Developer Arvore recently announced its next VR game. pixel torn 1978 In CDG 2023. I got a sneak peek and had some time with the team’s first fully licensed addition to their Pixel Ripped line of games.
The studio’s two previous releases, Pixel Ripped 1989 and Pixel Ripped 1995, were loosely based on games from their relative era, but were unable to specifically name names due to licensing issues. Thanks to a partnership with Atari, this next addition to the series won’t be so vague.
Atari x Arvore
Arvore was first approached by Atari at the DICE Awards in 2022, studio CEO Ricardo Justus tells me, and the veteran publisher has floated the possibility of collaborating on the upcoming Pixel Ripped adventure. At this point, Pixel Ripped 1978 was already in full development and almost ready to be announced, but this partnership opened the door to a world of possibilities.
The collaboration with Atari meant that Arvore could now integrate almost everything from the Atari-owned library. The development team had to go back to the drawing board and start adding real Atari references, rewriting history to get as much Atari goodness as possible.
Put on nostalgia glasses
This official license allows Pixel Ripped 1978 to really lean into the nostalgia factor. As Bug, the game developer who created the first Pixel Ripped game, you start by sitting in your work cubicle playing games on the Atari 2600. In virtual reality, I was transported to my nine-year-old me playing on the same console over Christmas. , except this time I was able to jump right into the games I was playing.
Thanks to the technical capabilities of PSVR 2, the transition from a game developer sitting at a desk to a hero solving puzzles and shooting bad guys is smooth and fluid. When you’re in a game, you control Dot, who is tasked with fixing the Atari games that Bug develops from within and restoring them to their pixelated glory. For those who have played previous Pixel Ripped titles, you’ll reunite with familiar characters and meet colorful new ones in this in-game VR gaming adventure.
The power of PSVR 2
pixel torn 1978 it’s designed for the next generation of VR systems, which means PSVR won’t get it, and even Meta Quest 2 needs to be connected to a gaming PC to play it. The resolution that PSVR 2 brings, along with the processing power of PS5, makes this VR game super smooth. The new controllers added to the immersion of the experience and made it easier to grab things.
When it comes to moving from point A to point B in the FPS part of the game, the developer uses a directed focus effect, which essentially eliminates your peripheral vision while moving by dragging the blinders over you , and eliminates any risk of motion sickness. . This is something that almost all VR developers are now doing with current-gen VR systems, and it’s a game-changer.
conclusion
I was allowed to play the first chapter of the game for the demo, and the story is intriguing and entertaining, with a colorful character. The graphics were impressive in VR, with smooth transitions and smooth movement, showing off the power of PSVR 2. Their new partnership also makes it a nostalgic celebration of Atari-era gaming, something those who, like me, have grown up with Old school systems like the 2600 will greatly appreciate it.
Pixel Ripped 1978 will be released this summer on PSVR 2, PC VR and Meta Quest 2 online.