CoolPaintrVR looks to be the Art creation app that Playstation VR currently lacks.

While users of the Vive and Rift have have access to Oculus Quill, Medium, Google Tilt Brush and now Google Blocks, PSVR users are lacking in content creation software. 

Enter CoolPaintrVR from Wildbit Studios.

According to Wildbit, CoolPaintr VR uses Real Time Skeleton Extraction (RTSE) technology to provide users with many advanced functions that might be useful for professionals. The ability to import assets and to extract content created in the app are features set to be included.

Though the details are limited on the release, the Wildbit team showcased CoolPaintrVR at the recent Playstation VR Resort event in Spain. 

http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/

Oculus is dropping it like its hot for the summer and selling Rift + Touch for $399!

Oculus Rift and Touch is dropping the price like its hot Today Oculus announced that Rift + Touch are now available at $399 for a limited time. Keep in mind you still need a pretty decent PC rig to run it but all in all this is a GREAT price and just in time for some really exciting new and exclusive VR titles including the upcoming game from Metro developers 4A games. I got a chance to play ARKTIKA.1 at OC3 and I think it may be a system seller...so get that system while its on sale.

Check out some of the other upcoming titles coming to Rift.

• Brass Tactics—“An elaborate, immersive experience that might be one of the finest wargaming experiences ever brought to VR.” —Polygon
• From Other Suns—“A huge, open-universe space adventure game with countless procedurally generated environments to explore.” —Engadget
• Killing Floor: Incursion—“I generally felt like a champion standing atop a mountain of corpses on the battlefield.” —UploadVR

Those are a handful of the titles coming to Rift in the next few months but right now their is hella excellent content like Rick and Morty and Robo Recall so I have to say this is a great deal.

Looking for new games to play on your VR headset? Check out Bundle Stars latest value pack.

 Looking for new games to play on your VR headset?

Bundle Stars ( https://www.bundlestars.com ), an official retail partner of more than 850 game developers, is hosting a VR Weekend with individual games and bundles at deep discounts.

Launched today, the Pure VR Bundle 3 ( https://www.bundlestars.com/en/bundle/pure-vr-bundle-3 ) offers 10 VR-compatible Steam games for just $4.99. That’s a discount of more than 90% off the normal retail price of the games.

This weekend only, gamers who buy Pure VR Bundle 3 also receive an exclusive 10% discount voucher which can be used against VR games and DLC, including these discounted titles:

• SUPERHOT VR (-20%)
• Redout Enhanced Edition (-60%)
• Universe Sandbox 2 (-33%)
• Sports Bar VR (-60%)

The full selection of VR games can be viewed here:

https://www.bundlestars.com/en/collections/vr-games

That’s not all. The VR Weekend continues on Saturday, July 8th, with two more exciting events launching at Bundle Stars:

• VR Pick & Mix Bundle https://www.bundlestars.com/en/promotions/vr-pick-mix-bundle

  Build your own bundle! Choose from 28 VR games for Steam.

  Launches 4pm BST / PT / ET

  Duration: 2 weeks

• 24 hours only Star Deal: Batman Arkham VR (Save 40%)

  https://www.bundlestars.com/en/game/batman-arkham-vr

  Launches 4pm BST / PT / ET

  Please note: 10% discount voucher cannot be applied to Star Deals

A CatsAndVR Special: Why does VR Porn Keep Following Me? Feat the VRotica Adult VR device for adults.

I first heard of Vrotica’s integrated headset when checking out the XBiz VR Shootout press release from June, I had a few friends from VR Vixen competing in there and was happy to see them get exposure. The Vrotica headset was given some good reviews by XBiz but hey its a porn site what do they know about VR anyway (probably a lot more than people give them credit for)

"Delivering an intriguing bridge between the convenience of cordless, phone-based headsets and the quality of the high-end units such as Rift and Vive, the Shootout saw the debut of Vrotica’s integrated headset that has no tether to an outside computer, nor does it require a phone to drive its display"  - XBiz

Well I did not really pursue trying to get a demo of the Vrotica head set cause I was trying to distance CatsAndVR from adult content...it has seemed to follow me for a while, in fact my very first interview was adult related. http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/naughtyamerica

I also have a lot of respect for people making adult content in VR, I mean was the internet not build on this stuff...and cats but I am trying to be legit here and get funding and stuff so hey less adult content and more mainstream content?

So here I am trying to be a legit journalist and now budding game developer so I attended what I thought would be a very informative session on being a independent VR developer. In a way it was. 

@vroticaheadset #vrcsanfrancisco did not see this talk going into #adultconent #vr but hey it helped the #internet grow. pic.twitter.com/1TQRTIfivg

— CatsAndVR (@CatsAndVR) June 28, 2017

Well I cracked up when this presentation basically became a pitch for this new all inclusive Porn VR headset. Then when he told me that Steven Hansen of Destructoid beat me to the story I was pissed. https://www.destructoid.com/this-vr-headset-is-just-for-porn-445419.phtml

 Was this guy on stage a genius or a jackass...it is a very thin line sometimes. I had to go talk to this guy and see what is VRotica. Well I got a chance to talk to Deniz Opal the CTO of Hologram the makers of VRotica.

“Our goal is to bring immersive virtual reality entertainment to anybody that wants to experience it, with no technical knowledge required.” said Deniz Opal, CTO of Hologram,  “VRotica streamlines the entire process for adult entertainment, and BaDoinkVR’s A-List content really completes the platform. The combination of easy to use hardware, and top quality content, makes VRotica a compelling consumer VR product available today, not in a few years time as the industry has been speculating.”
 

The VRotica platform is open to producers to join and upload their videos. In order to streamline the experience, the company will vet the videos; they must be legally made and meet their quality guidelines. The user can then point and click within the headset to download videos.

“This is an incredible leap forward for consumers of adult VR content and the industry as a whole,” said Xavi Clos, Head of Production, BaDoinkVR. “The simplicity of the platform and lower price point lowers the barrier to entry so more people will be able to enjoy the exciting and immersive nature of it.”

VRotica has teamed up with BaDoinkVR for adult virtual reality entertainment, to provide premium preloaded content for the headset at launch. BaDoinkVR has bundled a selection of their top quality erotic VR content available to all purchasers, and will continue to work with the VRotica team to deliver the best user experience across the platform. The headset will also feature premium content from VRCosplayX, the new VR porn cosplay theme site powered by BaDoinkVR so you can really get a breath of the wild.

By utilizing the latest VR technology and bringing top quality erotic content to the users fingertips, VRotica distills the functionality of what makes VR amazing. The VRotica headset is currently available to buy in the USA, Europe, and Australia on Amazon and the VRotica web site. It retails for $220. Via VRotica Press Release

You may say "So what I get it there is a new VR porn headset out, what does that matter" . Well here is the thing if this thing sells it could actually open up a world for single use easy to use VR headsets that focus on sports, education, etc. I actually think this device in some iteration will succeed cause I have been to the AVN's and have seen people dragging carts of pictures of adult stars like people would at comic con. This product is not for the technologists its for the dad who just wants to watch his content in peace. Its for the person that frequents sports betting sites. Its for the person that still clicks on banner adds for "THE GAME YOUR WIFE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO PLAY" 

So since that kind of stuff exists...I think there is a market for VRotica.

As seen at Pocket Gamer Connects SF: Cats In Mechs!

Welcome to Omegatech’s world of Cats In Mechs.  As you blast enemy mechs with an arsenal of different weapons, the world reacts to your tactics, and the enemies adapt and get smarter. Rewards will be tailored to your style, and every level you play will remember your favorite tactics.

Omegatech is an iOS (iPhone and iPad) top-down action adventure game. Players operate a 9-meter-tall, battle-ready pillar of destruction known as an Omegamech, through a warzone filled with enemy mecha. The action is packed with exciting opportunities.

I recently had a chance to take this Cats In Mechs game on a drive during Pocket Gamer Connects SF. I had a few moments to chat with Kyle Garner the CEO of MegaWorld Studios, the team behind Omegatech. 

As you progress through the world, salvage parts to customize and improve your mecha, explore the vast Megacity, or clash with human opponents in casual PvP.

Unleash mega-assaults! – Let the fur fly with a massive variety of weapons that will leave your enemies quaking in their boots.

Become mega-sneaky! – Think your way through adrenaline-pumping timing puzzles and hair raising cat-and-mouse combat tactics.

Apply some mega-thrashings! – Get up close and personal, smashing your way through enemy lines with dual melee action.

Detonate mega-combos! – Discover the true potential of combat opportunism with items, techniques, and secret ways to kick some tail.

Make sure you register for the beta here. http://www.omegatechgame.com/register/

CatsAndVR@Pocket Gamer Connects SF- VR Indie Pitch Winner VINDICTA

Recently CatsAndVR had the chance to not only attend Pocket Game Connects SF but also be part of their VR Indie Pitch. My game is still a work in progress and the feedback was great for my development. However, the winner of the VR Indie Pitch was an excellent game from Beirut based Independent Studio "Game Cooks". 

Vindicta is a great VR FPS that is able to stand out from a very crowded marketplace with its innovative control scheme, smooth gun combat, and art style that seems like a mix of Portal and Half-Life. Holding down the Vive's touchpad buttons and swinging your arms allow you to move in the game. At first I thought this controller scheme was silly till I realized how creative Game Cooks really is. One simple controller scheme not only solved an the locomotion issue faced in many First Person Shooters it added a spastic level of immersion that I feel is often missing in VR games. 

I got a chance to talk to Lara Noujaim, Director Of Publishing at Game Cooks.

Lara went into detail on the conscious decisions the Game Cooks team made in order to develop in to a VR studio starting with seeing the potential of the market at GDC, trying their hand at their first VR game HOVR, and then making the leap to wanting to be a full time VR studio.

I was very happy for Lara and her team but the whole field of view did not present itself until I saw Lara speak at here PGConnects panel "VR from the Unlikeliest Places"  

#VRCSanFrancisco #vr big pitch winners @Vindictagame representing not only #womeninvr #womeningaming but also the #middleeast @GameCooks pic.twitter.com/NiO7hMftHk

— CatsAndVR (@CatsAndVR) June 28, 2017

Lara went into detail about how tough it really is to be a VR development studio in a country where is not as readily available due to import restrictions not to mention that Lara and her team have to be extremely selective in what events they are able to attend in the US due to the simple fact they are an independent studio with limited funds. 

With the lack of VR Headsets in the Middle East it is very hard for them to even promote locally but the Game Cooks team makes a point of reaching out and evangelizing VR in their area.

After that talk by Lara I knew that I must push myself to be a VR developer and really view myself as lucky for the many VR resources available to me in the Bay Area. 

If you have a VIVE go out and support these truly Independent team out to prove themselves despite the odds. VINDICTA is on sale now. 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/597770/VINDICTA/

CatsAndVR.com visits the ART OF VR event at Sotheby's NYC.

Recently I got the chance to visit the Art Of VR event at Sotheby's NY. A big shout out to the team at Oculus for that as well.  A public, two-day event, The Art of VR festival showcased just a sample of many of the VR and augmented reality experiences currently unavailable in VR App stores. It also had a plethora of many fantastic branded experiences including the new Aliens VR experience and the new Spider-Man VR experience just released today. 

The new #SpiderManHomecoming #vr game is pretty rad and out today. I tried it a few weeks ago @TheVRSociety art event #psvr #marvel @Sony pic.twitter.com/nZs0kGQkKf

— CatsAndVR (@CatsAndVR) June 30, 2017

One thing that stood out was the use of Virtual Reality themed mixed media pieces to create a sense of both the connection and disconnection to reality that VR brings us. 

One of the artists using her work to showcase both VR/AR in both the Virtual and the Physical realms is Marina Berlin who had her piece "Floating World" on display at the famed auction house. The work is a visual representation of the freedom VR gives you.  You may seen Marina's work previously at Bay Area Art and VR events. http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/uploadvrart

I had the chance to chat with Marina and was humbled and surprised to know she was aware of CatsAndVR.com

Another artist on hand was Isaac Cohen aka Cabbibo who is quickly becoming one of my favorite VR artists with his almost punk rock level of VR art production and his willingness to create and share resources. 

Cabbibo created a photogrammetry based VR art installation in two days exclusively for the Art of VR event using Unity. He captured a couch that was physically in the room and in turn created a reality virtual reality piece. 

My two favorite experiences at the event share similarities but are on two different spectrums of the Virtual Reality landscape.  First is the SUPER CUTE Pixar-esq Raising A Rukus from VRC. Even though Raising A Rukus is currently available on the Oculus store VRC did a great job by having game art/props and having haptic feedback chairs available to maximize the experience. 

My other favorite experience was MacInnes Scott sexually artistic piece Grace. Grace is visually compelling, reminds me of Bjork, and can channel some interesting energy from people experiencing it as you can see from the twitter video below. Grace made me realize that some of the best content I want to show people is not available on the marketplace yet  

Check out this reaction to the vr experience Grace from @MacInnesScott @TheVRSociety sure can curate quality @Sothebys #art of #vr pic.twitter.com/bDSe0o4DF3

— CatsAndVR (@CatsAndVR) June 22, 2017

All in all I was happy to see how much the art world is embracing VR and hope this turns into better experiences for all. 

http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/

Start your VR off week right with something very cute, Song Of The Sea VR.

Start your VR week of the right way...with something very cute.

Cartoon Saloon invites you to step inside the Great Storyteller’s Cavern inspired by their Oscar-nominated hand-drawn animated feature film ‘Song of the Sea’. Experience immersion in one of the film’s beautiful, expressive environments and meet the unpredictable, zany Storyteller himself! Unravel the story of the Selkie and how the fate of all the faeries is connected to her own in this interactive narrative. The experience is free to all Gear VR and Rift users and is available now. 

Also go watch the awesome films of Cartoon Saloon if you have not already. Song Of The Sea VR was a very unexpected surprise for me to discover and I look forward from more VR work from this amazing group of animators and storytellers. 

http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/work/song-of-the-sea-virtual-reality-experience/

CatsAndVR.com continues to grow with the addition of our sharp new Los Angeles correspondent, fellow Oculus Launchpad alumni Sherif Higazy. Check out his coverage of the Technicolor Experience Center.

Technicolor printed its last frame of film in 2015” Tim Sernoff (Deputy SVP of Technicolor) remarked in a press briefing. A significant milestone for a company that has been pioneering film technology for the past one hundred years. In 2017, Technicolor opened its doors to press and guests to unveil its Experience Center (TEC). A marker for the French company which may (fingers crossed) prove to be a far more significant milestone.

A proposed technology hub, the center hopes to incubate and advance virtual reality as a content medium and technology with a focus on improving the quality of the medium. Partnering with outside companies such as Epic (The company that brought us Unreal) NVIDIA, NOKIA and IMAX while leveraging its own portfolio companies (THE MILL, MPC, MISTER X and more.)

With $3.8B in 2013 revenue, Technicolor’s entrance into the immersive space is a signal to the wider VR industry that larger companies are taking an interest. And while Technicolor has been servicing the entertainment industry for a hundred years, they are taking a cross disciplinary approach. Alongside TEC, they announced their partnership with HP to create Mars Home Planet.

With more details to be announced at SIGGRAPH, this will be a crowdsourced effort to bring together architects, engineers, 3D artists and designers to problem solve the potential pitfalls of sustaining civilization on Mars. A unique problem that intersects aerospace, architecture, design and many other fields.

While we’ll have to wait and see how Technicolor continues to innovate in the space, the TEC is another signal that VR is coming into its own as a mature industry and that the convergence of so many significant entertainment and technology players will only benefit VR companies and consumers.

catsandvr.com/blog/

About Sherif Higazy: Sherif Higazy is a director, designer and VR developer. He is the Executive producer and founder of Thermonuclear. He covers the LA VR scene for CatsAndVR.com and is a Oculus Launchpad Alumni along side the founder of CatsAndVR.com

Experiment 7 and Wizards of the Coast Release Dungeon Chess for Gear VR

Virtual reality developer Experiment 7 announced that Dungeon Chess™ released today on Samsung Gear VR. Dungeon Chess, a Dungeons & Dragons-themed animated chess game, is the first title developed by Experiment 7 in its partnership with Wizards of the Coast.

From fire-breathing dragons to death ray-blasting beholder rooks and beyond, Dungeon Chess players command a lineup of iconic D&D creatures as they engage in classic chess matches against custom AI opponents, Gear VR and Oculus Rift users from around the globe or their real-world friends. Games are played in Forgotten Realm’s legendary Yawning Portal Tavern. 

“As huge D&D fans ourselves, it was a dream come true to be able to work on Dungeon Chess," said Co-founder and Creative Director of Experiment 7, Geoffrey Zatkin. "We've created what we believe is a killer VR game worthy of D&D enthusiasts, chess fans and the VR community’s attention. We can’t wait to do the same for our next VR project with Wizards of the Coast.”

“Combining the power of storytelling in Dungeons & Dragons with virtual reality is really fascinating, and we're excited to take this first step with Experiment 7 and Dungeon Chess,” said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director for D&D. “As with all of our partners, we've been working closely with their development team to make sure the beholders, dragons and mindflayers are all distinctly D&D-flavored and we think that hard work paid off. I can't wait to see the Yawning Portal come to life in virtual reality!”

Dungeon Chess is available on Samsung Gear VR for $4.99 and on Oculus Rift for $9.99.

** Oculus Store: oculus.com/experiences/gear-vr/1242059589245451/

** Game Site: experiment7.com/dungeon-chess

Intel, Oculus, and ESL come together for a $200,000+ VR Challenger League to promote VR eSports.

Intel, Oculus, and ESL come together for a $200,000+ VR Challenger League to promote VR eSports. This brand new competitive VR gaming league will feature two exciting VR titles - “The Unspoken” and “Echo Arena”. The competition will feature a prize pool of over $200,000 and includes multiple stops at key eSports events around the world, eventually concluding with the grand finals at the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice in 2018.

Potential Wizards and Space battlers will be able to qualify for the offline events by taking part in ESL's online competitions starting on July 12th on ESL Play.

On top of the VR Challenger League qualifiers, there will also be weekly ESL Play cups, where you can compete for weekly points and prize money. 

The competitive titles in the VR Challenger league are two of the best demos I played at Oculus Connect 3 last year. Lone Echo had one of the biggest lines there.  http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/oc3

Insomniac's The Unspoken will lead players into a world of spellcasting where they face up against opposing mages in dynamic 1v1 duels. Cast powerful spells and utilize the destructible environment to gain an advantage over your opponents on your way to becoming an unrivaled arch-mage. You can find more insights into the classes, spells and maps on the official website.

The second title of the VR Challenger League will be Echo Arena, Ready At Dawn Studios’ face-paced multiplayer action title set in outer space. The game will be released on July 20th as a free download for all Oculus Rift owners and you can keep an eye on new gameplay reveals as they become available on their website.

catsandvr.com/blog/

The DxE and Condition One investigation into Whole Foods "Cage Free" Eggs is one of the best directed VR Horror films yet.

I recently ran into a Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) member who was on the streets of Berkeley showing people a recently released investigation in partnership with 360-degree virtual reality company Condition One into an American Humane Association certified Whole Foods egg supplier.

The 360 video takes place during visits to Sunrise Farms in Petaluma, CA, activists documented rotting bodies, bloody eggs, and hens struggling to walk on wire floors in both cage-free and battery cage barns at the facility - with the cages being illegal under California law. The activists say that the virtual reality footage, viewable and downloadable online, lets the public experience for themselves the “lie” of humane animal products. 

I 100% say to watch the 360 film Operation Aspen in a headset. As a VR film I actually felt I was part of the DxE team and made VR eye contact with them when they walked me through the cage. The film truly captured the sense of isolation and panic of the chickens. The scene in which you virtually walk through the center with CAGES surrounding you on both sides and the lights start to disappear is fucking Kubrik-esq in its direction and delivery. 

Look Im not going to tell you to not go out and eat meat but I am saying the marketing done by the Food industry is full of lies and do not believe the buzz words and gloss they feed you to believe the hype of helping through consumerism. 

“Members of the public can now virtually join us in going inside a farm that markets itself as humane and seeing the violent charade that animal agriculture is trying to hide,” said DxE investigator Priya Sawhney.

Sunrise Farms produces a million eggs daily and boasts of offering a way to mass produce eggs while keeping animal welfare in mind. The farm supplies Whole Foods Market, which claims not to sell eggs from hens raised in battery cages, cages so small that chickens cannot turn around and open their wings. While visiting Sunrise Farms, however, activists found that while many barns were cage-free, other barns still had battery cages. At all barns, cage-free or caged, activists found rotting bodies, birds struggling to walk, and birds injured from excessive egg production. Activists rescued one bird, named Ava, whose feet were flattened and distorted by the wire cage, and nursed her back to being able to walk.

This is the fifth investigation into a Whole Foods farm in recent years and the fourth by DxE. Both 2016 and 2015 saw investigations finding horrific violence at top-rated turkey farms, including the farm supplying the White House on Thanksgiving. 2015 investigations into Whole Foods pork andegg suppliers exposed violence against animals as well. Investigators say repeated misconduct at Whole Foods’ farms shows that “humane” animal products are marketing rather than reality.

“Nothing can change you as much as going into a modern ‘farm’ - a modern open-air death camp for animals,” said DxE investigator Sara Muñiz. “This investigation will let people come closer to that experience.”

http://www.directactioneverywhere.com/

DxE activists have held demonstrations in over 30 countries and over 160 cities worldwide. 

catsandvr.com/blog/

The Walking Dead' Bites into Virtual Reality with Multiple VR Games Announce

Skybound Entertainment, the creator-focused multiplatform entertainment company founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and David Alpert, has partnered with Skydance Interactive, a division of Skydance Media, to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies.

In a multi-year strategy, the two companies are collaborating to produce an unparalleled gaming experience that will offer millions of fans and gamers the opportunity to engage, interact, and immerse into the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead and its characters in virtual reality. The first game will feature an entirely new setting and cast of characters, which players will experience through an innovative contextual interaction system – a first-of-its-kind for The Walking Dead in VR.

“Skydance’s ability to build worlds and tell compelling stories matches with our goal to bring The Walking Dead fans new narratives and ways to engage with the world Robert Kirkman created, while staying true to his original vision,” said Skybound Entertainment CEO David Alpert and Skybound Entertainment Managing Partner Jon Goldman in a joint statement. “Skydance Interactive is the ideal partner for the team Dan Murray has created for Skybound Interactive.”

“The Walking Dead is an iconic phenomenon and it is absolutely thrilling to work with Skybound to bring its incredibly diverse cast of characters, settings, and storylines together into a complete VR game package,” said Skydance Media Chief Executive Officer David Ellison and President and Chief Operating Officer Jesse Sisgold in a joint statement. “Our goal at Skydance Interactive is to honor the visceral world that Kirkman has created while giving The Walking Dead’s fans something to really sink their teeth into with robust games that take the franchise to a completely new level.”

The Walking Dead has expanded from an Eisner award winning comic book series to captivate audiences around the world as the #1 show on television, a blockbuster game franchise, licensing business, and ongoing publishing success.

Skydance Interactive, a division of Skydance Media that launched in April of 2016, recently announced that its first original VR title, Archangel, will be available across all VR console platforms starting in July of 2017. Skybound Entertainment recently released its first original VR game, Giant Cop: Justice Above All with partner Other Ocean.

Has Nintendo's first VR game been secretly announced? Is it Mario Kart VR for the HTC Vive?

The latest trailer the Bandai Namco VR Zone Arcade in Shinjuku, Tokyo reveals that Nintendo may bringing Mario and Co to a Vive Based port of their Mario Kart arcade game. 

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR will incorporate a HTC Vive headset and Mario Kart-styled arcade chairs with built-in steering wheels for driving.  Motion controller wrist bands will also be part of the setup to actually allow you to throw items at your opponents.

The site also had another tag for a small little fan favorite franchise, DRAGON BALL Z.

Check out the E3 trailer for VR Mech game Archangel.

To commemorate the first day of E3, Skydance Interactive have released the trailer for their amazing new flagship VR game Archangel! Coming first to PSVR

Drop into the cockpit of a six-story war machine in Archangel, the first original title from Skydance Interactive. In this action-packed, story-driven shooter, you and your squad are the last hope to stop a tyrannical corporation from controlling post-apocalyptic America. Archangel delivers state-of-the-art VR gameplay with detailed graphics, engaging narrative, and explosive action. Step into the cockpit in July 2017 on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Playstation VR.

About Skydance Interactive
Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality experiences and video games. Skydance Media launched the division following its acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment, a leading game developer and outsource studio. Its successful franchise and genre-defining work includes "Gears of War 4’s” motorcycle chase, “XCOM 2” for PS4 and Xbox One, next-gen graphics for “Fallout 4,” “The Evil Within” for PS4 and Xbox One, “Borderlands 2: Mr. Torgue’s,” and "Sorcery” for PS3, among others.

www.facebook.com/archangelgame www.twitter.com/archangelvrgame www.archangelgame.com

catsandvr.com/blog/

The CatsAndVR.com Oculus Launchpad Development Blog: Week 1 Day 1

First of all I want to thank everyone at Oculus and Facebook for allowing me to be part of an amazing opportunity. Words cannot describe how I feel on Week 1 Day 1...wait they can. Nervous, Anxiety Filled, Hopeful, and most importantly grateful for allowing me to be included among the 99 other talented individuals in the second Launch Pad class. So many individuals to thank but I will start with Ebony Peay Ramirez-Program Manager, Diversity & Inclusion at Oculus VR. Without her pushing how important Launchpad is the event may not have happened this weekend. She put together an excellent event with some amazing mentors and organizers including Robin Hunicke, Sarah Stumbo, Chris Pruett, Jason Rubin, Yelena Rachitsky, Jewel Lim, Bernard Yee, Dorian Dargan, Isabel Tewes, Trevor Dasch, Stephanie Vazquez and sooo many more including the awesome legal department who had a presentation FULL of Cats. I'm just going to say to Launch Pad Class 2 lets do the best we can so Launch Pad Class 3 gets the same opportunity.

One year ago I started CatsAndVR.com in order to not just be a spectator of VR but to be an active participant. However my Oculus story goes way back to E3 2013 when I stumbled across CCP's EVE VR demo and got to try DK1. Eventually I pre ordered a DK2....and then canceled it cause I needed to take care of some unfortunate financial moments. I regretted that for a long time until I started CatsAndVR.

When I woke up one morning and decided my two passions in life was to be cats and vr as well as the fact that URL was still available I decided this was my chance at VR redemption. It has been a very interesting journey. Around this time last year I took a Greyhound to LA to see if I could get into E3. They said my Alexa ranking was not high enough and I stood there for about 30 minutes expounding on my passion for VR. I eventualy won them over. I went to E3 that year for one singular reason, Virtual Reality. 

I was really excited to try the PS VR cause it looked like a way for me to finally afford high quality VR. Unfortunately the Playstation booth was a cluster. I was a bit down but decided to go to Oculus. It was there I met a momentary savior who kept my inspiration alive. While waiting in line to check out a demo I was approached by an Oculus rep who liked my look (lol) and asked if I wanted to play a game against Palmer Luckey who from now on shall be referred to as The Unspoken.  So in reality the first time I ever used the Touch controls was against Palm...The Unspoken on the E3 FB Live stream. I went from not getting into E3 to that! You can check me playing Dead And Buried with the Unspoken one in the video below at the 51 minute mark.

http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/oculuse3

So its about a year later and I just finished the start of Oculus Launchpad and here is my next move.

An amazing friend of mine Alex Q Ryan was giving me a pass to go to E3....I just turned it down to start working on my Launchpad project right away so the next time I go to E3 I don't go as a spectator but I will go as an active participant. I am very nervous as though I have supported a team with Unity on both the product and business side enough to push them to the Super Bowl I have never had to be Lebron James. Well now is the time I have to be a witness for my own development. 

http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/catsandvrsuperbowl

There were so many amazing people I met from those trying to show their parents that they made the right choice pursuing art to those daring to show the world that the time is right to use technology for the greater good of inclusion.  I am humbled to have been included in LaunchPad Class 2 and look forward to what these New Mutants of VR bring forward to the world.....and really hope I can bring to the world what I have in my crazy universe of a mind. 

So Mote It Be. 

Week 1 Day 1. 

www.catsandvr.com/blog/

PS Mad props to my new BFF David Solito who allowed me to crash out as his place for the weekend so I can use my Launchpad cash for development. Facebook is SUPER lucky to have you as part of the team. 

Holy shit, Starbreeze are cool. They are giving away Payday 2, Payday 2 VR, and in return just asking you to check out The Mummy for StarVR IF you can.

Starbreeze Studio is currently offering their action packed four player co-op action game PAYDAY 2 for free on Steam for a limited time, up to a maximum of 5 million copies, in anticipation of the release of the upcoming PAYDAY 2 Ultimate Edition. The free download will additionally grant current and future compatible headset owners the base PAYDAY 2 VR game for free when it releases. PAYDAY 2 VR will allow players to crossplay with their friends on PC and enable heisters to retain their current characters and stats. The beta for PAYDAY 2 VR is expected to start during the autumn of 2017.

In the midst of the campaign, more than 150.000 concurrent players are playing PAYDAY 2 on Steam, presently marking it as the 4th all time high most played game by concurrent players on the platform. 

Time limited offer to download PAYDAY 2 for free: http://store.steampowered.com/app/218620/PAYDAY_2/

The PAYDAY 2 Ultimate Edition FAQ can be found here: http://www.overkillsoftware.com/games/payday2-ultimate-edition/

But wait theres more!

Universal Brand Development announced that fans will be able to continue the epic-adventure of TheMummy beyond the big screen with Starbreeze Studios,   The Mummy Prodigium Strike location-VR game

The Mummy Prodigium Strike is a groundbreaking location-based experience developed by VR pioneer Starbreeze Studios, in which players take on the role of a Prodigium agent and are tasked with capturing the ancient princess Ahmanet—all the while battling hordes of ravens, spiders and theundead. From a helicopter hovering above to the intense action on the ground, players must protect their fellow agents as the Mummy grows in power, battling to the finish to either capture her, or be her slave for eternity. The Mummy Prodigium Strike utilizes the 210-degree virtual reality headset StarVR and a unique set of 4D experience-enhancing elements, allowing users to fully transport themselves into the new world of gods and monsters. Fans can experience The Mummy Prodigium Strike in Los Angeles at Hollywood & Highland Center and at IMAX VR center in Los Angeles and New York City. Tickets are available now for $15 on location at Hollywood & Highland, and for $12 at www.IMAXVR.com.

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Dean Takahashi's GamesBeat events are the type of events you want to skip work for. You may get to talk Rick And Morty with John Underkoffler.

Dean Takahashi pretty much said during his panel at the last GamesBeat summit that you are 100% better off skipping a day or two of of work in order to go to one of the events he puts together. He is absolutely right! These events have less of the super networking vibes of the W hotel during GDC and is more of a Socratic critical thinking forum to snap you out of your tech daze. During the event I went to I felt no one was trying to sell me an ideology or a glimpse of the future but just real talk on how did we get to the place in tech we are and share insights on how you too can predict the future. 

At the last event I got to talk to John Underkoffler, a HUGE pioneer in Augmented Interface growth and direction into the future. Don't know the name? Remember the data interface from Minority Report? Well, it's real, John Underkoffler invented it — as a point-and-touch interface called g-speak. 

John Underkoffler led the team that came up with this interface, called the g-speak Spatial Operating Environment. His company, Oblong Industries, was founded to move g-speak into the real world. Oblong is building apps for aerospace, bioinformatics, video editing and more. But the big vision is ubiquity: g-speak on every laptop, every desktop, every microwave oven, TV, dashboard. "It has to be like this," he says. "We all of us every day feel that. We build starting there. We want to change it all."
 
Before founding Oblong, Underkoffler spent 15 years at MIT's Media Laboratory, working in holography, animation and visualization techniques, and building the I/O Bulb and Luminous Room Systems. He also took some time to break down Rick And Morty for my limited mind. 

This year, GamesBeat 2017: Time Machine is parked right on that event horizon:

Early bird registration is open now — just in time for E3 — and the discount is solid: Sign up today and you’ll save 40 percent off the full-price ticket. Register now for GamesBeat 2017 and save $395!

Speakers Include

• Steven Roberts, chairman of ESL, the biggest independent esports tournament company
• Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games, creator of Eve Online and VR games such as Eve Valkyrie
• Bernie Stolar, CEO of The Stolar Group and former head at Sony’s U.S. PlayStation business and Sega of America 

At GamesBeat 2017: Time Machine, will dive into the parts of gaming that are driving excitement, triggering powerful growth, and launching the startups that are about to transform the industry.

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River Ecosystem is more than just Mike Rothenberg. It's a fucking ecosystem of hungry innovators and tech talents looking to prove themselves. Check out just a few.

River Ecosystem, a consulting firm that provides services to frontier technology startups and hosts the annual River Accelerator program, today announced veteran Bay Area entrepreneur Jimmy Ku, and Techstars and River Accelerator alumnus Nick Canafax, as partners.

Ku brings over a decade of entrepreneurial experience and networking expertise to River Ecosystem. His new role at River Ecosystem draws upon his experience as a three-time founder -- Loup, Mobiley and GoPlanit, which was selected as a finalist for the TechCrunch 50 Conference -- and his passion for connecting people through immersive and insightful programs and events.

"River Ecosystem and its accelerator program have a stellar track record helping innovative companies push the boundaries of frontier technology," said Ku. "Like any early stage entrepreneur, I understand the importance of connecting with the right people to bring big ideas to life. As a new partner at River Ecosystem, my key role is to infuse fresh thinking and energy into our members business plans, and help them address the tough questions so that they're able to flourish."

Canafax has worked behind the scenes as the president of River Ecosystem since September 2016, while continuing to serve in an advisory capacity with Artificial Intelligence company Rival Theory, where he is also a founding member. As a partner with River Ecosystem, Canafax will assume greater responsibilities interfacing directly with its class participants. Prior to joining River Ecosystem, Canafax graduated from the second River Accelerator class, and graduated from the Techstars accelerator program before that.

"As a River Accelerator alumnus, I know first-hand what the program can offer to budding frontier technology entrepreneurs, including unparalleled visibility and networking opportunities with investors and industry luminaries, and access to developmental resources during the critical first year," said Canafax. "Having worked with dozens of inspiring founders and entreprenuers, River Ecosystem is one of the most dynamic and creative startup consulting firms in the world. It's through this experience we'll help the next generation startups achieve their vision -- turning dreamers into doers."

Ku and Canafax take on their respective leadership roles at a busy time for the firm. Both will oversee the selection process for the Fall 2017 class of River Accelerator, an innovative startup incubation program focused on indentifying and fostering frontier technologies such as VR/AR, AI, machine learning, computer vision, drones, 3D printing, and more. The River Accelerator provides startups with mentorship from top frontier tech leaders through the River Network, creative space in the River Lounge in SOMA, and the opportunity to present at the River Accelerator Demo Day and Founder Field Day at AT&T Park. River Ecosystem partners with Rothenberg Ventures to provide $100,000+ of investment to startups in the River Accelerator.

This fourth River Accelerator program, set to launch September 12, will ultimately join the prestigious River Accelerator alumni network of over 40 companies, including Fove, Emblematic, Roqovan, Psious, Boom Supersonic, and EmergentVR, that collectively have gone on to raise over $100M in funding from investors including Accel, Google Ventures, Samsung NEXT Ventures, and Colopl VR Fund.

Following the kick-off of the new River Accelerator program, River Ecosystem will host the fourth-annual Founder Field Day at AT&T Park on November 13. Ku and Canafax will be an intergral part of the team bringing together sponsorship partners, investors, and founders within the River Network to facilitate valuable connection between frontier technology entrepreneurs, startups, and investors.

"When given the opportunity to bring Jimmy and Nick into River Ecosystem as new partners, I immediately knew I was bringing together the dream team to foster a new phase of growth," said Mike Rothenberg, chairman and founder of River Ecosystem. "Between their shared experience as founders of previous startups, combined with their extensive networks and accelerator backgrounds, we're poised to take the firm, its programs and community experience to the next level."

To learn more about River Ecosytem and the application process for the Fall 2017 River Accelerator program, visit the website at: http://riverecosystem.com/riveraccelerator/

Stereolabs is allowing you to use the Vive or Rift you already have as a AR/MR headset.

Cecile Schmollgruber founded STEREOLABS in 2010. As chief executive officer, Cecile has taken her company to a new level: STEREOLABS is today the leading provider of 3D vision systems. 

Stereolabs is a leading provider of depth and motion sensing solutions for autonomous robotics and VR/AR. Before launching the ZED camera, Stereolabs has a long experience in the 3D movie industry working with clients such Cameron-Pace Group of Avatar fame. Now with their ZED depth sensor, Stereolabs provides a means for machines to see depth the way humans do, for applications in autonomous navigation, AR/VR and more.

Instead of a standalone headset, Stereolabs is releasing a mini stereo camera you clip to the front of a Rift or Vive. From there, it scans the environment in front of it in real-time, while also capturing the "background" video for each eye. The only downside is it's tethered, unlike many of the AR/MR headsets making headlines (including the company's own Linq). But in exchange, consumers can try out an incredible mixed reality experience using tech that's available today, rather than waiting years for standalone headsets to get better, and developers can get a head start working on content (they're shipping an SDK for Unity and Unreal). 

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