Venture Demigod enters full launch at present on Quest and PC VR, and we spoke with Omnifarious Studios to study extra. Learn on for our full interview.
It has been a protracted journey for Venture Demigod. Initially launched in October 2021, the VR superhero sim has made regular progress, reaching 100k gross sales final December throughout Quest App Lab and Steam Early Entry. It is principally been a solo improvement for Cory Robertson, who tells UploadVR that he initially envisioned the sandbox superhero sim throughout his time at Columbia College.
“Venture Demigod started whereas I used to be nonetheless at Columbia, both in 2017 or 2018. As quickly as I had seen that VR had lastly turn into a factor, the factor we might all been ready for since we have been youngsters, I jumped into it wholeheartedly,” he tells me over a video name.
Since beginning the mission, Roberston’s principally dealt with this alone, with Quick Journey Video games taking up publishing duties in August 2023, whereas finally hiring two full-time artists final October. As a solo developer in an rising discipline the place VR conventions are nonetheless being established, he calls this a “large problem.”
It’s important to put on plenty of hats, study simply sufficient about 100 topics to be ok to implement it. VR presents its personal challenges as a result of it is a quickly evolving discipline. Software program, plugins and recreation engines are consistently being up to date, not at all times for the higher. There’s been many unexpected hurdles that I’ve navigated over the previous couple of years however it’s been good as a result of I actually get pleasure from studying new issues. Each time I study one thing new, I add it to the sport and Venture Demigod is that a lot better.
Robertson explains Venture Demigod took place as a mixture of two issues – his love of superheroes, alongside frustrations relating to what he considers a scarcity of participant freedom in online game fight.
“There’s a spectrum the place you’ve Blade and Sorcery at one finish, whereas World of Warcraft combat animations are the identical factor each single time, it doesn’t matter what you do,” Robertson continues, explaining he wished extra stylized reactions when enemies are attacked. This then progressed by utilizing powers in several methods, like making enemies explode upwards by throwing fireballs at their toes.
As somebody who’s but to go hands-on, I queried how Venture Demigod has modified for the reason that preliminary launch. “Evening and day,” Robertson replies, who defined it has been consistently altering all through early entry. “I launched it on Steam as an early launch primarily to see what individuals thought, there have been perhaps 3 or 4 powers and quite simple enemies,” he elaborates.
In its present state, Venture Demigod is solely a sandbox expertise. Robertson in contrast it to Blade & Sorcery, solely with a heavy superhero powers focus and “a a lot greater emphasis on a much bigger world.” Beforehand, he talked about trying right into a solo marketing campaign with a storyline and development on the Steam Early Entry FAQ; I requested if that is nonetheless being thought-about.
“It’s. We’re form of at a bizarre level in that there is so many potential options with the sport that we will see going ahead. It is nearly time, effort and which course we will go in. So, that is a bit up within the air. We’ve some plans and designs however proper now, it is purely a sandbox.”
So, what’s it about at present’s replace that made Robertson label this the total launch?
“We lastly got here to a degree the place we wished to have a longtime 1.0, that is the sport’s baseline… we really feel like we’re at a extremely good place now with alternative in powers, enemies and optimization,” he explains, although there’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go. “I’ve a few thousand concepts I nonetheless wish to implement.”
Whereas Model 1.0 establishes the sport’s baseline, Quick Journey Video games beforehand talked about a post-launch roadmap, so I requested what future updates may convey. Large-sized enemies are a part of this.
“I wished to discover new and totally different fight varieties. Who would not love a Superman versus Godzilla-type combat?” he tells me. Robertson additionally outlines plans to modify between day and night time in some ranges, alongside energy customizations for switching out capability colours.
Do these future plans contain further VR platforms? Robertson would not affirm something however he explains how PSVR 2 “would undoubtedly be a aim for us… it is a improbable headset and that is undoubtedly a market that I believe would really like our recreation.”
I am additionally instructed Pico is a chance.
Venture Demigod arrives at present on the Meta Quest platform and Steam for $19.99.
