift arrived this past Monday!  With all the shipping issues I wasn’t really sure when it would come.  It has been almost three years since I first received the DK1 and wrote about it.  What a tumultuous ride!  Thank you again Oculus and Palmer for doing something special like this for all the Kickstarter backers.… Continue reading

Unite 2015 + Oculus Connect 2

I was very fortunate to be able to attend both Unite 15 and Oculus Connect 2.  Unite was is Boston, and since I live there, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of that.  Unfortunately the two conferences were one after the other and even overlapped for a day.  This made for a fun but exhausting week of Unity and VR.        There were many exciting moments throughout both events, and way… Continue reading

VR Just Got Real

This pretty much sums up how everyone in the VR community felt on Wednesday.  Seeing an Oculus Kickstarter email arrive always makes my day.  This time I knew it was going to be something special.  I was thinking input, but better than that, an actual release date!  Yes, finally a date – Q1 2016!      Ever since Oculus Connect last fall I have always been thinking of the amazing demos with Crescent Bay and how… Continue reading

LOST LOOT Pre-Alpha Update #2 Released!

The next update to Lost Loot is now available.  This new version has taken the game in a completely different direction with a miniature world third person design that is extremely immersive and very comfortable.     A preview video…   Some screenshots… Check out the this new version and let me know how you like it.  There are many aspects that improve the overall experience that I covered in my blog post called The… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 7)

I am still working hard on the Lost Loot Pre-Alpha #2 release which will be landing very shortly.  This version switches the game to a miniature world third person design primarily for comfort.Check out my last blog entry on The quest for comfortable VR for more details about why I am making the change and what it looks like. I was lucky enough to get Cymatic Bruce from AltspaceVR to try out this new version at the Boston VR… Continue reading

The quest for comfortable VR

When I put on the Rift and play a game, I want it to feel good.  I want to be able to stay plugged in for hours and hours and become lost in another world – to explore, have adventures, do things not possible in the real world.  That is the general expectation of the average consumer and at the same time the ultimate dream of any VR enthusiast. So what happens when we have… Continue reading

LOST LOOT for the DK2!

The DK2 compatible version of Lost Loot is here!  The 0.4.3 runtime is required and it is built with the 0.4.3.1 version of the sdk.     The build is a DX11 build and should run fine using direct mode.  If you do run it in extended mode, I recommend forcing it to DX9.  I have still experienced problems using DX11 in extended mode.  There are details in the instructions on how to force it… Continue reading

Oculus Connect

    I don’t attend many conferences, but when I first heard about Oculus Connect I knew it was going to be awesome.  An invitation only developer conference for something as world changing as VR is just too hard to resist.  Now that it is over, I have to say that it has inspired me, and put a human face on Oculus and the larger VR community.  I hope they do it the same way… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 6)

    Time for another take on Oculus, the Rift, and the new VR industry that is forming.  Everything has pretty much exploded since Facebook purchased the company.  That put Oculus on the map and brought a great deal of attention to the company and the new wave of VR technology now emerging.  We even had the first official conference for consumer virtual reality put together by SVVR. For a complete and well written account of… Continue reading

The Lost Loot Road Map

The initial pre-release is still essentially the VR Jam game I created, although cleaned up and improved significantly.  The gameplay is also still simple with only a few basic exploration and treasure hunting mechanics.  My plan right now is to continue improving and enhancing the foundation of the game.  I also intend to rework the terrain with new shaders, revise the art pack used for the island, and put in a procedural sky system with… Continue reading

LOST LOOT Pre-Alpha Update #1 Released!

I have been busy fixing bugs the last few weeks and now have the first pre-alpha version of LOST LOOT ready to go.  This version is more or less the same as the VR Jam game however it has been cleaned up, enhanced, and optimized to provide a much nicer experience.  I hope you like it!     The trailer…   Some screenshots…     Please try it out and give me feedback.  It is… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 5)

Well, the last few months have been another rollercoaster ride for the VR world.  I think we are on a path to a very promising future for VR and as I have said before the next few years are going to be very exciting! Sony Legitimizes VR Things really started to heat up at GDC.  We had Sony taking center stage with the unveiling of Project Morpheus (after the god of dreams) for the PS4,… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 4)

Well, it is that time again…  There has been much happening in the VR world.  I guess we are now calling it the second coming of VR with all the new technology showcased at CES and of course the huge Valve announcements at Steam Dev Days.  Now for a little recap… Oculus showed off the Crystal Cove Prototype at CES which has a camera based positional tracking system and a low persistence display.  I won’t… Continue reading