v0.15 Released

Release v0.15

This is the first release open to the broader gaming community. We look forward to a wider player base hopefully experiencing the game and providing feedback and suggestions on how we can improve it.

As a bit of background on how the game came to fruition...the idea for a game based around drugs first fired off the synapses in around 2017, and the idea was to create it is as a mixed reality experience. This was when the Hololens was first about, and so was Oculus Go and Gear VR...At that stage the Hololens was very appealing, especially with the AR magic portal/door/window effect that was the craze then. Also the experience of manipulating 3D virtual objects in real world space was immersive and engaging in itself.

However, PCVR was also cranking and, once in VR, we realised the virtual environment, perception of distance to traverse and scale played a big part in the immersion and overall experience. So we built a kind of space hub with different sections the player could walk through to manufacture, use and learn more about the drug. The player also became a physical AI robot with a lot of metal.
But still, there was a feeling it was moving away from the general idea the immersion and 3D experience was inherently in the manipulation of objects and focus on tasks combined with some scope to traverse the space to achieve goals.

Long story short, the beams between AR, VR and MR have crossed and this game is the result. There's even in-game AR within the VR experience.  No doubt, this game still has mixed reality aspirations and with the progression of finer manipulation through handtracking, improved headsets providing mixed reality capabilities etc.. the initial vision, albeit minus the magic portals, is flashing back.

About the drugs component...our game designer has a background mostly in educational and serious games, and addiction studies. Still, this a just game first and not a course. Interpret and experience it how you will and take from it what you like. 

Free drugs, forever, for only $10 bucks? Yes, well virtually anyway, and it's more of an educational experience...

We value your feedback and suggestions so if you do have any please drop a line in the comments below or reach out on our Discord server here. Hope you enjoy the trip as much as we do!

Below is a list of what we are working on now and into the future. 

KNOWN ISSUES

• Low frame rate in some areas of the Meta Quest version.
• Objects being thrown outside of the node play area (ie out of bounds) occasionally gets stuck in surrounding collider and can't be respawned.
• Scanning process of illicit substance sample can sometimes be duplicated or not completed. 

WHAT'S CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON

• Known issues above
• Optimization of the Meta Quest version for improved frame rates.
• Compatibility with other PCVR headsets - HTC Vive, Valve Index, WMR
• Implementing more illicit drug samples for analysis
• Adding more Boosters with various effects on time, credits earned, etc.

WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE LIGHT BEAM

• Implementation of Quests with incentives sent from AI health bots in the field.
• Multiplayer Trade Zone for users to buy, sell and trade stored substances.
• Handtracking for manipulation of objects and menus.
• Mixed Reality/Passthrough version of the game for compatible headsets or glasses
• Even more Booster types and more illicit substances to analyse.
• Graphical improvements for more realistic looking illicit samples.
• General physics improvements across the board.