Crytek Executive Producer on Combining Presence, Gameplay, & Adventure in ‘The Climb’

I didn’t expect that a VR rock-climbing game that used neck thrusts as one of the primary locomotion mechanics would be as immersive or fun as it was, but I was really impressed with the level of immersion and presence that I felt while playing Crytek’s The Climb, which was recently released for the Oculus Rift.

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There was something really satisfying to reaching the vista and enjoying the amazing view after climbing up the metaphoric and virtual mountain side. A lot of the game mechanics of a first-person rock climbing game translates really well to strengths of VR as a medium and provides an overall compelling and exhilarating experience. I had a chance to catch up with Crytek executive producer Elijah Freeman at the Oculus Game Days event at GDC to learn more about how they cultivated a sense of presence, evolved the gameplay, and got a lot of feedback from actual rock climbers who were a part of the production of the game.

Here’s a trailer from Oculus to promote The Climb & the Rift:

And here’s the launch trailer for The Climb

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Music: Fatality & Summer Trip