Author name: Rejus Almole

Business Case for Improving Open Source Software Supply Chain Security and Resilience

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2023 Technology Predictions for Innovative Startups

internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 905 throw err; ^ Error: Cannot find module ‘puppeteer’ Require stack: – /home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 902: 15) at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 746: 27) at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 974: 19) at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js: 101: 18) at Object. (/home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js:2: 19) at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 1085: 14) at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 1114: 10) at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 950: 32) at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 790: 12) at Function.executeUserEntryPoint [as runMain] (internal/modules/run_main.js: 75: 12) code: ‘MODULE_NOT_FOUND’, requireStack: [ ‘/home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js’ ]

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resolution-games-to-host-vr-games-showcase-december-15th,-promises-“major-game-announcements”

Resolution Games to Host VR Games Showcase December 15th, Promises “major game announcements”

Resolution Games, the XR studio known for a spate of popular VR titles including Demeo, Blaston, and Ultimechs, announced it’s hosting its first-ever games showcase later this month which the Stockholm-based studio promises will reveal “major game announcements, updates and timely surprises for VR and MR games enthusiasts.”

The Resolution Games Showcase is slated to go live on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday, December 15th at 12PM ET (local time here).

Resolution Games founder and CEO Tommy Palm along with other members of the team are set to show off games, updates and more in what Palm calls “the single-largest news day the studio has ever had.”

“With the holidays right around the corner, we’re poised to see many more gamers unwrap a headset and immerse themselves into VR for the very first time,” said Palm. “Our showcase – which will be the single-largest news day the studio has ever had – will provide a warm welcome to new VR players taking their first virtual steps alongside the millions of players who already enjoy our games as we share new and upcoming fun they have to look forward to from Resolution Games.”

The company has previously revealed its fifth adventure module to its flagship title Demeo, Reign of Madness. The free update is arriving on December 15th for both Quest and SteamVR headsets, with a release on Pico devices in early 2023.

In addition to The Black Sarcophagus adventure which initially launched with the game in 2021, Reign of madness follows three other free expansions: Realm of the Rat King, Roots of Evil, and Curse of the Serpent Lord. Reign of Madness is set to introduce the grappling hook-wielding Barbarian as Demeo’s latest playable class, pitting you and your party against “their greatest evil yet,” the studio says.

The studio is also teasing that “Reign of Madness won’t be the only present under the Showcase tree,” as the studio is set to reveal a new title that will be playable on December 15th that Palm says “will be unlike anything we’ve released before.”

To tune in live on December 15th, make sure to head over to the Resolution Games YouTube page or Facebook page.

Resolution Games to Host VR Games Showcase December 15th, Promises “major game announcements” Read More »

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Here’s Every Game Announced for PSVR 2

Sony has revealed the price and launch date for PSVR 2, although it still hasn’t tossed out a launch day lineup for PSVR 2. We’re adding more games to out running list though the closer we move to the February 22nd launch of PSVR 2.

Here’s a look at what we hope will be a quickly growing list of all games announced for PSVR 2 thus far. Also, don’t forget to check out our detailed hands-on with PSVR 2 hardware to see what sets it apart from the original.

There is no list of launch-day games yet. In our list, we take a look at the games officially mentioned by Sony, followed by the rapidly growing number of studios committing to support PSVR 2 at some point.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Horizon Call of the Mountain isn’t a log flume ride or hollow VR “experience” like the trailer might suggest. Nay, developed by Sony’s first-party Guerrilla Games and Firesprite Studios, the first VR take on the Horizon universe is going to be an honest to goodness story campaign the devs say will take around seven hours to complete, along with some “additional content” included in the game.

Check out our hands-on here.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is an action-adventure experience where you’ll take on the role of a droid repair technician operating near the Outer Rim. First introduced on Meta Quest in 2020, this will be the first time this run-and-gun, Star Wars-flavored adventure will be available outside of the Meta ecosystem.

Check out our spoiler-free review here

Resident Evil Village

Capcom is bringing Resident Evil Village to PSVR 2, and it says the game will provide “an even deeper immersive experience by taking full advantage of the vivid graphics possible with the headset’s 4K HDR display, PlayStation VR2’s eye tracking, PS5’s 3D Audio and more.” Lady Dimitrescu awaits!

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is already available on Quest 2, although this particular version is a classic zombie shooter of another stripe. The game coming to PSVR 2 is actually the remake, so we’re getting all new everything this time around and not just uprezzed textures. We’re hoping the VR support is as good as the Quest 2 version, and decidedly better than RE7 Biohazard, which wasn’t bad, but it is showing its age since it was released in 2017.

Demeo

Created by VR veteran Resolution Games, Demeo is a VR take on a tabletop RPG dungeon crawler. It has fared remarkably well on Quest 2 and PC VR headsets since release in 2021, which is in part thanks to its basement-themed, D&D-style action that lets you unite with friends for a tactical gaming night from afar.

Check out our review here

No Man’s Sky

The redemption story continues, as Hello Games vows to bring its space exploration simulator to PSVR 2, including all of the successive patches and DLC drops that took it from procedurally generated empty shell to a universe truly brimming with possibilities.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2

This is a full-fat sequel to VR’s most popular games as of late, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. Like the first in the series, you’ll scrounge around a post-apocalyptic New Orleans that’s not only brimming with the undead, but also rival gangs that you can choose to join or battle. Physics-based combat, low ammo supplies, and a very touchy stamina system means you’ll need to think long and hard before running into that crowd of walkers.

Firewall Ultra

It’s not clear how much “new” content we’re getting right out of the bat with First Contact’s next Firewall game, which like the original promises tactical squad-based shooting action across a host of maps, although Firewall Ultra is decidedly the future of the franchise. We can expect to see legacy maps, characters and weapons, but also updates for more of everything down the line.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

Supermassive Games just revealed The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, or what it calls a “fast-paced roller coaster action-horror-shooter where every move you make, and everything you see, could mean the difference between life and death.” Set inside the sinister world of The Dark Pictures Anthology, Switchback VR makes good use of headset eye-tracking: some enemies only move when you blink (Visine not included).

Crossfire: Sierra Squad

Smilegate tossed out a trailer to a brand-new VR game called Crossfire: Sierra Squad, a first-person shooter in the Crossfire universe. The game is played either solo or in co-op mode with up to 4 players on a team as you battle against AI baddies. The studio says there are 39 types of weapons including pistols, rifles, throwable – and throw back-able – grenades and sniper rifles with revolutionary scope mechanics give you plenty of options to dispatch 17 types of enemies.

The Light Brigade

Funktronic Labs showed off a new single-player roguelike game called The Light Brigade which it says is “filled with immersive gunplay and moody mystery.” Uncover the mystery of the gloomy ‘Sunken World’ as you climb the ranks of the titular Light Brigade, unlock firearms and unique spells. The Light Brigade will be available for pre-order starting November 15th.

Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue

tinyBuild Games and Steel Wool Studios (Five Nights at Freddy’s) announced a VR take on viral indie hit Hello Neighbor, which is coming to both PSVR and PSVR 2 with cross-buy. “Mr. Peterson’s creepy house takes on a new level of immersion in VR, and there is nothing quite as scary as actually seeing that familiar shadow tower over you just before everything goes black,” tinyBuild says. Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue will be available for pre-order starting November 15th.

Pistol Whip VR

Cloudhead Games is bringing a free PSVR 2 upgrade to the PSVR version of its award-winning physical action-rhythm game where thrilling gunplay and dynamic tracks collide, creating a dreamscape world for players to blast, duck, and dodge their way through to become the ultimate action hero.

Cities VR – Enhanced Edition

With its intial launch on Quest earlier this year, Fast Travel Games managed to bring Cities: Skylines to VR, albeit in a slightly smaller package to run on VR hardware. Smaller, as in the size of your city: you’re actually a Godzilla-sized goliath towering over your little town as you manage all of its buildings and keep up with city planning.

Cosmonious High

Owlchemy Labs is known for highly interactive, super approachable VR games, such as award-winning titles Job Simulator and its sequel Vacation Simulator. This one went live a few months ago on Quest and PC VR headsets, and we can’t wait to see PSVR 2’s eye-tracking bring our avatars to life.

Zenith: The Last City

From Ramen VR comes the PSVR 2 version of its Kickstarter success story, the MMORPG know as Zenith: The Last City. Promised to be a day-one launch title, there are hundreds of hours of content to chew through in this well-realized VR native.

Tentacular

Initially launched on Quest and PC VR, Firepunchd Games is bringing its wild adventure where you, a gigantic but good-hearted tentacled beast, is trying to figure out your place in the world. Help your human friends to research a strange and incredibly powerful energy source. Make progress by solving a colossal mix of action-based activities and physical constructions puzzles which unlock elements for your very own playground.

After The Fall

Launched on PC VR, Quest and the original PSVR, Vertigo Games is bringing an enhanced version of the co-op zombie shooter to PSVR 2. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s essentially Left4Dead, but in VR, letting you sweep through levels with friends and strangers as you mow down massive hordes of zombioid baddies. Upgrade your stuff, come back for more.

Jurassic World Aftermath Collection

Coatsink originally brought this two-part psychological dino-thriller to Quest, making for a heart-pounding game of cat-and-mouse with a gaggle of Raptor baddies. Use your eyes and ears to alert you to impending doom, and hide from certain death if you can, Make sure to check out our spoiler-free review of both part 1 and 2 on Quest to see what’s in store.

Altair Breaker

Initially released on Steam and PSVR, Altair Breker is a map-based sword fighting game from the makers of Swords of Gargantua, Thirdverse. You can team up with three other friends or go it alone as you for an adventure that the studio says its for “players who want to experience stylish sword-fighting action and feel like the hero in an anime world.”

XR

Thirdverse is also developing a multiplayer shooter called X8, which is set to launch on PSVR 2 in addition to PC VR and Quest 2. Developed by Thirdverse’s US-based studio, the 5v5 hero shooter is slated to arrive on those other platforms sometime this winter before rolling out to PSVR 2 at some point.

Other Games Announced for PSVR 2

  • 2MD: VR Football Unleashed All-Star – Truant Pixel
  • Affected: The Asylum – Fallen Planet Studios
  • Aliens VR – Survios
  • Alvo – Mardonpol
  • Afterlife VR – Split Light Studio
  • Among Us VR – Schell Games and Innersloth
  • Black Top Hoops – Vinci Games
  • Black Trail – Red Horizon
  • Distortion VR – Future Mental Games
  • Do Not Open – Nox Noctis
  • Dropship Commander – Strange Games Studios
  • Engram – Maze Theory
  • Firmament – Cyan Worlds
  • The Exorcist Legion VR: Sin – Pocket Money Games
  • Galaxy Karts – VR Monkey
  • Ghostbusters VR – nDreams, Sony Pictures Virtual Reality (SPVR)
  • Ghosts of Tabot of Tabor – Combat Waffle
  • Golf+ – Golfscope Inc
  • Green Hell VR – Incuvo
  • Grimlord – MetalCat Interactive Technology
  • Hellsplit Arena – DeepType Games
  • Hubris – Cyborn
  • Hypestacks – Squirrel Bytes
  • Kayak VR: Mirage – Better Than Life
  • The Last Worker – Wired Productions
  • LONN – SixSense Studios
  • LOW FI – Iris VR
  • Madison – Bloodious Games
  • Medieval Dynasty – RenderCube
  • Mixture – Played With Fire
  • Neolithic Dawn – James Bellian
  • Pavlov – Vankrupt Games
  • Project Lousianna: The Bounds VR – Build the Light Studio
  • Propagation Paradise Hotel – Wannadev Studio
  • Requisition – Arcadia VR
  • Runner – Truan Pixel
  • Samurai Slaughter House – Tab Games
  • Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok – Zojoi LLC. and Azure Drop Studios
  • Soul of Kaeru – BrainUp
  • Stranger Things: The VR Experience – Tender Claws
  • Super Kit: To the Top – Electric Hat Games
  • Tin Hearts – Rogue Sun
  • The Twilight Zone VR – Pocket Money Games
  • Ultrawings 2 – BitPlanet Games
  • Volcanic Core – Synthesis Universe
  • The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 1 – Skydance Interactive
  • Wandering in Space – Moonseer Games

Unannounced PSVR 2 Games

  • Archiact sci-fi game
  • Firesprite horror game
  • Vitruvius VR sci-fi game

Update (November 28th, 2022): Eurogamer’s Ian Highton has mentioned a few more titles coming in a video breakdown that has filled in some gaps in our list. We’ve added X8 and Altair Breaker to the official Sony-sanctioned list, and a handful of others in the studio-announced titles listed above.


Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below so we can include it in our list!

Here’s Every Game Announced for PSVR 2 Read More »

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HP Reverb G2 Discounted to Lowest Price Yet for US Black Friday Sale

HP’s Reverb G2 is a solid PC VR headset with class-leading resolution. Now the headset is on sale for its lowest price yet in the US for Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022.

The Best Reverb G2 Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 Sale

Even at its original MSRP of $600, HP’s Reverb G2 headset is a solid PC VR headset, especially for games and applications where resolution really counts. Now at its most discounted price yet, the headset feels nearly like a steal.

The best Reverb G2 Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 sale so far is $300 from HP.

According to HP, the model on sale is the newer and somewhat improved version of the headset, which we’ve taken to calling the Reverb G2.1. In our hands-on with the G2.1 we found improved tracking coverage and field-of-view thanks to some tweaks the company made to the cameras and to the facepad.

Reverb G2 Specs

Resolution 2,160 x 2,160 (4.7MP) per-eye, LCD (2x)
Refresh Rate 90Hz
Lenses Single element Fresnel
Field-of-view (claimed) 114° diagonal
Optical Adjustments IPD, eye-relief (only on newer units in US)
IPD Adjustment Range 60–68mm
Connectors USB-C, DisplayPort, Power
Cable Length 6m
Tracking Inside-out (no external beacons)
On-board cameras 4x B&W
Input Reverb G2 controllers (AA battery 2x), voice
Audio Off-ear headphones
Microphone Yes
Pass-through view Yes

Reverb G2 Content Compatibility

HP Reverb G2 works natively with the Windows Mixed Reality store, but very few VR applications are available there. Fortunately a free and official plugin from Microsoft also makes it compatible with SteamVR content. If you’re looking to play content that’s exclusive to the Oculus PC library (like Asgard’s Wrath) you can use the free but unofficial Revive mod to play Oculus PC content on Reverb G2. You can’t play Oculus Quest games on Reverb G2 or any PC VR headset.

Reverb G2 Black Friday 2022 Game Sales

Available through November 29th, 10AM PT

Steam Autumn Sale
  • Nearly 1,300 VR-only and VR-optional SteamVR games on are on sale for Black Friday 2022

HP Reverb G2 Discounted to Lowest Price Yet for US Black Friday Sale Read More »

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Quest 2 Black Friday Sale Brings Discounted Headset & Game Bundles

We’re keeping an eye on the best Oculus Quest 2 Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 deals, don’t blink or you might miss the best Quest 2 sale of the year!

Updated – November 25th, 2022

The Best Oculus Quest 2 Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 Sales

Image courtesy Meta
Oculus Quest 2 (128GB)

The best Oculus Quest 2 (128GB) Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 sale so far is $350 bundled with Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4 VR.

That’s a $120 (25%) discount over what you’d normally pay ($50 off the headset and $70 worth of games).

You can find the deal at many retailers including: AmazonMeta, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Newegg (includes a $50 gift card to Fanatics.com). At our last check, stock remains strong across the board.

Oculus Quest 2 (256GB)

The best Oculus Quest 2 (256GB) Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 deal so far is $430 bundled with Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4 VR.

That’s a $140 (25%) discount over what you’d normally pay ($70 off the headset and $70 worth of games).

You can find the deal at many retailers including: AmazonMeta, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Newegg (out of stock).

Oculus Quest 2 Price Baseline

It’s important to keep in mind the base price of the headset so you can make an informed decision when purchasing. Without an special discount, the Quest 2 headsets cost the following:

  • Oculus Quest 2 (128GB) – $400
  • Oculus Quest 2 (256GB) – $500
  • Oculus Quest 2 (64GB) – discontinued (don’t pay $300 for this model!)
Oculus Quest 2 Specs
Resolution 1,832 × 1,920 (3.5MP) per-eye, LCD (1x)
Refresh Rate 60Hz, 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz
Optics Single element Fresnel
Field-of-view (claimed) 96ºH × 96ºV
Optical Adjustments Stepped IPD, stepped eye-relief (via included spacer)
IPD Adjustment Range 58mm, 63mm, 68mm
Processor Snapdragon XR2
RAM 6GB
Storage 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Connectors USB-C
Weight 503g
Battery Life 2–3 hours
Headset Tracking Inside-out (no external beacons)
Controller Tracking Headset-tracked (headset line-of-sight needed)
Expression Tracking None
On-board cameras 4x external
Input Touch v3 (AA battery 1x), hand-tracking, voice
Audio In-headstrap speakers, 3.5mm aux output
Microphone Yes
Pass-through view Yes (B&W)
Oculus Quest 2 Content Compatibility

Without being plugged into a computer, Quest 2 can only play games from the Oculus Quest library. If you plug the headset into a computer, you’ll have access to everything in the Oculus PC and SteamVR libraries as well. That means that Quest 2 is compatible with the vast majority of top VR content out there, as long as you’ve got a powerful gaming PC to plug the headset into.

Quest 2 Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2022 Game Sales

Meta is kicking off the Black Friday & Cyber Monday shopping season with seven Quest game bundles and a big sale on more than 80 individual games. If you already own any of the games in a given bundle, the price will be reduced accordingly.

Fight to Finish Pack – $40 (48% discount)
  • Superhot VR
  • Gorn
  • Contractors
Vader Immortal Pack – $18 (40% discount)
  • Vader Immortal: Episode I
  • Vader Immortal: Episode II
  • Vader Immortal: Episode III
Stayin’ Alive Pack – $33 (48% discount)
  • Population: One
  • Onward
Simulators Pack – $44 (41% discount)
  • Vacation Simulator
  • Thief Simulator VR: Greenview Street
  • Cooking Simulator VR
Thrill of Victory Pack – $90 (40% discount)
  • Creed: Rise to Glory
  • The Climb 2
  • Golf+
Quick Reflexes Pack – $40 (38% discount)
  • Thrill of the Fight
  • I Expect You to Die 2
  • Pistol Whip
Enchantment Bundle Pack – $24 (40% discount)
  • Wands Alliances
  • Down the Rabbit Hole

Quest 2 Black Friday Sale Brings Discounted Headset & Game Bundles Read More »

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‘Half-Life: Alyx’ Mod Brings 3-4 Hours of Gameplay Today in Unofficial ‘Levitation’ Chapter

If you haven’t played Half-Life: Alyx (2020), Valve’s first Half-Life game in a decade which is exclusively available on SteamVR headsets, then you can look forward to not only one of the best VR horror shooters in existence, but soon heaps more action after the credits roll. The creators of the long-awaited Levitation mod say it’s slated to release for free starting today.

Update (November 25th, 2022): Levitation is now available on Steam, downloadable in 5 separate parts. Here’s a description of the mod, which its creators say takes around three to four hours to complete.

Half-Life: Alyx Spoiler Ahead: LEVITATION is set right after the events of Half-Life: Alyx wherein Alyx returns to City-17 after meeting the G-MAN, and teams up with Russell once again. During her absence, a mysterious levitating building appeared in the Sector X region of City-17. Two key members of the resistance named Barry and Maya decided to infiltrate and investigate Sector X — until their signal went quiet… Now, Alyx must save her friends, and possibly the whole resistance.

Check out the Levitation launch trailer below:

Original Article (June 14th, 2022): Now a pair of veteran modders are set to release an unofficial chapter of the game soon, called ‘Levitation’, which promises four to five three to four hours of expertly realized Combine-killing gameplay.

As seen during the PC Gaming Show, Half-Life: Alyx LEVITATION follows the events of the main game, introducing a floating apartment building in ‘Sector X’ of City 17 which is no doubt a Combine plot to do something highly nefarious, G-Man sightings included.

From what we’ve seen, it looks tantalizingly close to being a Valve-produced DLC, replete with custom voice acting and well-planned enemy encounters. Check out the seven-minute gameplay video below to see just how slick Levitation is:

But it’s not a Valve creation, at least not directly. Levitation was created by CS:GO map designer and artist Shawn ‘FMPONE’ Snelling and animator Corey Laddo, who is known for memes created in Valve’s Source 2 Filmmaker. Thanks to Half-Life: Alyx’s Workshop Tools, anyone can go in and make anything from VR Mini-Golf or bowling, to full-blown chapters like Snelling and Laddo have done.

Anyway, here’s how the modders describe Levitation:

“The basic premise involves Alyx receiving a distress signal from two resistance members Maya and Barry about secret Combine technology buried within a section of the Quarantine Zone known as Sector X,” Corey Laddo tells PC Gamer. “With the help of Russell, Alyx dives deep into Combine territory to investigate this threat and search for Maya and Barry. It’s a completely separate Half-Life adventure that uses Alyx’s ending as a springboard for the narrative.”

Half-Life: Alyx LEVITATION is expected to release for free on the Steam Workshop sometime in early Q3 of 2022. As with all mods, you’ll need to own the base game first. If you’re having trouble deciding, check out why we game Half-Life: Alyx a perfect [10/10] in our full review.

‘Half-Life: Alyx’ Mod Brings 3-4 Hours of Gameplay Today in Unofficial ‘Levitation’ Chapter Read More »

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Meta to Resume Quest Sales in Germany Following 2-year Antitrust Case

Over the past two years Meta hasn’t sold its VR headsets in Germany due to an ongoing antitrust suit in that country that alleges the forced linkage between its virtual reality products and Facebook was an anticompetitive practice. Now it seems that’s about to change, as regulators have intimated that Meta may be free and clear soon to resume sales in Germany.

As reported by German VR publication MIXED, residents of Europe’s largest economy will soon be able to order Quest 2 and Quest Pro, which are both set to be available in-country by the end of this year.

After the sales halt in September 2020, Germany-based customers had to import Meta VR devices, which was typically done by buying from online retailers based in neighboring European countries, such as France’s Amazon.fr or Italy’s Amazon.it.

Resuming sales in Germany is directly linked to Meta’s backtracking on forced Facebook logins in August. Andreas Mundt, President of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office which is tasked with antitrust enforcement in that country, calls this a “welcome development,” although the process is still not concluded.

Here’s Mundt’s full statement, translated to English:

With Meta’s digital ecosystem created with a very large number of users, the company is the key player in the social media space. Meta also has a significant position in the growing VR market. If the use of VR glasses were only possible for Facebook or Instagram members, this could severely affect competition in both areas. Meta has responded to our concerns and offered a solution by setting up a separate Meta account to use the Quest glasses. Despite this welcome development, we are not concluding the process today. First of all, we want to continue to accompany the actual design of the options for users as well as topics of the merging and processing of user data from the various meta-services.

Although a Meta spokesperson tells MIXED that both Quest 2 and the new Quest Pro will be available in-country at some point this year, the exact date is unclear.


Thanks to our reader Blaexe for pointing out that it wasn’t a block, but an anticipatory halt on Meta’s part during the ongoing antitrust suit. We’ve changed wording to reflect this.

Meta to Resume Quest Sales in Germany Following 2-year Antitrust Case Read More »

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‘Peaky Blinders VR’ to Release on Quest 2 and Pico 4 in March 2023

Maze Theory today announced that its long-awaited Peaky Blinders VR game is officially set to launch on March 9th, 2023.

Called Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, the dark action-adventure game is set to release on Meta Quest 2 and Pico 4. The studio is also slated to release the game on SteamVR headsets, however the studio hasn’t mentioned launch timing for PC VR platforms yet.

Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom puts you on the gritty streets of 1920s Birmingham and London as you explore iconic locations from the show, including The Garrison pub, Charlie’s Yard and Shelby’s Betting Shop.

“On the run from the firing squad, you turn to the infamous Tommy Shelby for help, and soon find yourself at war once again. Your only hope at redemption is to defeat the odds and win at any cost,” the game’s official website says.

Additionally, the studio released a new cinematic trailer focusing on some of the show’s most memorable characters. And yes, Tommy and Arthur Shelby are being voiced by original actors, Cillian Murphy and Paul Anderson respectively.

Maze Theory is also known for developing a VR game based on another iconic British IP, Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time (2019). The studio is also working on a VR title called Engram, previously named The Vanishing Act.

‘Peaky Blinders VR’ to Release on Quest 2 and Pico 4 in March 2023 Read More »

if-european-smes-are-going-to-survive,-they-need-tech-now-more-than-ever

If European SMEs are going to survive, they need tech now more than ever


According to EU data, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Europe’s economy. They represent 99% of all businesses in the Union, employ around 100 million people, and account for more than half of Europe’s GDP. Yet, business survival for SMEs has been continuously challenged since the pandemic. After suffering the consequences of the COVID crisis, SMEs are now particularly affected by soaring energy prices, inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and changed consumer behavior. That’s especially the case in the retail, food, and restaurant sectors — among those that were hit hardest during the pandemic. A survey conducted by…

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3lb Games’ “Space Dragon” Introduces Groundbreaking New Widget

 

Space Dragon: Unchained is a new offering from 3lb Games. In addition to being an intergalactic good time, it debuts what could become every streamer’s new favorite widget. I talked with CEO, Robin Moulder, about how the game came together and where it’s going next.

“Space Dragon: Unchained”

In addition to building immersive training solutions for enterprise clients, 3lb Games makes fun and moving VR games like Slime Rancher and Vault of Stars. In 2017, the company released Space Dragon for PCVR. Space Dragon: Unchained, is the new release of Space Dragon for Quest 2.

Play as Not Just One, but Two Fire-Breathing Dragons

Space Dragon is an arcade-style shooter. Each hand controls one dragon, both capable of launching fireballs at various targets throughout the game. Both controllers can also help to control movement within the space setting of the game.

3lb Games - VR game Space Dragon

“The game was born out of the movement system. The flight mechanic was a huge favorite in the game,” said Moulder. “That kind of led us into [the idea that] we should be flying because flying is cool. Why would we want to walk? I can walk in real life.”

Playing as both dragons, the player begins the game escaping from a mysterious facility. Once out, the player encounters planets and space dragons that have been similarly contained. The main action of the game is freeing these planets and space dragons by destroying robot satellites.



Of course, the robots shoot back. Your dragons begin to grow darker and visibly take damage when hit. When your dragons die, the level restarts. At the end of each level is a boss that behaves differently and is guarded by different degrees of enemies.

The World and Inhabitants of Space Dragon

Reading releases and other material about the game gives hints about the plot. A player can choose to fly through the levels destroying everything and wrap the game up relatively quickly but taking more time to explore the levels gives other hints about the universe in which the game takes place and about the creatures that inhabit it.

“We talked a lot about the backstory of Space Dragon,” said Moulder. “We really wanted to tap into letting the player come up with the why. … You start thinking and making up your own version of reality.”

Space Dragon VR game

One update to the game has already gone live since its initial release in November, and Moulder said that there are plans for an upcoming multiplayer mode. While she says that a multiplayer title would focus less on the story and more on the gameplay, it would likely give us a bit more food for thought.

Plenty of food for thought is already provided by the level and character design of the game. The levels are beautifully animated and each of the boss characters has its own drastically different nature in appearance and movement. Each level also has its own original metal score written and performed by Moulder inspired by the boss of the level.

“The space whale is more funky because he’s got bigger, wider movements,” said Moulder. “For the phoenix, I took a different approach – it’s very time-dependent … that gave me this tick-tock kind of more pensive feeling.”

Playing “Space Dragon: Unchained”

Playing Space Dragon: Unchained is a delight. I played through the tutorial and the first level in relatively short order and got stuck on the second boss. For the first time in a long time, I found that I was thinking about the game with the headset off – trying to come up with a strategy for how to defeat the boss while I wasn’t actually in the game.

I realized that I was under-utilizing the motion controls (before Moulder told me that the motion controls were the inspiration for the whole game). With that idea in mind, I went back the next day and got to the penultimate stage where I got stuck again, this time lost in a surprisingly intricate level design.

VR game Space Dragon

With another gem that Moulder told me in our interview, I’m pretty sure that I can get through that obstacle as well. I’m looking forward to conquering Space Dragon: Unchained as it is now, as well as revisiting it with future updates. The VR game is currently available for $8 on the Quest Store ((through App Lab).

A Game-Changing New Tool

One feature of Space Dragon that could have huge potential beyond the game itself is a new widget that displays a Twitch chat live on the gamer’s in-game view. The widget was inspired by Moulder’s own affection for the game streaming platform.

“It threw me back to the days at the arcade when you put your quarters in the machine and everyone gathered around and cheered you on. That’s Twitch,” said Moulder. “We’re definitely going to add this to every game we produce … if we’re able to put this out as a Unity asset, we will. If it’s too much pulled together, we’ll probably write a blog telling everyone how to do it.”

The widget, in whatever form it takes in the future, has a huge potential not just for gamers but for designers. Streaming platforms like Twitch (and Twitch content streamed or uploaded to other platforms like YouTube) contribute to the hype and discoverability around VR games in a major way. Bringing Twitch and VR together through this integration could be huge.

The Arcade Gamer’s Arcade Game

“Arcade” kept coming back up in our conversations. From the style of level design, to the way that the controls and strategies stick in your head, to the Twitch integration, and even to Moulder’s metal soundtrack. Space Dragon: Unchained is a seemingly simple but rich and beautiful game definitely worth the $8. I mean, that’s really just $4 per fire-breathing dragon.

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How to Use VeraCrypt’s Advanced Features to Secure Important Files

internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 905 throw err; ^ Error: Cannot find module ‘puppeteer’ Require stack: – /home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js at Function.Module._resolveFilename (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 902: 15) at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 746: 27) at Module.require (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 974: 19) at require (internal/modules/cjs/helpers.js: 101: 18) at Object. (/home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js:2: 19) at Module._compile (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 1085: 14) at Object.Module._extensions..js (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 1114: 10) at Module.load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 950: 32) at Function.Module._load (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js: 790: 12) at Function.executeUserEntryPoint [as runMain] (internal/modules/run_main.js: 75: 12) code: ‘MODULE_NOT_FOUND’, requireStack: [ ‘/home/760439.cloudwaysapps.com/jxzdkzvxkw/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-feed-post-generator-echo/res/puppeteer/puppeteer.js’ ]

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