VRodeo: 06: Google Earth in VR, Serious Sam, and More

Maybe it's vibrations causing the base stations to slowly tilt a little over time. Not too sure though.

It's nice to hear them being all nostalgic about the old office. ^_^

The Google VR thing is the first thing that's ever made me want a VR headset. Hearing Jeff's childhood on the map was magical. What an amazing app.

Anyone know what wallpaper they have on that PC?

Accounting got robbed :(

@jeff: Sometimes the headset tracking goes a little wonky, and the floor moves up or down. I've found that covering up all the sensors on the headset for 3-5 seconds (until the picture turns grey) and letting it regain tracking fixes the issue. I usually just hide it beneath my desk until SteamVR says the headset is not tracking.

It's not really a great solution when you're in the middle of demoing something, but at least it's a lot quicker than going through recalibration.

It's under the plant.

Fuck you.

Again, there were a number of VR games played in Drew and Alexis Extra Life stream. Mary played some extensively. They played keep talking and nobody explodes at the end after no sleep.

If people are interested they could check out those games on that stream.

That tape under the plant was also an issue for Drew.

As someone that grew up in an elementary school with... 250-ish students, i'm amazed at the size of Jeff's elementary school. Multiple big squares and a huge field.

Agree the Vive software has issues that need fixed. The floor getting wrong happens all the time for me. Luckily someone made a tool to fix it:

http://www.kegetys.fi/floorfix-tool-for-re-calibrating-the-floor-level-in-steamvr/

Just run that program before you start steamvr and you will have a new menu option to fix the floor at anytime.

So after watching the Google Earth segment I learned that Google Chrome doesn't support the web version of Google Earth. What the hell is up with that!?

GIDDY UP!!!

Aww, I hope you try Accounting again next VRodeo.

@spitznock: Sounds like you don't experience a lot of modern comedy.

Google Earth VR is interesting, but it's still mostly the same thing that's been available for over a decade.

@biostormx: They dont ever seem to give these games any chance

The only interesting in the video wa Google Earth.

Hey dude! Good points :) If all I was a ps VR what games or apps would YOU recommend to a fan of all this?

That first exhibit is the reason I say this go at VR is best for non-game first. The practicality of stuff like this is so strong.

God damn, I love VR Jeff.

@clockwork_saint:

I have a PSVR also. My fav. game on PSVR is probably Battlezone. It's a coop tank based rogue-like. It's pretty hard, even on easy, but that's a lot of what makes it so fun, especially if you get a group of people who know how to play and work together. It's not that difficult to learn the basic controls but there rae a lot of great more advanced strategies about taking down strategic threats and when to boost/flee and staying in groups.

Google Earth VR is hella cool. There's something really touching and awesome about hearing Jeff's stories. I can't wait until Touch lands, and then I can show my girlfriend where I grew up and take her on tours of my old neighbourhoods like that, and have her show me interesting places or where we want to travel to and that kind of thing. I'm really excited.

Hearing the Talos Principle music after the Serious Sam mission made me have some real feelings. Took me back to an incredible place.

Just wanted to stop by and give a shout out to Jeff for his amazing VR Google Earth tour and stories. Really loved it.

Having lived in the north bay, it was especially weird/ cool having Jeff go through his memories of all the areas that I'm actually familiar with too but have totally different memories of.

The Corte Madera mall has a really good burger place.

So glad accounting ended early. I can't stand that demo. Judging by Brad's expressions he wasn't a fan either.

did the google earth segment make anyone else feel totally seasick?

"Is that the bullet tank?"
-Dan Ryckert, 2016

Yes Dan, that is the bullet tank. The tank that holds bullets.

A nice trip down memory lane.

Where are the good VR games?

And Alexis had the exact same issue.

@newfangled: I wish there was a upvote/thumbs up button because I would use it for this comment

Jeff's story about swallowing a tin full of chewing tobacco and immediately vomiting was very Dan.

wow that earth thing is really impressive

I get way too much enjoyment from all of these stupid-as-hell VR intros.

Excellent stuff here.

So sad about the accounting VR game, really wanted to see that.

cringe so hard when they play Accountant and skip such a vast amount of the point of that game... oh well.

"Salvador Dali's Burger King." Dan Ryckert continues to surprise.

dan and i have peeing on churches in common

@baka_shinji17: I was sure he said "Salvatore Dali"

Awww, I really wish they gave Accounting more of chance even though they had the same ground problem as Alexis did when he played it.

@dgtlty: I would argue the Vive has a solid couple dozen of really good VR games at this point. This is my biggest worry about these streams: when they don't do their homework they do a disservice to people who might be interested. So let me make my own suggestions of what I consider really good games:

20 Vive Games I love

Raw Data - This is one of the few games that Giant Bomb did a legit solid QuickLook of and it deserved. Since then, however, it's come a long way. They've added levels that have verticality, neat new abilities, a new character, even bosses. It's still early access, but there's already a lot of great content here and it's only getting better.

Onward - It's unfortunate they didn't give this game a chance because it's actually a really solid tactical shooter. It isn't as finicky as something like Arma nor as arcadey as Counter Strike. It strikes a nice middle ground, kinda like Rainbow Six. Yes the control are are kind of complex at first. But it takes probably 10 minutes to get the hang of them and it's a really good online tactical shooter with a very healthy user base.

Eleven Tennis - So this started as "Waves" Tennis but it has since evolved into the best table tennis sim I've ever played. I play with a buddy all the time and we can't believe how good the physics feel after the most recent update. You can put spin on the ball, you can tag corners. The accuracy and fidelity is brilliant and it's very snappy. Even the online play is great and keeps track of your record against anyone you play against.

Left Hand Path - A RPG with a Dark Souls style aesthetic and level design, but with it's own unique combat mechanics which are primarily projectile, magic based. You aim with your staff and draw spells in the air with your other hand and pick up new spells as you play. It has Dark Souls style short cuts and lore and some intense, physically demanding boss fights..

Rec Room - One of the other few games that got a decent shake on the VR Rodeo. And it's only gotten better since the guys played it last. Charades and Paintball are both great. Frisbee golf has new courses. The customizable options have drastically improved. And they have shield soccer coming in the next update.

Climbey - A great climbying game in VR. Yeah the graphics are very simple, but that's not why you are here. You are here for the mechanics and they are great. You use your hands to fling yourself, off the ground, around the walls, jumping, turning in air and grabbing ledges behind you. The climbing feels amazing. And the game has up to 4 player coop and steam workshop support so there are already hundreds of levels to try.

Solus Project - This game isn't VR exclusive but they have put a lot of work into the VR mode with complete touch controls and interactivity. It's essentially a survival/puzzle game on an alien planet but with some nice puzzles, great production values, and a cool narrative.

Hover Junkers - It's Mad Max in VR. Since the guys have checked it out, they've added a coop horde mode, and they have a single player campaign coming.

The Lab - The Lab is like the Wii Sports of Vive. I come back to it again and again. I play a ton of Xortex (I'm in the top 100 on the leaderboards). Since the guys checked it out, Xortex now has it's own endless mode that plays like Geometry Wars and it's fucking awesome. Like Geometry Wars, I could play this every day.

Subnautica - Recently added Vive support and it's a fantastic underwater sub game. I haven't dug into it too much yet due to limited time (but I play to this holiday vacation).

Audio Shield - So this is one everybody probably knows but what they probably don't know is that it was recenlty updated to support Youtube. It will now search Youtube for videos and it will even play the music video while you play, which is awesome. They've also added a new stadium and a new difficulty mode and rebalanced the difficulty and algorhythms.

Neon Retro Arcade - The guys checked this out in a really really early version on the Rift, but now it's about twice the size with air hockey, a movie theatre (where you can store your own movies), a two player coop online zombie shooter (in the crappy video Revolution X tradition) and up to 6 players online coop.

Vanishing Realms - A terrific action RPG where you gain new gear as you play. The mechanics feel really good as you watch for enemies tells, block and counter attack. You don't understand the potential of VR until you circle strafe around skeleton in physical space and jump slash over his shield. It's a little short at about 3-4 hours with the latest addition and rebalanced combat made this one of the best Vive games.

Cloudlands MiniGolf - So yeah, I know it's Mini-golf, But it's a really damn good mini-golf game. And what made it a game changer is when they added a full blown course creator a few months back and incorporated Steam Workshop. The course creator literally lets you make your own Minigolf courses in VR, grabbing pieces and locking them together in front of you like floating legos then instantly popping down into the course and testing, as seamless as Mario Maker. And it supports online coop for up to 6 players and has hundreds of courses on Steam Workshop.

Pool Nation VR - I wasn't into pool at all until I started playing Pool Nation but this became my go to "virtual chatroom" game with friends. The recent additions of air hockey, checkers, skeeball and more has made it the ultimate hang out game.

Call of the Starseed - A great puzzle adventure game. It's a little short for the cost (about 3 hours) but it's the first part in a series and the ending is absolutely awesome. I can't wait to see where they go with the second game.

Cowboys and Aliens - This game uses Raw Data style dash mechanics in a cartoony western saloon brawl. The best thing about this game is that you can shoot basically anything in the environment and it responds. Shoot open the shutters to hit people outside. Throw bottles or knives or anything else at other people. Ball up you fist and just punch them out. The game population can be a bit shakey except on weekends, but it's a ton of fun.

Bomb U! - The best comparison I can make is that this game is similar to Bomberman in VR. You are face off with an opponent (AI or human) on floating platforms high above the ground and you grab items to throw over to your competitor's play space to blow holes through it. If they step where a hole is, they fall through and you win. It's a simple little game but it's loads of fun.

Chair in a Room GreenWater - One of the most intense horror games I've ever played. It uses roomscale brilliantly as every level is the same size as your actual play space. The physics can get a bit wonky at times, but it's forgivable for what a unique experience it is. This game has a real sense of presence.

Redout - A terrific Wipeout style hover racer. The cockpit VR mode they added is great. The inertia feels very very similar to Wipeout as do the aesthetics. It's also a pretty solid non-VR game but for me the VR enchances the experience significantly.

And here's all the stuff I did not even mention that is also solid:

The Diner Duo, SurVive, Cosmic Trip, Job Simulator, Soundstage, Escape Bloody Mary, Holloball, The Brookhaven Experiment, Elite Dangerous, Island 359, Everest VR, QuiVR, Out of Ammo, Windlands, Serious Sam VR, Hollopoint, TiltBrush, Fantastic Contraption, TheBlu, Hot Dogs Horsehoes and Hand Grenades, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Art of the Fight, and many others.

I watched Robbaz play accounting and it was just as awful as you would expect. It never get better. It never gets funny. You get yelled at for 15 minutes and then the credits roll.

Spoiler: you pick up the thing, go to a nother place, get yelled at by a monster, pick up a thing, end up in another area, stab the monster, go to court for killing monster, and its all terrible.

WHO PAYS THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS CRAP? That serious sam could be a free mobile game. What a piece of shit.

I think some of these games deserve their own quick looks. Like accounting and Onward.

Wait, Squanchtendo? Is Accounting a Rick & Morty/Justin Roiland joint?

Accounting definitely does not need a quick look. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was really funny, but it's like a 30 minute game tops, even if you sit and listen to all the dialogue. The game itself is a quick look, and you pretty much spoil the experience if you watch it before doing it yourself.

I am loving this VR memory lane. Everything besides Google Earth continues to look very simple and boring.