A podcast about VR game design.
Tune in every two weeks to hear two VR developers talk about the exciting new medium of Virtual Reality. Expect design insights, technical breakdowns, and hot takes that are sure to get angry comments!
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Episodes release every other Wednesday, with occasional bonus content on off-weeks.
Episodes
Episode 20: Blaston: Bosses and Back Alleys
Blaston’s new update brings multiplayer lounge spaces and a single player campaign. Massively expanding a game isn’t easy. We walk through the new content, then talk through the new opportunities and issues for Blaston’s future.
Blaston’s new update brings multiplayer lounge spaces and a single player campaign. Massively expanding a game isn’t easy. We walk through the new content, then talk through the new opportunities and issues for Blaston’s future.
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Episode 19: Carmack’s App Reviews
Legendary developer John Carmack is back to publishing VR app reviews, this time for the Oculus Quest platform. His nuanced approach abandons stars and numbers for more insightful commentary and suggestions for improvement. We also compare his stringent quality bar with the quality bar of the Oculus store.
Legendary developer John Carmack is back to publishing VR app reviews, this time for the Oculus Quest platform. His nuanced approach abandons stars and numbers for more insightful commentary and suggestions for improvement. We also compare his stringent quality bar with the quality bar of the Oculus store.
Carmack's App Reviews: Space Shooter
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Episode 18: Path of the Warrior
We unleash our inner karate kids this week with Path of the Warrior; a VR love letter to old-school Beat-Em-Up arcade games. Goons get punched, food gets munched, and ultimately things get underwhelming as we discuss the highs and lows of these rage filled streets.
We unleash our inner karate kids this week with Path of the Warrior; a VR love letter to old-school Beat-Em-Up arcade games. Goons get punched, food gets munched, and ultimately things get underwhelming as we discuss the highs and lows of these rage filled streets.
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Episode 17: Remembering Red Matter
Red Matter shows us how VR can take players to new worlds - why haven’t we heard about it!?
Red Matter is a great example of where VR can take players when you rely on grounded principles and wide usage of solid interactions...then why have we barely heard about it!? Today we’re exploring that question and more! Join us for insightful discussion on the mechanics, storytelling, and performance of this eerie adventure title.
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
My brain feels like a smooth lump of stone.
Episode 16: Exploring The Climb's New DLC
The Climb 2's new DLC almost satisfies the Tomb Raider itch. What does this mean for the future of The Climb?
The Climb 2 got new levels! In them, Carlos found an experience closer to Tomb Raider than The Climb. This week we discuss: How does the DLC improve on the base game? What future do we see for The Climb after playing the DLC? And could The Climb deliver on a Tomb Raider experience for VR?
Timestamps:
1:30 - The Climb 2 vs Tomb Raider
7:29 - The Climb 2 DLC
20:35 - Where could The Climb go next? (Mechanics)
28:15 - Opportunities for Next-gen Tech
30:28 - Opportunities for better feedback to player
35:42 - Where could The Climb go next? (Game Modes)
Other Things We Mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Very fast turnaround on this one - for once, we’re actually talking about something very recent!
BONUS - Piloting Mechs in VR
We chat about how to design mech-piloting and spaceship-piloting experiences for VR.
We chat about how to design mech-piloting and spaceship-piloting experiences for VR.
Episode 15: This is why you don’t play more VR
Over 40% of VR players only use their headset once a month or less. Why? Using Demeo as an example, we explore the reasons for this phenomenon.
Over 40% of VR players only use their headset once a month or less. Why is this? Using Demeo as an example, we explore the reasons for this retention fall-off.
Timestamps:
0:58 - Comment Callout
3:25 - Funks and TIDI
9:42 - Demeo
13:06 - Tiredness
20:37 - Inertia
28:07 - Discomfort
32:13 - Indecision
Other Games We Mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Episode 14: Pistol Whip As A Service
The VR games market is evolving, and Pistol Whip -- with its latest “2089” update -- is the perfect lens for examining how.
The VR games market is evolving. Pistol Whip -- and its latest “2089” update -- is the perfect lens for examining the changing expectations for VR games. Will all VR games be expected to provide free updates? What impact does this have on game design? Listen in for these answers and more!
Timestamps:
0:50 - Pistol Whip
3:41 - Gameplay Modifiers and Haptics
9:21 - Content Updates and 2089
23:21 - Cloudhead Games and the VR market
27:07 - Games as a Service
31:05 - Modularity
35:20 - Final Thoughts
Other Games We Mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Seriously, if you haven’t played Pistol Whip… go play it!
Episode 13: The Hardware Future
We look at the new PSVR 2 controllers, compare the pros and cons of different VR hardware platforms, and peek into the future of VR hardware.
We look at the new PSVR 2 controllers, compare the pros and cons of different VR hardware platforms, and peek into the future of VR hardware.
Timestamps:
1:45 - Introduction
2:50 - VR Controller Standard
6:20 - Vive Wands and PS Move
10:28 - Dualshock and PSVR
15:15 - Inside-out Tracking
17:37 - Wired vs Wireless
21:15 - What does the next 5 years look like?
27:54 - PSVR2 Tracking Ring
30:44 - The "Face Factor"
33:30 - Outro
Other Games We Mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This is by far our favorite episode so far. If you have feedback on our evolving style, drop a comment on the subreddit!
BONUS - STRIDE
Big STRIDEs being made today. Just kidding! We chat for a few minutes about a parkour game.
Episode 12: Swarm
Swarm is the newest grapple hook game in town and it’s bringing out the big guns (literally)! Will it perform well?
Swarm is a new fast-paced, arcade-style grapple shooter, and we think it’s going to perform pretty well. But why do we think that, and what do the developers need to do to ensure it? This week, listen to us inspect (and recommend) the game from a developer’s perspective.
Timestamps:
1:23 - Swarm
7:40 - Grappling Hook Mechanic
13:26 - Motion Sickness
15:27 - Combat Loop Rhythm
22:21 - Juice
25:45 - Post-Launch Expansion
28:40 - FTUE
30:58 - Marketing
34:30 - Final Thoughts
Other Games We Mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This was the fastest we’ve turned around an episode yet. It came out pretty well!
Episode 11: How To Train Your Player
“The designer doesn’t come in the box.” How exactly do you train your player to play your game?
“The designer doesn’t come in the box.”
It’s easy for designers to forget that players don’t initially know how to play their games, and adding tutorials too late in production can lead to bad first time user experiences (FTUE). As always, VR only complicates the problem. This week, we discuss all these issues and more. How exactly do you train your player to play your game?
Timestamps:
0:58 - Introduction
4:50 - FTUE
7:56 - "Glimmer Grove" Example
10:45 - Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
17:30 - Limiting The Lessons
21:00 - Avoid Teaching the Wrong Thing (Battlewake)
24:36 - Player Expectations
27:47 - Ongoing Instruction
31:06 - The VR “Wow!” Moment
33:56 - Building Feedback into your Mechanics
35:50 - VR Conventions
39:09 - Wrap-up
Games we mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Hey there, gorgeous! Thanks for checking out the post-show notes. User and Usability testing are actually quite close to my heart - let us know if you want to hear more about it!
Episode 10: Population One
We talk about POPULATION: ONE, the next big VR battle royale. The marketplace of ideas has now become an arena... and to the victor goes the bananas.
We talk about POPULATION: ONE, the next big VR battle royale. Carlos raves about the game while Matt brings a critical eye to temper the fandom. The marketplace of ideas has now become an arena...and to the victor goes the bananas.
Things we mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Episode 9: LOCO-motion!
Smooth or Teleport? Game developers have to design content that works for all players. How hard could it be?
Smooth or Teleport? Armswing or Joystick? These are some of the most contentious questions in the VR community, but as developers we have to know how to design content that works for all players. Listen in to hear how game developers think about how you move in VR!
Timestamps:
01:09 - Why do we need both Teleport and Smooth Locomotion?
05:26 - Exceptions to the rule
10:20 - Challenges of Teleport Locomotion
13:15 - Feature Idea: Edge-Aligned Teleport
18:10 - Challenges of Smooth Locomotion
30:06 - Designing for Both Methods
Things we mention:
Futurama S2 E15
Hybrid Locomotion - a really cool headbob-driven locomotion demo
Games we mention:
Owlchemy Labs games (Job Simulator, Vacation Simulator, Rick and Morty VR)
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Seriously, check out Hybrid Locomotion. The guy behind it is a total beast, pumping out lots of cool videos and demos. I’m not sure I agree 100% with his design paradigms, but there are great lessons to be taken from his innovative mechanics.
Episode 8: Talk With Me, Not At Me! (Story Moments in VR)
Join us for an exploration of Lone Echo and Half-Life: Alyx. How do they excel at telling human-focused stories, and where do they falter? Listen to find out!
Humans need human stories. Lone Echo and Half-Life: Alyx deliver two of the best human stories in VR to date. Where do they excel, and what could be improved? Join us for an exploration of these games and insight into the future of VR storytelling.
Timestamps:
00:51 - Introduction
02:04 - Storytelling Challenges in Games
10:49 - Lone Echo
31:33 - Half-Life: Alyx
41:25 - Larger Takeaways
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
No post-show notes today!
Episode 7: The (Side)Quest for More Games
Did you know there’s a whole other storefront for Quest games? Come along with us and discover a whole new world of indie games, demos, betas, and experimental experiences!
Did you know there’s a whole other storefront for Quest games? It’s not a black market, it’s not hard to get access to, and lots of the games are free. Come along with us and discover a whole new world of indie games, demos, betas, and experimental experiences!
Timestamps and Links:
1:00 - Intro to SideQuest
10:30 - Virtual Desktop VR Patch
14:30 - Puzzling Places Beta
15:30 - Attack on Quest
17:00 - Crazy Kung Fu
18:20 - Crisis VRigade
20:10 - Hyper Dash
21:00 - Crossplay in VR
24:00 - OPERATION SERPENS
25:30 - Doom3Quest
28:00 - Demos (Racket: NX, Synth Riders), TO THE TOP
29:00 - Wrap-up
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Hey, if you’re reading this, make sure you’re subscribed to our email list! That’s the simplest way to help us know you exist and stay connected to the show.
Episode 6: Recommendation Royale
Did you recently get an Oculus Quest? Are you “out of games to play”? Look no further for a comprehensive list of our best recommendations.
Did you recently get an Oculus Quest? Are you “out of games” to play? We give a rundown of our favorite games on the platform, categorized by their appeal and friendliness to new VR users. Look no further for the comprehensive list of Head Mounted Destinations-approved games.
Timestamps and Links:
3:29 - Bait!
4:05 - Virtual Virtual Reality
4:37 - Racket: NX
5:43 - Dance Central
6:33 - Tetris Effect
7:49 - Raccoon Lagoon
9:31 - Shadow Point
14:18 - Color Space
15:55 - VR Chat
16:25 - Rec Room
17:07 - PokerStars VR
18:12 - Echo Arena
19:45 - Blaston
20:59 - POPULATION: ONE
22:45 - Pistol Whip
24:29 - Phantom: Covert Ops
24:52 - Robo Recall: Unplugged
26:09 - Sairento VR: Untethered
27:18 - Time Stall
28:41 - Gun Club VR
29:57 - Red Matter
30:49 - The Room VR: A Dark Matter
31:08 - Moss, Trover Saves the Universe
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
No post-show notes today!
BONUS - VR Quadcopter Battle Royale!?
Ever wonder what it sounds like when game developers brainstorm game ideas? WONDER NO MORE! In this off-the-clock brainstorm session we discuss a new take on a popular genre.
Ever wonder what it sounds like when game developers brainstorm game ideas? WONDER NO MORE! In this off-the-clock brainstorm session we discuss a new take on a popular genre.
Don’t take this too seriously, lol. We love slinging around blue-sky ideas, but it’s a far cry between this kind of idle chat and actually seeing a game spec-ed out, greenlit, funded, prototyped, developed, polished, and shipped.
Episode 5: Better Living Through Lobbies
We take an in-depth look at VR game lobbies - our experiences with them, their benefits and downsides, and ways to evolve them in the future.
We take an in-depth look at VR game lobbies -- our experiences with them, their benefits, downsides, and ways to evolve them in the future. Be sure to check out the extra links at the top of the show notes!
Timestamps:
1:05 - Echo Arena and Rec Room
6:42 - Lobby Culture and Demographics
12:00 - Lobby Activities
13:12 - Star Trek Bridge Crew
17:30 - What would be the perfect lobby?
24:10 - Privacy Spectrum
31:30 - Cosmetics and Creating a Home
Things we mention:
Music:
Furious Freak by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3791-furious-freak
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
No post-show notes today!