OhShape

Last updated

OhShape
OhShape boxart.jpg
OhShape box art
Developer(s) Odders Lab
Publisher(s) Odders Lab
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR
ReleaseDecember 13, 2019
Genre(s) Rhythm
Mode(s) Single-player

OhShape is a VR game developed by Odders Lab. This game fuses dance choreography with posing through carved out walls. The developers took inspiration from the TV show Hole in the Wall and mixed it with music. It could be classified as a VR rhythm game in the line of Beat Saber or Synth Riders , but with a different gameplay that requires the movement of the whole body. The game was released as an Early Access on August 15, 2019 and the full release was on December 13, 2019. The game is available for most PCVR headsets such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Valve Index. On February 20, 2020 the game was released on Oculus Quest. The PSVR version of the game was released September 24, 2020.

Contents

Gameplay

The player has to move through carved out walls, dodge or break obstacles that come towards him following the beat of the music. Buttons are needed to navigate through the menu and pause/exit the game, but the game itself is played only by moving the each part of the body to the exact position. All the walls are semi-transparent so the player can see through enough to anticipate what is coming next. There are three types of walls:

There are also golden gems placed on the map for the player to grab, they are optional but the increase the final score. OhShape is as much a game of mental prowess as it is physical endurance. According to Eric Switzer, "The player must focus on their head and pick up the details subconsciously through their peripheral vision to keep up. This way the player will be unconsciously processing that information and their body will apply it through muscle memory". [2]

When the player chains up 4 successful moves, the combo meter rises. There are three levels of combo that multiply the score by x2, x3 or x4. If the player misses a wall, the combo meter restarts to 0 and the life bar of the player is damaged. Several consecutive fails lead to game over, but each successful move heals a small portion of the life bar. All this information (score, combo meter and health bar) is displayed in the floor so the player can look at it at any time. At the end of each game, there is a screen that shows some stats such as number of gems collected and walls performance.

The player receives different feedback from their actions. Besides the score counter, combo meter and health bar, each time the player miss a wall, there are red particles flashing and the haptic vibration from the controllers is activated when the player misses a blue wall, revealing which hand isn't well positioned. The haptic feedback is also activated when the player punches a wall, improving the feeling. [3] Another good tool for the player is a shadow projected over the walls, that helps to improve body positioning, specially for newcomers.

Currently the game has one album with 12 different songs with styles that go from euro pop to trap, electro and k-pop. [2] Each song has 3 difficulty levels: easy, medium and hard. Hardest difficulty levels have more walls and the walls move faster through the player. For each difficulty level, there is a world leaderboard and players can compete to outdo each other. The game also has support for custom songs and counts with an open source level editor that can be downloaded from the game's website. With this tool any player can create a map using their own music. The game also includes a tutorial that shows the fundamentals of the gameplay and let the player practice with some basic poses.

Settings

Following the feedback collected along its Early Access stage, the developers of OhShape added some major updates to the game to make it more accessible for different types of players. [4] These are some of the settings added by request of the community:

Graphics

The action takes place on a platform with abstract, clean and minimalistic aesthetics inspired by other games as Portal or Mirror’s Edge . [5] The theme is upbeat, bright, digital, with transparent gray, white, and yellows. This design choice includes the platform, ducking walls, and gems. [1]

Release

The game was first released as an Early Access title on August 15, 2019 on Steam Store and Oculus Store. A Viveport and Viveport Infinity version arrived months later, on October 24, 2019. On December 13, 2019 OhShape left its Early Access stage and became a full release on all the stores. Along the latest months of 2019, the game was also released in different VR arcade platforms such as Springboard, Synthesis VR and Ctrl V. On February 20, 2020 OhShape was released on Oculus Quest.

Odders Lab has communicated through its social networks the game will arrive to other VR platforms such as PSVR and Pico VR. Although there isn't an official date for these versions, they are planned for the first quarter of 2020. Odders Lab plan to support the game in the future with more content and new features. [6]

Reception

During its Early Access stage the game received positive reviews and feedback to improve the player experience with more settings and new content. The game also got rebranded, as it was firstly known as OnShape, but Odders Lab decided to change the name because there is 3D software also called OnShape. Although the game has not been specifically marketed as a fitness game, players and content creators have labeled the game as a medium-intense cardio exercise. This is what Juanita Leatham said: “My legs were like jello the day after and burning like I had done a hundred squats and side lunges – because I probably did after 30 minutes per play”. [1] As a side note, Eric Switzer did a curious comparison between OhShape and The Enigma of Amigara Fault , a manga written by Junji Ito where “it's discovered that the Amigara Mountain is covered in human shaped holes. This leads to a pilgrimage of sorts as people from all over the world are inexplicably drawn to the mountain to find the hole they fit in; the hole that's made for them”. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality</span> Computer-simulated experience

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment, education and business. Other distinct types of VR-style technology include augmented reality and mixed reality, sometimes referred to as extended reality or XR, although definitions are currently changing due to the nascence of the industry.

Superhot is an independent first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed and published by Superhot Team. Though the game follows traditional first-person shooter gameplay mechanics, with the player attempting to take out enemy targets using guns and other weapons, time within the game progresses at normal speed only when the player moves; this creates the opportunity for the player to assess their situation in slow motion and respond appropriately, making the gameplay similar to strategy video games. The game is presented in a minimalist art style, with enemies in red and weapons in black, in contrast to the otherwise white and grey environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reality Labs</span> Virtual and augmented reality products company

Reality Labs, originally Oculus VR, is a business and research unit of Meta Platforms that produces virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware and software, including virtual reality headsets such as Quest, and online platforms such as Horizon Worlds. In June 2022, several artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that were previously a part of Meta AI were transitioned to Reality Labs. This also includes Meta's fundamental AI Research laboratory FAIR which is now part of the Reality Labs - Research (RLR) division.

<i>Thumper</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Thumper is a rhythm game developed and published by Drool and released in October 2016 on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4, with optional virtual reality (VR) support for the Oculus, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR headsets. It was later released on the Nintendo Switch in May 2017, the Xbox One in August 2017, iOS in January 2018, Oculus Go in September 2018, Android in February 2019, Oculus Quest in May 2019, and Stadia in November 2019. The game was shown at the Experimental Game Workshop during the 2015 Game Developers Conference.

<i>Job Simulator</i> 2016 video game

Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, commonly referred to as simply Job Simulator, is a virtual reality simulation video game developed and published by Owlchemy Labs for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3, in which players participate in comical approximations of real-world jobs. A sequel, Vacation Simulator, was released in 2019.

<i>The Climb</i> (video game) 2016 video game

The Climb is a first-person virtual reality game, developed by Crytek and Oculus Studios. In it the player climbs cliffs in locations around the world. The game released for Microsoft Windows on April 28, 2016, while a Oculus Quest port was later released in 2019. A sequel, The Climb 2, was released in 2021.

<i>Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope</i> 2017 video game

Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope is a 2017 first-person shooter game for virtual reality (VR) developed by Croteam VR and published by Devolver Digital. One or two players fight waves of enemies, including bosses, across five thematic planets. The enemies approach from a 180° field and the player can use dual-wielded weapons while moving across a limited space. To develop The Last Hope and experiment with other VR implementations, Croteam VR was established as a specialised division of Croteam. Devolver Digital announced the game at E3 in June 2016 and launched it in early access that October. After several updates, it was released in September 2017 for Windows with compatibility for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets. The Last Hope received mostly positive reviews, with post-release reception lauding the game's gameplay and visuals while criticising difficulty spikes and issues with the online multiplayer mode.

<i>Lone Echo</i> Virtual reality adventure game

Lone Echo is a 2017 virtual reality adventure game developed by Ready At Dawn, and published by Oculus Studios. Set aboard a space station orbiting Saturn, it allows players to move in zero-gravity by grabbing and pushing off of the environment. In addition to the narrative single-player game, the title includes a team-based multiplayer sports mode called Echo Arena, which was also released as a stand-alone game. A sequel, Lone Echo II, was announced in 2018 and released on October 12, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality game</span> Video game played in virtual reality

A virtual reality game or VR games is a video game played on virtual reality (VR) hardware. Most VR games are based on player immersion, typically through head-mounted display unit or headset with stereoscopic displays and one or more controllers.

<i>Beat Saber</i> 2019 virtual reality rhythm game

Beat Saber is a virtual reality rhythm game developed by three Slovaks Ján Ilavský, Vladimír Hrinčár, Peter Hrinčár and published by Czech game developer Beat Games. It takes place in many different surrealistic neon environments and features the player slicing blocks representing musical beats with a pair of brightly-colored sabers. Following an early access release in May 2018, the game was officially released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on May 21, 2019, and supports most virtual reality headsets including HTC Vive, Oculus Quest, Quest 2 and Quest Pro, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, and Valve Index.

<i>Death Horizon</i> 2017 mobile FPS VR game

Death Horizon is a mobile FPS VR game developed by British studio Dream Dev Studio VR.

<i>Stormland</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Stormland is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. The game put emphasis on both exploration and combat as the player character, an android gardener named Vesper, traverses an alien planet from a first-person perspective. The game received generally positive reviews from critics upon release.

<i>Boneworks</i> 2019 video game

Boneworks is a 2019 first-person shooter VR game developed and published by Stress Level Zero. The game is designed to be entirely physics-based, with the player controlling a full virtual body that responds not just to the player's real-world input but also to obstructions in the game world.

<i>Horizon Worlds</i> Virtual reality platform developed by Meta Platforms

Meta Horizon Worlds is a free virtual reality, online video game with an integrated game creation system developed and published by Meta Platforms. On this multi-player virtual platform, players move and interact with each other in various worlds that host events, games, and social activities. The game works on Oculus Rift S, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 3 headsets.

<i>Gorn</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Gorn is a 2019 virtual reality game developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital. The player is a gladiator who fights opponents to death in arena using weapons at their disposal. The game was launched in early access in 2016, and had a full release on July 18, 2019 for Microsoft Windows. A PlayStation VR version released in 2020 and an Oculus Quest port followed in 2021. An updated version for the PlayStation VR2 was released March 16, 2023.

<i>Pistol Whip</i> 2019 video game

Pistol Whip is a 2019 virtual reality video game developed and published by Cloudhead Games. The game is a stage based shooter where the player automatically moves through the level and has to defeat enemies to the music. The game was released for Oculus Quest and Microsoft Windows on November 7, 2019. A PlayStation 4 port released in July 2020. Since February 2023 it is also supported on the PlayStation 5.

<i>Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash</i> 2020 video game

Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash is a 2020 music video game developed and published by Grounding Inc for virtual reality (VR) platforms on PlayStation 4, Oculus Quest, Viveport and Windows. Following a new reporter assigned to assist Space Channel 5 protagonist Ulala during an alien threat covered by the titular news network, players engage in motion-based combat by mimicking the actions of opponents in time to musical tracks.

Smash Drums is a virtual reality (VR) rhythm game developed and published by PotamWorks SAS. The game was released for the Meta Quest platform on 2 December 2021. The game involves playing drums to the beat of rock songs and destroying various environments. The game has 54 songs and nine environments, and can be played in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game was a finalist for the AIXR 2021 “VR Game of the Year” award

<i>Eleven Table Tennis</i> Virtual reality table tennis game

Eleven Table Tennis is a virtual reality (VR) table tennis game developed by For Fun Labs, Inc., and available on Steam, Pico, and Oculus gaming platforms. Eleven Table Tennis was included as exhibition sport for the inaugural Olympic Esports Week, which took place in Singapore from 22 to 25 June 2023.

<i>Synth Riders</i> Virtual reality rhythm game

Synth Riders is a virtual reality rhythm game developed and published by the Los Angeles-based studio Kluge Interactive. It involves players touching spheres ('notes'), tracing lines ('rails'), and avoiding obstacles that move towards them. Title of the game reflects its connection to the world of music and the stylistic influences of synthwave. The game's immersive experience is enhanced by its incorporation of retro-inspired elements, evident in the soundtrack and overall aesthetic. Following an early access release in July 2018, the game was officially released for Steam VR and Meta Quest on May 21, 2019, and supports most virtual reality headsets including Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2, HTC Vive, Pico 4, Valve Index and Apple Vision Pro.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Leatham, Juanita (November 1, 2019) VR game review: OhShape has satisfying rhythm obstacles Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine ARPost. Retrieved January 13, 2020
  2. 1 2 3 Switzer, Eric (October 25, 2019) OhShape Preview: A Perfect Fit On VR Archived October 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine The Gamer. Retrieved January 13, 2020
  3. ↑ Leatham, Juanita (November 1, 2019) VR game review: OhShape has satisfying rhythm obstacles Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine ARPost. Retrieved January 13, 2019
  4. ↑ Gave, Gurwin (November 7, 2019) Hole-in-the-Wall Simulator OhShape Gets Better With No-Fail and Small Room Modes Archived January 21, 2020, at the Wayback Machine VR Fitness Insider Retrieved January 13, 2020
  5. ↑ (May 2, 2019) Finding OhShape visual style Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine OhShape Game Dev Diary Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved January 13, 2020
  6. ↑ (December 14, 2019) OhShape v 1.0 Now Available on SteamVR, Oculus and Viveport Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine OhShape Game Dev Diary Archived January 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved January 13, 2020
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.