bmxride3Chances are, if you remember virtual reality’s first, ultimately abortive attempt to gain traction back in the 90s, you’ll also be a child of the 80s. This means you lived through (and survived) drainpipe jeans, luminous socks, Footloose, Ronald Reagan and BMX Bikes. The latter of course never really went away and found it’s place among fans across the world where the specific type of cycling style lives on.

A small team of developers who still hold a burning passion for the sport are working on what they call “a physics based BMX game”, which might not inspire much enthusiasm in you, gaming history is replete with examples of the genre. Except this particular example, named ‘BMXRide’, promises Oculus Rift support. And to demonstrate how this looks, the team have released a video from an early alpha version of the game – and it certainly looks like an ambitious attempt at bringing a gaming style almost universally represented in the 3rd person.

bmxride2The results, as you can see from the video above, are certainly interesting – with your BMX riding avatar negotiating various themed obstacles and even pulling off some tricks. It does seem to me that tackling any sort of cycle riding in VR without positional tracking is going to be pretty tough and given that your centre of gravity and body orientation is constantly changing, probably spells a recipe for simulator sickness. Nevertheless, I’m intrigued and look forward to seeing where this goes.

For now, any other details are thin on the ground but the games website does state that an alpha version of the game will be released in August – whether or not this will include the Oculus Rift support demonstrated above is unclear however.

SEE ALSO
Meta is Killing off Virtual Pet 'Bogo' & 'Dead and Buried' Series This Week

We’ll keep an eye on the title and in the mean time, you can check out BMX Ride’s website here.

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.


Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.
  • MadisV

    By the looks of the demo, they are also trying to cover the biketrials niche. The playground seems straight from an awesome trials movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3xVOs7_No

    *Off to build a dedicated game controller*

  • Bill Cory

    I would be interested in a simulator that had a feedback system including seat and handlebars/ brakes etc. This system could also be used to simulate snowmobile, ATV, motocross, etc. Potential to revolutionize gaming if made reasonably affordable.