Editing Update 22

==Messing around with VR==
[[posted_on::Feb 27 2015]]

[[Image:update_JeffVR.jpg]]
::''Jeff having fun with VR''

Many of you have been asking about VR for ''Underworld Ascendant''. On our forum survey, over 40% say they have extremely strong or strong interest in this technology. That’s higher than we’d anticipated, especially considering the limited availability of VR these days. VR would be a natural fit for ''Underworld Ascendant'' for sure, as the game’s experience is rooted in deep immersion.

In fact, we have been working with an Oculus Rift developer kit. We’ve only spent a day so far experimenting with the kit on ''Underworld Ascendant'', but already the prototype is running with full Oculus Rift support.

Playing it myself, it’s pretty darn cool! In the chamber shown in the prototype with the rickety wooden bridge over the pit of lava, I actually hesitated for a few moments, before stepping out over the void.

[[Image:update_VRLava.jpg]]
::''Peering down into the lava pit Peering down into the lava pit''

VR holds great potential for us. However, a lot more goes into a great VR experience than simply getting a headset hooked up. For instance, it’s challenging to move through a 3D fantasy world while looking around in VR, while at the same time being in control of your character. To our knowledge, the hardware controllers / interfaces to make this all seamless have as yet to perfected. Also, the generation of VR headset that we are experimenting with does not support the combination of high-frame rates and high-resolution that we feel are needed to deliver a truly immersive experience we would be after for ''Underworld Ascendant''. The upcoming generation of VR hardware promises to deliver on this front.

Then there are a bunch of details, such as supporting a user interface through VR, which is somewhat different than doing it well on a LCD monitor.

Finally, we are well aware that VR hardware, and a sufficiently powerful PC and graphics card to drive it, don’t come cheap. Most who play ''Underworld Ascendant'' would not have access to VR, at least not for a few years to come. So even if we were to support VR, it is essential that the game play wonderfully well without VR.

On a side note, some of us actually did VR headset support at LookingGlass in 1996. This was the first generation of consumer VR, and we experimented using it for ''Terra Nova'' and ''Flight Unlimited''. We quickly concluded the technology was far from ready.

Anyway, based on these considerations we are not prepared to make a decision yet as to if we might support VR for ''Underworld Ascendant''. We will be staying on top of upcoming advances in the technology, and spending a bit more time doing experiments over the coming months. But until we get to a point where we are confident that the hardware is ready, and that we could deliver a great experience, we need to wait and see.

We will continue to solicit feedback from our fans to help gauge interest, and keep you up to date with any new VR developments. We might put out a prototype with VR support to get more direct feedback down the line.

===Announcements===

As of this morning, we have reached over $595,000 in funding, and 10,500 backers. Yesterday was our best day since the first week of the campaign. A bunch of you stepped up to higher pledge tiers, and we’re incredibly grateful for your support. Also a lot more folks joined our community.

If this pace keeps up we’ll reach the $600,000 base funding later today, which would be phenomenal! We are as eager as we can be to dive into the stretch goals. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

On a side note, the new [[Digital Protagonist]] pledge tier seems popular. We did see a few folks who had stepped down from a higher pledge tier express regret that they were now funding the game less. Just so that they are aware, they can increase their pledge by adding on to the tier amount, either to put some money aside to get some Add-Ons, or simply to pledge more.

[[Image:UA_JabberingBertha.png|link=Jabbering Bertha]]

We have a new character to introduce, [[Jabbering Bertha]]. It turns out that [[Chattering Bart|Bart]] had a wife. After Bart was turned into a chattering skull, his soon to be deceased wife insisted she too would be. The two can talk up a storm! Sadly, Jabbering Bertha got separated from Bart. Indeed, taken through a portal to the land of the ''Shroud of the Avatar''. For any players who get Bertha as a $5 digital Add-On in both games, the two will be reunited, and swap some unique quips. Not only that, but Bertha will put on her lipstick for Bart. Please just don’t make any ‘lipstick on a pig’ jokes, Bertha can be sensitive about her looks.

Today I wanted to introduce you to another member of our team, Joe Fielder. Joe spent some years at Electronic Arts as a designer, writer and producer on the ''Medal of Honor'' series. More recently he did much of the dialog for ''BioShock Infinite''. Joe is doing narrative design in ''Underworld Ascendant''. He speaks for himself:

{{#widget:YouTube|id}}

Joe has also written a blog post, on how narrative can work in an open world game like Underworld Ascendant. Take a [http://www.underworldascendant.com/the-game/dev-updates.php READ].

[[Image:Orphan.jpg|link=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/windyhillstudio/orphan]]

Finally, I wanted to call your attention to another game that is looking to break new ground in an established genre. The folks over at Windy Hill Studio are taking the 2D platformer to new heights with ''Orphan''.  They are in the final days of their Kickstarter, so head on over and check them out.

[[Paul Neurath]]

==External Links==
* [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/othersidegames/underworld-ascendant/posts/1148942 Kickstarter Update]
[[Category:Update|Update 22]]