It’s the smoothest Oculus game I’ve played so far
Of all the things going on atEVEFanfest 2014, I was most excited to get my hands onEVE Valkyrie. There are a few reasons for this: I’ve heard it steals the show at every event it’s at. I’m excited by anything in the virtual reality scene. And, because it was just announced, I want to see what it feels like in Unreal Engine 4.
Well, I got my chance to play it, and I can see why Oculus VR is toutingValkyrieas its flagship title. It’s just that good.
For anyone that doesn’t know whatValkyrie‘s all about,Dale covered thatin substantial depth last year. He was impressed then. After talking to a developer about the changes that have happened since, it sounds like CCP has come a long way.
The biggest move to hitValkyriewas the switch from Unity to Unreal Engine 4. According to senior programmer Sigurdur Gunnarsson, the reason for this hinged largely upon the console scene, specifically because it’s easier and a more certain prospect to publish on PlayStation 4 in Unreal right now. Apart from that, Unreal gives them the ability to add assets more quickly and generally speeds up development time.
If it sounds like a lot of work to completely rebuild a game, it is. CCP Newcastle has a team of about 23 people currently assigned toValkyrie, and it took three to four months to make the transition. But, Gunnarsson remarked that the benefits of Unreal Engine 4 at this point are too great to ignore. Besides, it’s not likeValkyrie‘s in a finished state right now, anyway; it’s still constantly being changed.
While the engine change shines behind-the-scenes, it’s the new hardware up front that makes the most noticeable difference. The Oculus DK2 was being used for the demo, and it made for a much more immersive experience, one that Gunnarsson was quick to talk about. He remarked that the better resolution, tracking ability, and reduction of motion blur made this build ofValkyriebetter than anything that had been shown in the past. I’m inclined to believe him, because everything felt so incredibly smooth, moreso than any other Oculus title I’ve seen before.
Although it seems to be in good shape right now,Valkyrie‘s far from done. There are lot of gameplay decisions that are still being made. Our demo was four versus four, but that’s not what we can expect in the finished product. According to Gunnarsson, CCP’s looking at numbers like 16 or 24 total players, but it completely depends on what makes sense from a gameplay perspective. If increased numbers make it less fun, they’re not going to make that sacrifice.
CCP’s also adding variation in a couple of areas. Internally, the team’s looking at different classes of ships such as a heavy, and a support that could provide medic or logistical assistance. The maps will also be themed, with some adding different environmental hazards. One example I was given was a map where sections are prone to electrical storms.
There’s a lot going on withValkyrie, and Oculus VR appears to fully understand its potential. Gunnarsson commented that CCP interacts with Oculus daily, and they’re very supportive with regard to resolving any issues that CCP might have. Gunnarsson also added that Oculus completely trusts CCP and hasn’t ever tried to influence the direction ofValkyrie.
That’s impressive given howEVE Valkyriemight be the game that drives consumer adoption. We don’t know when the Oculus Rift will eventually release, but I was told thatValkyriewill launch right alongside it. Judging by the demo at Fanfest, I’d be hard-pressed to think that any early adopters would be disappointed in that investment.
