Think Habbo Hotel or Second Life, but in VR
New game obsessions are commonplace, but phenomenons that can only be described as platform or industry changing are rare occurrences; VRChat is shaping up to be one of those rarities.
Developed by Graham Gaylor and Jesse Joudrey, VRChat is an amalgamation social community video games. There are wisps of Habbo Hotel and Second Life at the core of VRChat, but enhanced by virtual reality immersion. Like Habbo Hotel and Second Life, the reason virtual reality aficionados and players looking for an ever expanding, engaging world flocked to VRChat was because of its opportunities to transform it into something more.
VRChat launched on Steam in February 2017 as part of the platform’s early access program. When it was first available for download, the developers defined the project by two assets: its catalog of mini-games and its social capabilities. The developer touted traditional game activities like “Capture the Flag, rob a bank in Steel ’n’ Gold, [and] lob digital discs at each other in a match of Battle Discs.”
Games were just one component of VRChat. Working with Ron Millar, best known for his work on Warcraft at Blizzard, Gaylor and Joudrey wanted VRChat to become the first real virtual reality hangout. Players would be able to customize their own worlds (like rooms in Habbo Hotel), drink with friends, host dance parties and even date. The platform that VRChat Inc. was working on seemed to hit all the right notes for virtual reality fans who had dreamt of this type of interactive, immersive world.
They weren’t alone. By September, VRChat Inc. had secured $4 million in investment funding. On Sept. 21, VRChat launched on Viveport, alongside its presence on the Oculus Rift. In the eight months between VRChat launching on Steam in early access and being ported to the Viveport, the community had turned its universe into a vibrant, inhabited world.
There were pubs that hosted weekly karaoke nights or performances from bands formed in VRChat. A weekly newspaper detailing what was happening in the world of VRChat sprung to life in the main community forum as a way of keeping people informed. Late night talk shows and a network of podcasts dedicated to talking about VRChat started to spring up. By giving players access to an SDK and easy Unity integration, VRChat became a customizable experience that allowed people to create the virtual world they wanted to live in.
CHARACTERS YOU KNOW AND LOVE
Watch any VRChat video and there’s one thing that sticks out: It’s chockfull of characters that you already know. There are strange versions of Spongebob Squarepants, Pickle Rick from Rick and Morty, an assortment of Pokémon and too many anime characters to name.
This is one of VRChat’s biggest draws. Using a combination of character models, VRChat Inc.’s software development kit and Unity, players can create their own (unauthorized) avatars based on other popular figures from games, television, anime and movies.
In the video below, multiple characters from popular culture, including Hank Hill from King of the Hill and Pikachu from Pokémon, can be seen interacting with one another. Players are able to pet Pikachu and Pokémon trainers can be seen in the distance. Much of the game’s appeal comes from players recklessly mixing and matching characters from various franchises and assuming their persona, virtually. Think cosplaying but without the expensive costume and in the comfort of your own home.
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Source: Polygon