Category: Video Games

Rescue the Dinosaurs in Epic New VR-Based ‘Jurassic World’ Game Hitting ‘Dave and Busters’ June 14th!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

On June 22nd, the Park is gone – but Isla Nublar will live on in a epic new VR based videogame hitting arcades soon!

The new interactive cinematic adventure will hit over 100 ‘Dave and Busters’ locations on June 14th, and will put players into a living and breathing Jurassic World. Taking place before the latest sequel, players will be tasked with capturing the various dinosaurs freely roaming the island prior to its volcanic based extinction. The game is sure to provide all thrills and awe inspiring moments synonymous with Jurassic Park, and we cannot wait to go hands on!

Check out the full press release below:

Universal and The Virtual Reality Company (VRC) today announced Jurassic World VR Expedition, an interactive cinematic virtual reality (VR) game that transports players to the visually stunning jungles of Isla Nublar, where fans will engage in an epic rescue adventure inspired by the Jurassic World film series. Jurassic World VR Expedition makes its debut on June 14 at more than 100 Dave & Buster’s entertainment centers, making it the biggest location-based VR launch to date. The VR game launches ahead of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which arrives in theaters on June 22, 2018.

The VRC development team includes several Academy Award®-winning and -nominated animators, visual effects artists, and technicians. Written and directed by James Lima, a multi-Emmy Award-nominated visual effects artist, and executive produced by VRC co-founders Robert Stromberg, a two-time Academy Award winner®, and entertainment executive Guy Primus, Jurassic World VR Expedition boasts an all-new approach to VR.

Up to four people at a time can put on an HTC VIVE™ headset and enter the Dave & Buster’s state-of-the-art VR motion simulator, where they will be transported into what remains of Jurassic World for a five-minute suspenseful, awe-inspiring expedition. There, they will rescue dinosaurs that were freely roaming Isla Nublar at the end of the last chapter of Jurassic World.

“Jurassic World VR Expedition is the ultimate wish fulfilled,” said Jurassic World VR Expedition Director James Lima. “We wanted to take people to Isla Nublar and visit Jurassic World, and here is where the power of VR presents its potential as a medium that is an extension of the film.”

“What we have done for this project is groundbreaking,” added The Virtual Reality Company Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Robert Stromberg. “It represents a remarkable departure from the traditional approach to combining VFX and gameplay in VR. To achieve the level of cinematic visual integrity we would like to see in VR, we integrated a variety of filmmaking techniques to help complement established entertainment software approaches.”

Jurassic World VR Expedition is the latest in a strategic expansion by Universal into gaming. Last year, Universal announced a significant build-up of its games team, as well as a more active approach and investment into game development. Jurassic World VR Expedition is the first VR production being released that is part of a bold portfolio of games rolling out in 2018 and beyond.

“For many, this will be their wondrous introduction to VR, and Jurassic World VR Expedition will transport fans in a more immersive way than they could imagine. Players will experience the dinosaurs—both the majestic and terrifying—first person,” said Chris Heatherly, Executive Vice President of Games and Digital Platforms, Universal Brand Development. “We are thrilled with the breathtaking visuals and cinematic experience that VRC has delivered, as well as by Dave & Buster’s bold step to make this experience available to such a broad audience.”

“The exclusive launch of Jurassic World VR Expedition at all Dave & Buster’s locations represents an incredible milestone for us as we aim to be at the forefront of location-based entertainment VR,” said Kevin Bachus, Senior Vice President, Entertainment & Games Strategy, Dave & Buster’s. “Our innovative, top-of-the-line simulators will provide fans with next-level immersion, putting them into Jurassic World for a breathtaking journey alongside the biggest creatures this world has ever known.”

Eager to try the latest Jurassic game installment? It makes its debut at the Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom Fan Fest June 13th, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Learn more about the Fan Fest venue here! To try Jurassic World VR Expedition eslewhere, players can find a Dave & Buster’s location in their area or through Vive’s Demo Locator. The game will be rolling out soon to additional location-based VR venues worldwide.

According to Variety, ‘in the coming months, VRC plans to work on refining “Jurassic World VR Expedition” with additional iterations, and also bring it to other locations both in the U.S. and internationally. The ultimate plan is to turn “Jurassic World VR Expedition” into a ride with longevity, said Robert Stromberg. “These types of experiences can last for years.”

This game is not to be mistaken for the cinematic Jurassic World: Blue, a free VR based experience that takes you to Isla Nublar and allows you to view key moments of Blue’s life prior Mount Sibos volcanic eruption. Both episodes of Jurassic World: Blue are available on the Oculus store now and are not to be missed!

Are you looking forward to experiencing the Jurassic World VR Expedition game, and what other concepts would you like to see brought to life from this format? Sound off in the comments below, and stay tuned for the latest news!


Asset Out of Containment! The Indominus Rex Has Arrived in ‘Jurassic World: Evolution’!

Posted on by Alex Evans

The hybrid everybody loves to hate has finally arrived in Jurassic World: Evolution! That’s right folks, we have a new attraction; and it’s the Indominus Rex!

For those of you who need reminding, the Indominus was the love child of Henry Wu in Jurassic World. A killer blend of Velociraptor and T. rex, it is known infamously as the creature that took down Jurassic World!

With a bullet proof hide and psychopathic tendencies, it will surely be a force to contain in the game. Perhaps you’d better put A.C.U. on alert now?

In case you missed it, we visited Frontier’s Offices in Cambridge (Hey! Isn’t that where Nedry’s people are?) and got talk to the people building the game! Check out our video below:

Jurassic World: Evolution launches next week! Will you be playing? Comment below!

An Exclusive Look Inside of Jurassic World: Evolution

Posted on by Jack

Dream it. Build it. Survive it. Do you remember that tagline? It’s quite simple really, and perfectly summarises what a park building game is, and especially what Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis was.

That game was loved – and still is, and fifteen years later we are set to receive the new generation’s version of this game. Jurassic World: Evolution.

A week ago, Alex and myself were lucky enough to visit Frontier Developments in Cambridge and meet with many of the team that are developing this upcoming park-building game. We saw the game in it’s final stages of development and met with various members of the animation team, the creative team, the sound team, who are now putting those crucial final touches on the game.

We also had the opportunity to play the game. And that we did. For a good few hours! We played on the islands of Isla Matanceros and Isla Muerta, two of the Five Deaths island chain that sits near Isla Nublar.

While most of what we were able to play has been previously revealed, the camera mode within the Park Ranger Jeeps is something previously unseen, and I don’t believe the Dilophosaurus attacks on the park visitors has been seen before!

View our full gallery below!

We had a lot of fun at Frontier and we thoroughly enjoyed our time playing Jurassic World: Evolution! Our friends at Jurassic Unicast were also attending and have shared their own content from the day on their channel!

The game is available on Tuesday June 12 and is available on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Don’t miss out – be sure to pre-order your copy now!

Jurassic World Alive App Is Here!

Posted on by Samantha Endres

There’s a dinosaur in our backyard…
 

Jurassic World Alive is a new app that is sure to grab every dino lover’s attention. In the app, you are a member of the Dinosaur Protection Group (DPG), and you are on a mission to save the dinosaurs. Much like Pokemon Go, you explore your surroundings in search of dinosaurs. Once you track down a dinosaur, you pilot a drone and collect DNA samples from them. You can create normal dinosaurs, or pretend you’re Henry Wu and make some hybrids! After assembling a team of dinosaurs, you then head over to the battle area and face off against other players. Prizes for winning include (but aren’t limited to): coins, DNA samples, and darts for DNA collecting.

The app is now available for Android on Google Play, and for iOS in the App Store. Start hunting those dinos!

 
As mentioned above, this game is similar to Pokemon Go in a lot of ways. The game uses your location for placement of dinosaurs and supply drops, and it has warnings about being safe while playing (thanks, Owen!). The drone/firing the darts can take a little getting used to, but the controls seem very responsive. All the dinosaurs in the game have profiles that detail their battle stats, which you need to pay attention to once you step into the battle area. They start you out in the Fallen Kingdom arena, and there are different battle arenas that unlock as you win more battles! Battles get more exciting as you level up you dinos (by gathering more DNA), and mixing up your team combinations. Unlike Pokemon Go, supply drops are not always at landmarks, and they appear more frequently in suburban/rural areas.

Jurassic World: Alive also has a fun AR feature, allowing you to bring the dinosaurs you’ve captured to life in the real world via your phones camera. This creates a fun photo and video opportunity many fans are already taking advantage of!

Have you played Jurassic World Alive yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

IGN has first look at Isla Pena, the most dangerous island yet in Jurassic World: Evolution

Posted on by Josh Evans

IGN has another exclusive first look for the upcoming Jurassic World: Evolution game, this time of Isla Pena, which they deem as the most dangerous island yet.

Isla Pena is the smallest of the five islands that make up the Muertes archipelago, alongside Isla Matanceros, Muerta, Tacano and Sorna. Accordining to IGN, Pena is one of the most dangerous and challenging islands in the Jurassic World: Evolution game.

It’s one of the most challenging islands for two reasons: first, only a small area of land is suitable for development, so you really have to make every square foot count. Second, everything on Isla Pena takes place at night. Who knows why the Hammond foundation picked it as a great spot for a park full of tourists but there we are.

Some of our team members went hands on with Jurassic World: Evolution at the Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration in Hollywood, and they cannot get over the game. Check out the video for Isla Pena below!


What are your thoughts about Isla Pena being in Jurassic World: Evolution and the challenges this island present? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.

Source: IGN

IGN reveals Isla Tacano in exclusive Jurassic World: Evolution video

Posted on by Josh Evans

IGN has an exclusive look at Isla Tacano in the upcoming Jurassic World: Evolution game.

Isla Tacano is one of the five islands that make up the Muertes archipelago, alongside Isla Matanceros, Muerta, Pena and Sorna. The Jurassic World: Evolution website describes Isla Tacano as the following:

Isla Tacano is a tropical paradise and well suited for establishing your operations. The weather is generally idyllic, but it can occasionally be hit by servere storms and even twisters.


What are your thoughts about Isla Tacano being in Jurassic World: Evolution? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.

Source: IGN, Jurassic World: Evolution

Can You Survive Isla Nublar? ‘Jurassic Park: Danger’ Board Game is Out Now!

Posted on by Jack

The T. rex, the Dilophosaurus and the Velociraptor are back! You can now play through your own adventure on Isla Nublar thanks to the new board game Jurassic Park: Danger!

With thanks to the wonderful people at Ravensburger we got the chance to play the upcoming board game and experience the fun adventures that Isla Nublar has to offer.

This is a 2-5 player game – one player will control the dinosaurs, the other player(s) controlling the humans from paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant to computer programmer Dennis Nedry. The synopsis for the game is as follows:

The first visitors have arrived at Jurassic Park to see its miraculous dinosaurs firsthand. But chaos has hit Isla Nublar – the power is out, and the prehistoric creatures are on the hunt! One player controls the T. Rex, Dilophosaurus, and Velociraptor, prowling through the jungle to attack the humans. The other players team up as characters from the classic movie, struggling to get Jurassic Park back online and escape the island before they become pray!

The board game itself forms Isla Nublar when pieced together, with surrounding borders, perimeter pieces and the central ‘Start’ piece. It includes a number of iconic locations on the island including the maintenance shed, control center and visitors center.

     

The goals for the dinosaurs and humans are different – if you’re playing as the dinosaurs then your aim is to eliminate 3 human characters to win. If you’re playing as the humans, you must work together to Activate the locations (the maintenance shed etc), achieve your character’s person goal to collect the goal token, and then make it to the helicopter!

There are 10 character’s from the original movie to play as and while many would choose the heroes of Jurassic Park, the villain or even the lawyer may be a wiser choice in certain situations. Each character can use their unique ‘free action’ that helps the team reach their objective, even Dennis Nedry! Ellie Sattler’s free action is called ‘Dino Droppings’ and when played, a character in the same place on the board can return TWO of their used cards back into their pile.

     

The dinosaurs themselves are (as expected) incredibly powerful and will do whatever they can to stop the human characters leaving the island. The dinosaurs intention is to stay ahead of the humans and block them from progression at any point they can, and with the additional ‘Free Actions’ they can play, there’s a strong chance the dinosaurs with come out on top!

     

The number of characters, cards and gameplay options mens the board game itself has a big replay value with variable strategies to win!

The design and artwork designed for this game show that the designers at Ravensburger are fans of the franchise and if you’re looking for a couple of hours of fun then this is worth picking up! Jurassic Park: Danger brings back all the nostalgia from the original film and provides a fun adventure for families and friends.

     

Jurassic Park: Danger is a game for ages 10 and up, can be played by 2-5 players and the designers give an estimated game time of 50 minutes. The game is retailing for $24.99 and is available exclusively at Target. Will you be playing the game? Let us know in the comments section below!

‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Vr Experience Following Blue Surviving on the Volcanic Island Now Available!

Posted on by Chris Pugh

In a surprise announcement made at the Facebook F8 Developer Conference, Universal Pictures and Felix & Paul Studios have unveiled Jurassic World: Blue – a new VR experience that is now available!

Jurassic World: Blue (episode 1) takes place 4 years after the events of the 2015 film, which is the same time frame Fallen Kingdom takes place in, and follows Blue as she tries to survive on a now volcanic and unstable Isla Nublar. The live action environment footage was shot on location in Hawaii, with CG dinosaurs and effects done by Industrial Light and Magic creating a realistic and authentic Jurassic adventure, filled with the thrills you expect!

The first episode of Jurassic World: Blue is now available for Oculus Go and Oculus Rift – check out the full press release below, and the gallery of impressive screenshots!

Facebook F8 Developer Conference – Felix & Paul Studios, the EMMY® Award-winning creator of cinematic virtual reality experiences, and Universal Pictures today launched Jurassic World: Blue—in conjunction with the launch of the new Oculus Go standalone VR headset.

The two-part cinematic virtual reality experience was created by Felix & Paul Studios, Universal Pictures and Facebook’s Oculus—with visual effects and animation by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and sound by Headspace Studio. Directed by Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël, each chapter of Jurassic World: Blue delivers a single, continuous take, combining live-action and CG in 360° 3D—resulting in some of the longest visual-effects shots ever created.

Jurassic World: Blue is now available for Oculus Go and Oculus Rift. Episode one is launching today, and episode two is coming soon. Each of the two four-minute virtual-reality experiences was captured and produced using Felix & Paul Studios’ full-spectrum VR platform, including the studio’s proprietary, state-of the art cameras and pre- and post-production software suite.

“We’re thrilled to bring the magic of this iconic series to VR with Oculus Go. The fluid camera moves, as well as the phenomenal animation and rendering, create a sense of presence and immersion that makes Jurassic World: Blue a new high watermark in cinematic VR,” said Colum Slevin, Head of Experiences, Oculus.

Set on Isla Nublar, Jurassic World: Blue occurs four years after the catastrophic events in which Jurassic World has been abandoned and dinosaurs have overtaken the island. Amid the threat of volcanic eruption, we encounter the highly intelligent velociraptor Blue on her quest for survival. Viewers follow Blue as she hunts for food, searches for signs of fellow life, and battles some of the island’s most threatening predators…amid the imminent destruction of the island.

“Universal is excited to partner once again with Felix & Paul Studios and release our new virtual reality companion experience to the Jurassic World series,” said Austin Barker, EVP, Universal Pictures Creative Content. “Felix & Paul Studios has created a stunning experience, one that represents spectacular advancements in cinematic, narrative storytelling in VR. It’s thrilling to bring Jurassic World to life in this way.”

Jurassic World: Blue is a follow-up to 2015’s highly acclaimed VR experience Jurassic World: Apatosaurus, co-produced by Felix & Paul Studios, Universal and Oculus.

“Jurassic World: Blue invites viewers to immerse themselves in what it would feel like to be in close proximity with those stunning creatures—with the mixture of striking beauty and fear that accompanies this unique VR experience,” said Félix Lajeunesse, creative director and co-founder of Felix & Paul Studios.

Intriguingly, these screenshots answer some burning questions about the Jurassic World dinosaur lore – we can see a fresh egg filled nest, as well as a baby Triceratops, confirming that not all Jurassic World dinosaurs are female, and they are breeding in the wild. Further, there appears to be a dead Parasaurolophus in the one image near the nest, providing some hope that the species will indeed appear in Fallen Kingdom, in spite of prior evidence otherwise.

You can download Jurassic World: Blue for free from the Oculus Go store here, and from the Oculus Rift store here! If you don’t have a VR headset, fret not, as BestinSlot on YouTube recorded his experience with the VR film:

Do you have a VR headset, and if so, what do you want Jurassic World: Blue to offer? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for everything Jurassic!


Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong Join the Cast of ‘Jurassic World Evolution’!

Posted on by Jack

Dream it… build it… survive it! If having the voice of Dr. Ian Malcolm easing you through the upcoming video game Jurassic World Evolution wasn’t enough, fans can now rejoice with the announcement that both Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong have joined the cast!

In an announcement by the developers themselves, the two actors will reprise their roles as Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu in the upcoming game:

Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV), in partnership with Universal, today announced Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong will reprise their roles as Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu, respectively, in the upcoming video game, Jurassic World Evolution. They join Jeff Goldblum – as Dr. Ian Malcolm – in an all-new story that touches on key characters and events from across the Jurassic film franchise as players attempt to successfully build and run their own Jurassic World.

Jurassic World Evolution places players in control of operations on the legendary island of Isla Nublar and the surrounding islands of the Muertes Archipelago. Players will build their own Jurassic World as they bioengineer new dinosaur breeds and construct attractions, containment and research facilities. Every choice leads to a different path and spectacular challenges arise when “life finds a way.”

Both characters play vital roles in the upcoming sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and will no doubt provide excellent commentary through the Evolution video game.

Jurassic World Evolution will release digitally first on June 12 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with the physical release dropping two weeks later on July 3 2018. Be sure to pre-order the game now to avoid disappointment!

Will you be building your own park this Summer? Let us know in the comments section below!

Dive Into Jurassic World: Evolution With These New Gameplay Videos!

Posted on by Jack

Are you ready to step into John Hammond’s shoes and build your own Jurassic Park? On June 12th you can do just that – and as of today you can pre-order Jurassic World: Evolution!

A couple of weeks back the developers behind the upcoming Jurassic World: Evolution game held an event at the Universal backlot, showcasing the game and all it has to offer. Along with the reveal that Jeff Goldblum’s character Dr. Ian Malcolm will feature in the game, many YouTube personalities were offered the chance to experience the game and play it for themselves, and today the embargo was lifted.

The game itself is very similar to ‘Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis’, featuring deep and engaging park simulator gameplay. The staging ground for the game is the Las Cinco Muertes (five deaths) island chain plus Isla Nublar. Each island features a unique environment, with unique weather patterns, each of which factor into the way the game plays, such as environmental hazards threatening the park, or dinosaur happiness/comfort.

To build your park you need to build roads to each building, power stations and power lines which run to the various facilities. Each building can be placed at your leisure if you have them unlocked, and costs in game cash – further the buildings can be upgraded to offer more advanced features. To breed dinosaurs, you need the appropriate facility which you build into a fenced in paddock – from there, you choose the dinosaur you wish to breed, and after a incubation period, they pop on out!

The dinosaurs however must first have their genetic material discovered and decoded from various dig sites across the world. Send out an expedition, see what they find, and decode the DNA from there! The game is launching with over 40 species (no word if that’s 40 real species plus hybrids, or 40 with hybrids) and each dinosaur has unique subspecies variation depicted by different color schemes.

Keeping your dinosaurs happy and healthy is key – you need to build appropriate feeding stations, bodies of water, and allow them to range in their preferred environment. Some species will become angry or sad if they are left alone, such as Struthiomimus, and thrive with entire pack of their kin. Should a dinosaur break free, you can fly the helicopters yourself, and then tranq the dinosaurs via third person shooting mechanic – further, you can also drive the jeeps in a third person view! Taking care of dinosaur breakouts is key, as if you’re not careful, they will eat or kill guests (or other dinosaurs)!

Best of all, as the game plays out, Dr. Ian Malcolm continues to express his sassy skepticism of what you’re doing, his distaste for InGen and a dinosaur theme park overwhelming apparent.

Check out the early previews from those who got the chance to play it which are very positive, praising the games graphics, features and all round style, with Mashable claiming “Jurassic World Evolution is the dino video game of our childhood dreams”

Jurassic Park fans and YouTube gamers BestInSlot and TheGamingBeaver have uploaded their gameplay videos which you can watch below:

You can read more about Jurassic World: Evolution on the official website, as well as digitally pre-order it on Xbox, Playstation 4, and Steam. Physical pre-orders will be available at a later date, which we will be sure to share details of!

Are you excited for Jurassic World: Evolution, and what system will you be picking it up on? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!