Los Angeles-based VR studio Survios has continued to improve its ‘adrenaline platformer’ Sprint Vector since its reveal at GDC 2017 in March, adding weapons, powerups and new movement systems. Detailed in a press release at E3 2017, the game is set to launch for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift and Touch by the end of the year.

The new game from the creators of Raw Data (2016) is another showcase of their ‘Active VR’ philosophy, employing an innovative, nausea-avoiding Fluid Locomotion System to navigate at high speeds around a virtual environment. Using motion controllers to track ‘sprinting’ arm movements (along with jumping, climbing, and Superman-style flying), players propel themselves forward in an intuitive, momentum-based way, described by the developers as ‘intended motion’. While artificial locomotion techniques are often used as a substitute for physically moving around, in this case the game requires significant physical exertion in order to be competitive, and is intended for room-scale spaces.

image courtesy Survios

Our hands-on at GDC was very positive; an ‘incredibly fun’ game with breakthrough controls for VR locomotion. Since then, the developers have enhanced the movement with new drift and wall-running mechanics, as well as adding weapons, items and power-ups for more ways to influence the outcome of a race. Along with a standard blasting ability to ‘destroy environmental obstacles’, players can periodically grab two new items, ‘Nitro’ (boosting your speed) and ‘Slow Mines’ (dropped behind to slow your opponents). Additional power-ups, weapons, levels, and playable characters will be revealed in the coming months.

Much like Raw Data, the studio has taken solid gameplay mechanics and combined them with a distinctive style and personality – in this case a ‘bombastic spacepunk world’ where you’ll step into the shoes of a diverse range of playable characters, participating in a gameshow hosted by a robot called Mr. Entertainment, who provides amusing running commentary. The game also features cross-platform multiplayer support for up to eight players.

SEE ALSO
'Vi' Wants You to Build Muscle with XR Gloves & (eventually) Its Fitness-first Headset

Survios is showcasing Sprint Vector alongside Raw Data at their E3 booth this week, and has opened a sign-up page for the beta test.

Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


The trial version of Microsoft’s Monster Truck Madness probably had something to do with it. And certainly the original Super Mario Kart and Gran Turismo. A car nut from an early age, Dominic was always drawn to racing games above all other genres. Now a seasoned driving simulation enthusiast, and former editor of Sim Racer magazine, Dominic has followed virtual reality developments with keen interest, as cockpit-based simulation is a perfect match for the technology. Conditions could hardly be more ideal, a scientist once said. Writing about simulators lead him to Road to VR, whose broad coverage of the industry revealed the bigger picture and limitless potential of the medium. Passionate about technology and a lifelong PC gamer, Dominic suffers from the ‘tweak for days’ PC gaming condition, where he plays the same section over and over at every possible combination of visual settings to find the right balance between fidelity and performance. Based within The Fens of Lincolnshire (it’s very flat), Dominic can sometimes be found marvelling at the real world’s ‘draw distance’, wishing virtual technologies would catch up.