EVE Becomes Virtual with Oculus Rift

We go hands-on with EVE VR, CCP's space-dogfighting sim

It's not every day that I get to try something as special as this. Announced today at EVE Fanfest, as part of a special EVE keynote in front of thousands of fans, CCP gave us a glimpse of another window into the universe of New Eden. 

Named internally as EVE VR, the independent Icelandic studio has put together a dogfighting-style space combat sim, featuring intense multiplayer battles across a cluttered asteroid field. Fighters are launched from two opposing factional ships, ensuring a constant flow of action with little downtime.

Created by a small team of developers in only seven weeks, EVE VR was built with the Unity multi-platform engine using art assets taken from EVE Online. The project started in '20% time', an initiative by CCP that frees developers to spend one-fifth of their working week on something that interests them. The result is something completely unexpected; even if this never becomes a full-fledged game in its own right, the experience it delivers is phenomenal.

This was the first time I'd tried out the Oculus VR, leaving me completely unprepared for what was about to unfold. With the incredibly light headset strapped to my head, a pair of enclosed headphones pumping the sounds of combat and a controller in my hands, I was ready to enter the cold dark of space.

The 3D effect was initially very subtle; it wasn't until I looked around the cockpit that the illusion emerged. I never expected the Rift to be so accurate at mapping my head movements, or for the experience to be so immersive. And this was before I even left the sanctuary of the mothership, staring down the barrel of a launch tube.

Suddenly I rushed out into the void, a field of asteroids slowly rolling in front of me. Tentatively, I punched the afterburner, my craft lurching forward and hungrily devouring space as rotating boulders zipped by. I was almost terrified to look around, just in case I carelessly ate asteroid.

Red reticules popped up in front of me, luring me toward my prey. I pumped the fighter's laser, risking giving myself away but giving me the chance to do some damaged while I closed the distance. Once I was near enough the missile lock lit up, tracking my target by facing it with the headset, rather than steering the spacecraft. The trigger released, my missiles were away, pummeling the enemy.

Suddenly the cockpit was filled with red light and sirens; one of his flight wing had managed to sneak behind me. I looked over my shoulders to see if I could spot him and work out a way to evade his lock. Too late - his missiles were streaming toward me. I slammed on the afterburner, hoping I had enough charge in the tank to put a nearby asteroid between us. It was going to be tight, but grinned to myself as I saw the rockets slam into the rotating rock.

The dogfight continued for a short but intense battle, my three wingmates doing our best to  blast our teammates out of the sky. Outside of VR, a small audience followed the ebb and flow of battle on a spectator screen that surveyed the battlefield.

It ended all too quickly, but the result didn't matter - I'd experienced something truly incredible. The headset removed I gingerly stood up, literally struck dumb as I tried to process what I'd just played. This was the games from my childhood, titles uttered with reverence such as X-Wing and Wing Commander, pushed through the filter of half-remembered science fiction dreamscapes and shaped into something I could truly immerse myself in. 

EVE VR currently runs on PC, with a wired gamepad providing the controls. As one of the first titles of its type using the Oculus Rift VR headset, it's an incredible achievement, both for the small team that put the game together, and for CCP in nurturing the universe of New Eden that makes such games possible. The developer prides itself on creating windows into their worlds, and even though I've only had a glimpse, it's one I can't wait to peer through again. 

Gareth "Gazimoff" Harmer, Senior Contributing Editor

Comments

Post Comment
So jealous!
# Apr 26 2013 at 1:49 PM Rating: Decent
28 posts
"This was the games from my childhood, titles uttered with reverence such as X-Wing and Wing Commander, pushed through the filter of half-remembered science fiction dreamscapes and shaped into something I could truly immerse myself in."

Gareth, as soon as I saw the title I immediately thought of the exact same thing. So jealous that you got to try it out!
So jealous!
# Apr 26 2013 at 9:17 PM Rating: Good
I'm no EVE fan, but damn if I'm not buying one of them headsets the moment I can.
____________________________
Sandinmyeye | |Tsukaremashi*a |
So jealous!
# Apr 26 2013 at 9:49 PM Rating: Decent
No kidding! I do wonder how much it will cost, but honestly I don't care -- I'll buy one regardless! While I'm not looking for it, I haven't heard one person say this is nothing special, everybody is singing from the same sheet on this one.
So jealous!
# Apr 26 2013 at 10:03 PM Rating: Good
If the we go off the Dev Kit via it's website, 300$+
I can say I would have no problem spending $500 on something like this. If developers see the potential (and why wouldn't they?) then gaming might be tanking another step forward. Add a Power Glove and it is on!
____________________________
Sandinmyeye | |Tsukaremashi*a |
So jealous!
# Apr 27 2013 at 10:33 AM Rating: Decent
28 posts
Quote:
Add a Power Glove and it is on!

Nice Power Glove refernce. I'd love to see them bring it back to work with the Oculus. So epic.

Edited, Apr 27th 2013 12:33pm by Caergan
So jealous!
# Apr 27 2013 at 7:37 PM Rating: Good
Caergan wrote:
Quote:
Add a Power Glove and it is on!

Nice Power Glove refernce. I'd love to see them bring it back to work with the Oculus. So epic.


In a world of gestures I'm shocked it has not been done so for handicapped people, but a many-multi button mouse probably works just as good.

Yea I'm so ready for one of these.

Add a camera to show what one would see on the screen, but allow for augmented reality... I get excited at ideas that are so far off, but could be if the right people (like Palmer Luckey) decide to finally take that step.
____________________________
Sandinmyeye | |Tsukaremashi*a |
Post Comment

Free account required to post

You must log in or create an account to post messages.