PaperDude VR Brings Paperboy to Oculus Rift

[Fanghawk]

PaperDude VR Brings Paperboy to Oculus Rift

[vimeo=71336141]Using a few accessories, PaperDude VR adds a new level of immersion to the game of hurling newspapers.

Paperboy was one of those deceptively simple arcade classics that many gamers can't help but remember fondly. It challenged players to complete the route of a young paperboy for a single week by delivering newspapers, avoiding obstacles, and (if you chose) vandalizing the homes of non-suscribers. The game <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paperboy_%28video_game%29#Ports>has since been ported to various contemporary platforms, and by and large the gameplay experience has remained the same. Globacore, meanwhile, has decided to take a more immersive route for its homage, PaperDude VR. While players will still make the same deliveries, PaperDude uses an Oculus Rift, Kinect, and actual pedal bike to let you smash the neighbor's window in virtual reality.

The individual accessories behind PaperDude VR are straightforward, but how they fit together is fairly unique. The Oculus Rift replaces the monitor, allowing first-person, 360 degree vision. The Kinect sensor acts as the controller, detecting arm movements to signal when and how newspapers are thrown. Finally, <a href=http://www.wahoofitness.com/KICKRPowerTrainer/?returnFull=1>a KickR sensor attached to the bike keeps track of in-game speed, and can even be programmed to offer resistance if the player stops or hits an obstacle. Combined, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Globacore was coming up with a way to make gamers more active, <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122498-Omni-Treadmill-Lets-You-Burn-Calories-While-Gaming>just like other VR-focused projects.

PaperDude VR is still in an alpha state, but Globacore hopes to add advanced obstacles, a dirt bike training course, and online leaderboards to the finished game. Of course, once the finished build is ready, players will need all the above accessories for PaperDude to function properly. Still, as a unique homage to Paperboy, and a display of the Rift and Kinect's capabilities, it could be rather promising. At least until that dog shows up and tries to knock your bike over.

Source: Globacore, via <a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-31-paperboy-tribute-uses-oculus-rift-kinect-and-a-bike>Eurogamer

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[InvaderTim]

might be a little difficult to get a consumer version on the market, as much as id like to play this.

 

[Kimarous]

Enough people have enough trouble finding enough space to stand far enough away from their Kinect sensor... now you want to throw an exercise bike into the mix? Just how niche a market are you aiming for? The criteria make it out to be astonishingly small: A) people with 360, B) people with Kinect, C) people with enough room to fit the bike in, D) people who can tolerate virtual reality, E) people who really like Paperboy, and perhaps most important, F) people willing to spend lord knows how much to actually bother acquiring this.

 

[octafish]

That is awesome, all I can say is...

Spoiler: I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!

 

[Deathfish15]

If they can sell it for $500 or less, I'll buy one in a heartbeat!

 

[iniudan]

Enough people have enough trouble finding enough space to stand far enough away from their Kinect sensor... now you want to throw an exercise bike into the mix? Just how niche a market are you aiming for? The criteria make it out to be astonishingly small: A) people with 360, B) people with Kinect, C) people with enough room to fit the bike in, D) people who can tolerate virtual reality, E) people who really like Paperboy, and perhaps most important, F) people willing to spend lord knows how much to actually bother acquiring this.

And ? I am pretty sure they are using the game has a prototype so they have full control of the environment. Now imagine that they start applying what they learned from Paperboy to something like a professional VR simulator, do you know how much money they could make from selling that, has those would be sold/rented to professional athlete, trainer or team and they are quite ready to pay premium price for realistic training simulator where they can control condition like resistance, terrain, meteorological condition, ambient oxygen all while minimizing injury risk to the athlete and been capable of greater physical monitoring.

On top of the software they are developing can easily be redirected for non-gaming casual use that could easily license the tech and develop software for fitness equipment company and gym, I am pretty sure they would really like to have real life based VR to their equipment, has at least the curiosity would give them a chance to attract new customer and/or grab customer from competition, if people come to enjoy it better their regular bikes training.

 

[Nurb]

So it's a game most gamers would only be able to play for about 10-15 minutes at a time before panting and wheezing.

And it's one that would be impossible for me to play, an original paperboy fan, considering cancer reduced me to 23% lung function.

 

[Nurb]

Enough people have enough trouble finding enough space to stand far enough away from their Kinect sensor... now you want to throw an exercise bike into the mix? Just how niche a market are you aiming for? The criteria make it out to be astonishingly small: A) people with 360, B) people with Kinect, C) people with enough room to fit the bike in, D) people who can tolerate virtual reality, E) people who really like Paperboy, and perhaps most important, F) people willing to spend lord knows how much to actually bother acquiring this.

And ? I am pretty sure they are using the game has a prototype so they have full control of the environment. Now imagine that they start applying what they learned from Paperboy to something like a professional VR simulator, do you know how much money they could make from selling that, has those would be sold/rented to professional athlete, trainer or team and they are quite ready to pay premium price for realistic training simulator where they can control condition like resistance, terrain, meteorological condition, ambient oxygen all while minimizing injury risk to the athlete and been capable of greater physical monitoring.

On top of the software they are developing can easily be redirected for non-gaming casual use that could easily license the tech and develop software for fitness equipment company and gym, I am pretty sure they would really like to have real life based VR to their equipment, has at least the curiosity would give them a chance to attract new customer and/or grab customer from competition, if people come to enjoy it better their regular bikes training.

I guess some are under the mistaken impression that Oculus Rift was being aggressively marketed to gamers and react to things used with the hardware as gaming conumers!

 

[Ftaghn To You Too]

Finally, something that will make me get off my lazy ass and stop playing videogames so I can play some videogames.

 

[Fasckira]

I'm reminded of the Simpsons episode where Bart refuses to mow the lawn before going to a games convention where he plays a lawn mowing simulator.

 

[Scrythe]

I would love to set this up as a prank for someone.

The moment their character dies via car, I'll blast them with an air cannon.