CCP makers of EVE Valkyrie, Sparc, and Gunjack to move away from VR and close down several studios.

Today there was a significant restructuring to CCP games, known in the VR world for the excellent EVE Valkyrie and Gunjack games. Recently we reported on how EVE Valkyrie was transitioning away from just the VR elements and into cross platform gaming. http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/evewarzone

This transition may have been a look at things to come. CCP is stepping back from VR and has closed it Atlanta office responsible for Sparc and is selling its Newcastle office responsible for Eve Valkyrie. I have been a fan of the VR work of CCP for a while and EVE VR was my first Oculus experience all the way in 2013. EVE VR would eventually become EVE Valkyrie, one of the first must have VR games. 

CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson released a statement to the Iceland Monitor today

“Despite the success of the VR games we have released we will be shifting our focus to our PC and mobile initiatives,” says Pétursson. “We will continue to support our VR games but will not be making material VR investments until we see market conditions that justify further investments beyond what we have already made.” 

No word on what will happen to CCP Shanghai, the team responsible for Gunjack, a game that has sold over 500,000 copies.

My heart goes out to the team and thank you for being VR pioneers. 

CCP Games Launches EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone, The First Fully Cross-Platform, Cross-Reality Videogame for VR, PC and PlayStation 4

Today, CCP Games released EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone™, taking the thrill and skill of competitive online space combat beyond VR to PlayStation®4 and PC gamers as the first fully cross-platform, cross-reality videogame. Since its initial announcement last month, CCP’s expanded first-person spaceship shooter has impressed fans and critics alike, with PCGamesN stating, “EVE: Valkyrie’s Warzone expansion turns it into Overwatch in space.”

New players can purchase EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone for $29.99 SRP from the PlayStation®Store, Steam® and Oculus Home, while all current EVE: Valkyrieowners will receive it as a free mandatory upgrade, expanding the base game to become EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone. With all new and expanded versions of the game, pilots can choose to play the game with or without a VR headset.

“EVE: Valkyrie was born in virtual reality and is now reborn for everyone” said Andrew Willans, Lead Game Designer at CCP’s Newcastle Studio. “With the introduction of Warzone, it’s a great time for all players to get involved in the gritty-but-glorious celestial arenas of EVE: Valkyrie.”

“Breaking down barriers is a big part of what keeps us on the forefront of the gaming industry,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “The evolution of EVE: Valkyrie to EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone brings the thrill of the playing this first-person spaceship shooter to its highest level of inclusiveness.”

Set in the the notorious sci-fi universe of EVE, EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone puts PC and PS4 gamers in the cockpit of heavily armed spaceships, enabling them to fly and fight alongside each other – both in and out of virtual reality – as they battle for legendary status in fast, fun, and intense multiplayer space combat.
EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone includes all the content and improvements released for EVE: Valkyrie since launch while dramatically enhancing the experience for new and current players alike. It introduces a next-generation fleet of iconic ships – including the new Covert class ship, “Shadow” – each one with their own distinctive role to play in battle. With new weapons – including powerful Ultra abilities – and a fully redesigned progression system for each ship, players will have more control over how they evolve their arsenal to suit their playstyle.

New to EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone will be the ‘Extraction’ game mode that puts capture-the-flag in outer space for an exhilarating gameplay experience. The Warzone expansion also features two new maps, “Fleet” and “Outpost,” as well as new Wormholes that introduce a fresh challenge each week. Players will also be able to fight for Spoils of War to earn Loot Capsules, enabling them to unlock a hangar-full of personalization options for their ships and pilot.

More information about the game can be found by visiting www.evevalkyrie.com and fans can follow EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Current players can find out how the Warzoneexpansion will affect them by visiting www.evevalkyrie.com/changes.

CCP Games vSport title Sparc gets a PS VR release date.

CCP Games announced today that Sparc™ – the energetic, competitive virtual reality game – will launch on PlayStation ®VR on Tuesday 29 August. On release, PS VR owners will be able to download Sparc for $29.99/ €29.99 SRP from the PlayStation ®Store.

Sparc is a virtual sport, or “vSport” - a unique full-body experience only possible in virtual reality, where the player’s VR equipment is their sports gear. In Sparc, players connect online to compete in fast-paced and physical one-on-one gameplay. Players use their two PlayStation ® Move motion controllers to throw projectiles across the court at their opponent, while dodging, blocking or deflecting any incoming shots.

Sparc combines skill-based and instinctual two-player gameplay with slick visuals to provide the PS VR community with a cutting-edge sporting challenge that looks and feels spectacular on PS4 and PS4 Pro.

Sparc includes rookie-level and pro-level difficulty game modes to suit both novice and advanced competitors. In addition, Sparc features “Courtside,” a freeform social area that allows for spectating in VR, where players can meet opponents, watch games in-person and queue up for their next match.

In Sparc’s solo challenges, players can take part in a series of timed events that test throwing and deflection accuracy, helping improve their skills and preparing them for human opponents.

Sparc also offers players a wide range of avatar customization options. Everything from the cut of their compression suit to the headgear they wear, the look of their “Gloves” and the colors of their gear can be personalized to achieve exceptionally eye-catching styles.

CCP is excited to see how PS VR players develop and refine their skills once they get their hands on – and head in – their upcoming vSport.

More details about Sparc can be found at www.playSparc.com and fans can follow Sparc on Facebook andTwitter.

CCP Games, makers of EVE: Valkyrie announce new projectile based VR sport Sparc coming to Vive, Rift, and PSVR.

 CCP Games today announced Sparc, a unique virtual sport only possible in virtual reality. In Sparc, players connect online to compete with each other in fast and fun full-body VR gameplay.

Currently in development for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, Sparc will be the first wholly original IP to be shipped by CCP outside of the EVE universe when it releases in 2017.

Sparc's skill-based, full-body gameplay makes for a fast-paced and fun physical sport. Players use their motion controllers to throw projectiles at their opponents from a distance, and in turn defend themselves by dodging, blocking, or deflecting the incoming attacks. Players can join one-on-one matches with friends online or find opponents via matchmaking.

Sparc enables players to connect and compete in an online community. Players can watch matches in-person and queue for the next match in VR through Courtside, a freeform social area for spectating in VR or on screen. Sparc includes multiple two-player game modes as well as single-player challenges and training modes, plus a range of customization and personalization options for competitors.

"After our early experiments with standing VR gameplay, we were excited by the idea of building an original sport designed for the current generation of VR hardware. We've designed Sparc so that players can express and improve their skill through their physical actions." said Morgan Godat, Executive Producer at CCP Atlanta. "Ultimately, we want players to think of Sparc as a virtual court in their living room where they can meet and compete with other players from around the world."

"At CCP games, our goal is to harness our passion for virtual reality as a new medium and create the killer apps for the first generation of VR technology," said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. "We set out to achieve that in mobile VR with Gunjack and in seated VR with EVE: Valkyrie, both released in the first year of VR becoming publicly available. With Sparc, we want to capitalize on the unique strengths of standing VR and deliver a game with all the depth and excitement to keep players returning long into the future."

Today's announcement is only the beginning for Sparc and CCP Games plans to reveal further information about Sparc's gameplay and feature-set ahead of release later this year.

For more details about the game, please visit www.playSparc.com . You can also find Sparc on Facebook via facebook.com/PlaySparc , or follow the game on Twitter via @PlaySparc .

CatsAndVR.com

EVE VALKYRIE gets Carrier Assault update on June 20

In Carrier Assault CCP are delivering that hallowed trench run moment that has been etched into the minds of many a Sci-Fi fan. 

Experience the next level of space dogfighting with Carrier Assault, part of the first free content update for the multiplayer virtual reality game EVE: Valkyrie. Take down the enemy team's fighters and cripple their defenses to infiltrate and destroy their Carrier.

Check  out more about Carrier Assault here.

https://www.evevalkyrie.com/articles/devblogs/carrier-assault-update-coming-june-20

CCP Games announces exclusive game for Google's Daydream platform!

CCP Games today announced that they are developing "Gunjack Next," the codename for an entirely new sequel to the best-selling game Gunjack, which is currently available for the Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive VR platforms. The game is being created exclusively for Google's newly-announced Daydream platform, and will launch this fall.

CCP Games' Shanghai studio, the creators of Gunjack, is working closely with Google's team to ensure that "Gunjack Next" leverages all of the power and features available. Like Gunjack, which was praised for its breakthrough graphics when it launched on Gear VR, the development team expects "Gunjack Next" to again raise the bar for mobile VR gaming.

"When we heard the details about Google's Daydream platform, we knew immediately that we wanted to be involved," said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. "We think the power Google is bringing to the table with Daydream, coupled with our experience creating high-quality and expectations-busting VR games will be a potent combination."

From EVR to Eve: Valkyrie! CCP made a killer VR game.

Back at E3 2013 CCP's EVR demo left me awestruck and totally a VR fanboy. Now as Oculus RIft releases and EVR has now become EVE: Valkyrie I want to share this moment in time that introduced me to Oculus Rift for the first time. 3 years later and EVE: Valkyrie is live check out the gameplay footage. 

Bobby Venomous takes a look at CCP's EVR Demo at E3 2013 and talks with developer David Gundry about his work on the project. 

Experience the future of space combat in the EVE: Valkyrie VR gameplay launch trailer. The most intuitive, intense, and immersive dogfighting game ever made is here, developed by CCP Newcastle and powered by Oculus Rift. Read the launch day blog here: http://bit.ly/1SqZlCg Oculus Rift pre-orders include the EVE: Valkyrie Founder's Pack. 
 

EVE: Valkyrie is also coming to PlayStation VR in October 2016

Oculus Rift Review Round UP

March 28th has been filled with tons of news about VR. Since today is when Oculus Rift consumer Preorders would be arriving much media coverage has been put out today.

Now here is the wrap up for the day.

• "It’s very hard to convey with words, pictures, or videos just how different this experience is from looking at a standard 2D monitor. You’ll find yourself instinctively flinching away from objects as they fly at your face or doing a double-take when you see something surprising in the corner of your eye. The virtual reality illusion can give a real sense of vertigo when looking over a cliff or an overwhelming sense of awe looking across a vast vista." Going from a monitor to the Rift’s VR is like going from looking at nothing but moving paintings in a dark cave to looking at the real world in sunlight for the first time." - Kyle Orland, Ars Technica

• "You simply must try the Oculus Rift. It’s breathtaking. I just wouldn’t buy one right now -- and there’s no reason you should feel the need to, either (especially with its archrival, the HTC Vive, also just days away). The longer you wait to buy, the better it will get. This is just day one for Oculus -- and for the future of virtual reality." - Scott Stein and Sean Hollister, CNet

• "Over the course of a week using the Rift, I found that experience beguiling and thrilling at times, uncomfortable and awkward at others. Overall, entering the Rift is expensive, unnatural, and utterly addicting. Virtual reality is often talked about as a revolution, a paradigm shift, a really, really big deal. Using Oculus Rift proves this kind of talk isn’t hype." - Lisa Eadicicco, Time

• "This is an astonishingly well-made device. It delivers rock-solid, comfortable VR, and it does so easily. You’ll be able to put this thing on anyone and show them the magic. You’ll have friends coming over just to go through the Dreamdeck. (Seriously, you will.) But you’ll have to make your peace with the idea that your $600—or realistically, $1,500 or more, if you need a PC to go with it—is an investment. It’s an investment in the things you’ll be able to do in the Rift, the places you’ll be able to go." - Peter Rubin, Wired

• "Over the past week, I tested the Rift and many pieces of content for the system to see how true Mr. Zuckerberg’s words might ring. I can report that while the Rift is a well-built hardware system brimming with potential, the first wave of apps and games available for it narrows the device’s likely users to hard-core gamers. It is also rougher to set up and get accustomed to than products like smartphones and tablets." - Brian Chen, the New York Times

• "The high cost of buying and running high-end VR headsets makes them inaccessible to many people, and the Rift in particular is relentlessly focused on gaming. Within these limitations, though, the Rift makes a good case for seated VR, and it lays a solid foundation for what’s to come. The headset you can buy today is not Oculus’ most ambitious vision for virtual reality — but it’s a vision that Oculus has successfully delivered on." Adi Robertson, The Verge

• "After spending a week with the Oculus Rift, I have no doubt that its approach to virtual reality is indeed the real deal. It's well built and easy to set up, and there are already a few games and apps that'll make VR believers out of the most ardent naysayer. The only problem: It's $600 and requires a powerful gaming PC. Just as with every new technological milestone, it has the potential to change the world. But at this early stage, only a few can afford it."  - Devindra Hardawar, Engadget

• "Oculus Rift is the 2016 product you hope your neighbor buys. You’ll definitely want to try it, but there’s little reason to own one unless you’re a serious gamer. I’m not talking about Candy Crush addicts, or even most of us with a PlayStation at home. Oculus Rift only works with high-end gaming PCs—the recommended Asus model I tested costs $1,449 and requires not one but two power plugs. No Macs will do." Geoffrey Fowler, The Wall Street Journal

• "The Oculus Rift is a crazy device that is more than the sum of its parts. As the first consumer high-powered virtual reality headset, it deserves props for just existing, but incredibly it manages to kick ass as well. Whether you should buy now, just try it out or wait until Oculus Touch arrives depends mostly on your patience and cashflow." - Lucas Matney, TechCrunch

• "What Oculus has accomplished is remarkable. There’s plenty that even the completely uninitiated user can enjoy. More importantly, the Rift is truly immersive in most cases. The image quality is mostly excellent, and the head-tracking is nearly flawless. Indeed, perhaps what’s most significant is that there are moments when I can say unreservedly and without caveats that I am enjoying the Rift right in the moment—not as a device indicative of some desirable future, but as a device to own right now. I still can’t afford the future of virtual reality, but for the first time, I actually want to." - Mario Aguilar, Gizmodo