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Development Updates

Dev Log and Steam Sharing

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We have started to share an insight into the development progress of Crystal Rift, We’re pretty excited about what we’ve been working on, and hope you like it.

We will keep you updated on steam and on the development over at Tig Source :

http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=44199.msg1078277#msg1078277

P.S Your sharing of Crystal Rift is making a massive difference, THANK YOU you are amazing!

It’s easy to help, just open a chat window to each of your Friends inside Steam and copy and paste the following text to each chat window, it makes it quick for them to click the link and vote! and only takes a minute, this action makes a huge difference and helps Crystal Rift make it’s way onto steam!

Hi!, I found Crystal Rift on Steam Greenlight, its a Grid Based VR Dungeon Crawler that I would love to see on Steam, please take a few seconds to watch the video and vote here: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=327390946 they need your help!

We really do need your help to get Crystal Rift on to Steam, we need so many votes (10,000!)

Thank you everyone for your amazing support!

By | Development Updates, Media Updates | No Comments

Thank you for you votes, they are really making a difference.

The feedback and comments have been amazing and we have been very busy implementing improvements, we have been out on the road this week to VR in a Bar in London, which was a great experience, and wonderful to meet people who are fans of the game or who now are.

Some more stuff happened online so here are a few bits that stood out:

Oculus tweeted about us on the 22nd: https://twitter.com/oculus
20Q with Nick: http://www.virtualrealityreviewer.com/20q-nick-pittom-neighbour-totoro-spirited-away-crystal-rift/
Oculus Hut You Tube Video:

Please take a minute and share this campaign with your friends and help us make it happen!, we really do need community support

Here’s the Crystal Rift Direct URL:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=327390946

Here is a Twitter link (You can change the text once clicked):
https://twitter.com/home?status=Please%20help%20@crystalrift%20by%20voting%20for%20%23steamgreenlight%20now%20http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=327390946

Here are some pictures you can use: http://www.crystalrift.com/screens/

And if you could post to your Facebook friends and other social networks that would be amazing!

In-Game Editor FAQ’s

By | Development Updates | One Comment

Q: Can I edit maps inside VR?

A: Absolutely, just look at where you want to place your building block and place it.

Q: Will you be using Steam Workshop?

A: It’s our intention, we need to be on Stream first so please vote, we don’t know the process yet, but we will do everything we can to enable this great function.

Q: Do I need to compile the Maps?

A: No, everything is real-time, just place the block and it works.

Q: Can I change the speed of the Fireballs, Minecarts, Rain and Spikes?

A: Yes, you have a 1 to 100% speed setting for all those things and many more blocks.

Q: Was the current demo made in the Editor?

A: Yes it was, it’s a dream come true to edit maps in real time and just test things out.

Q: Can I lay my own minecart tracks?

A: Yes, you just need a start block and off you go, we lots of different track options including cross overs, and you can choose the speed of the Minecart.

Q: Can I make my own assets?

A: Not yet, but we are working very hard on making this possible.

Q: Can I do multiple things from 1 button/pressure plate?

A: Yes, you can trigger, door changes, fireballs, sounds, scares and many more all at once if you wish.

Q: Can I choose the torch/fireball colors?

A: Yes, quite a few blocks have color options you can change.

Q: Can I change the torch brightness?

A: Yes.

Q: How big can I make my levels?

A: Very, 50×50 is the default size and the minimum is 5×5 but the maximum is huge, you can also have unlimited size by stitching levels together with stairs or teleports.

Q: Can I share my levels/game?

A: Yes, anyone with the full version of the game will be able to play your levels or full dungeon.

Q: Can I name my Dungeon?

A: Yes, we will make it easy for people to play your dungeon.

Q: Can I set the re-spawn locations?

A: Yes, you could just have 1 re-spawn if you wish, or pace the came how you want to.

Q: Can I put my own text on signs?

A: Yes, any text you wish, make your own story.

Q: Am I limited to Dungeon Blocks?

A: We are busy creating multiple environments, watch this space.

Q: Can I use my own sounds?

A: Watch this space.

Q: I’m excited can I suggest a feature?

A: Please do!, comment on this thread we want this game to be your game.

New Demo and Steam Greenlight Campaign

By | Development Updates, Media Updates, Oculus Rift Updates, Releases | No Comments

We are proud to be part of an amazing VR indie community and happy to announce that our Steam Greenlight campaign is now live, along with a new VR alpha demo, which contains significant additions and improvements.

Vote for Crystal Rift on Greenlight at http://www.crystalrift.com/greenlight/

CrystalRift-GreenlightScreenshot-03a

A new Crystal Rift Aplha 7 (Greenlight) demo for Oculus Rift DK2 0.4.2 is available at http://www.crystalrift.com/download/

Jon Hibbins (Crystal Rift) and Nick Pitton (Spirited Away ‘Boiler Room’ and My Neighbour Totoro ‘Bus Stop Scene’) partner to work on Crystal Rift.

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Jon says “Nick and I just hit it off from our first meet, we both share the vision of redefining the square based dungeon experience, and we have a clear idea of what we want to achieve. It’s exciting times for us and VR. With Nick’s expertise in design and storytelling, we look forward to further developing the game and the world of Crystal Rift.”

Nick comments “I was impressed with the experience of Crystal Rift and what Jon had achieved with it. The game, as I saw it was both fun and also extremely suitable for and comfortable in VR. I felt the potential for the game was awesome and saw a way that I could offer a lot to the game.”

A new Crystal Rift Aplha 6 demo for Oculus Rift DK2 0.4.2 is available at http://www.crystalrift.com/download/ and the Steam Greenlight campaign will Launch in October.

Find our more at http://www.crystalrift.com/ or follow us @crystalrift on Twitter

About Crystal Rift

Crystal Rift is an experiential horror challenge game developed primarily for virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift. It was inspired by classic games such as Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder with square based movement.

An immersive virtual reality experience, Crystal Rift will be released with a number of levels to provide hours of gameplay. The in-game virtual reality editor allows users the ability create and share their content, further extending the game’s lifespan.

The latest demo of the game can be found at http://www.crystalrift.com/download/ for Windows and OSX.

Preorders are expected to be made available in late 2014, including Beta Test process with early adopter availability. A full release of the game is planned for Summer 2015.

Upon release we hope to be on Steam, GOG and other online stores.

We are proud to be an Indie Developed game:

About Jon Hibbins

Jon Hibbins has over 25 years of experience designing and writing games and enterprise business software. His first published game “Squigs” appeared in the Amiga Power Magazine on the September 1993 coverdisk which has also recently been updated and released on the IOS platform. He released one of the first ever HTML editors, Enhanced HTML, has developed a successful and growing bucket list social network, PopClogs, and is CTO for iVPlatform, a world leading digital voucher company. He is now excited to be working on the cutting edge of virtual reality design projects.

About Nick Pitton

Nick worked as a freelancer for 10 years on Video, Animation, VFX and CG for a diverse range of Film, TV, Games and Marketing outlets. Over the years he has directed numerous music videos and In 2012 Nick wrote and directed his first short film, ‘PROTO’, which he also edited and produced many of the VFX on. In 2013 Nick purchased an Oculus Rift development kit producing a series of VR demos, including the Spirited Away Boiler Room and My Neighbour Totoro Bus Stop Scene. In 2014 he set up Fire Panda LTD and launched a Kickstarter campaign for “RedOfPaw’s Big Stupid VR Adventure and American Pie”, from which he intends to create a VR adventure game. He currently lives in Suffolk, UK, with his soon to be wife and their daughter.

Press Assets and Other Game Information

The Crystal Rift Website is at http://www.crystalrift.com/

Download the Crystal Rift Alpha 6 demo at http://www.crystalrift.com/download/
Download Web Based Screenshots at http://www.crystalrift.com/screens/
Download High Resolution Screenshots and Logos at http://www.crystalrift.com/press/

Our Twitter account is @crystalrift
Our Youtube channel is https://www.youtube.com/user/CrystalRiftGame

Contact us at info@crystalrift.com

Crystal Rift – Alpha 6 Demo: Fireballs, Menus and a Surprise

By | Development Updates, Media Updates, Oculus Rift Updates, Releases | One Comment

Crystal Rift – Alpha 6 Demo release for Oculus DK2 0.4.2

Fireballs

Crystal Rift is an experiential horror challenge game developed primarily for virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift. It was inspired by classic games such as Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder with square based movement.

Download Crystal Rift DK2 Alpha 6

Change Log:
The map has changed again giving a longer demo and more of a challenge
Fireballs
Game Menus
A Number Improved Textures and Models
Sounds
Plank Pits
More puzzles
Show your FPS (F Key)
A Surprise ride near the end
Lots and Lots of minor improvements and bug fixes

Please read the included Readme for game keys and launch instructions

Enjoy…

Crystal Rift DK2 Alpha 5 Demo, spikes and optional scares

By | Development Updates | One Comment

Crystal Rift – Alpha 5 Demo release for Oculus DK2 0.4.1

Spikes

Crystal Rift is a square base dungeon crawling Oculus Rift Game for Windows, Unix and OSX inspired by Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder.

Download Crystal Rift DK2 Alpha 5

Change Log:
The map has grown again giving a longer demo and adding a few more features
Optional Scares (Press the L key before starting, the heartbeat should stop along with the scares)
More Light Colours
Improved fog
Spikes crushers
More speed optimisations to improve framerates, please read the README for more info
Lots and Lots of minor improvements

Please read the included Readme for game keys and launch instructions

Enjoy…

Procedural Maze Generation (Dev Diary)

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Hi,

I’ve been playing around with the idea of Procedural Maze Generation, researching Maze generation types and studying games that do this.

Primarily I want this for the editor so people don’t have to start with a blank canvas every time (although this option will remain), I like the idea of including lots of Maze Generation algorithms

My Plan is to do the following :

  • Aldous-Broder Algorithm
  • Binary Tree
  • Eller’s Algorithm
  • Growing Tree
  • Hunt and Kill
  • Kruskal’s Algorithm
  • Prim’s Algorithm
  • Recursive Backtracker
  • Recursive Division
  • Sidewinder
  • Unicursal
  • Wilson’s Algorithm

So far I have implemented all the core requirements ready to extend for each type and Growing Tree is working fine and creates solvable and interesting mazes.

Procedural Maze Generation

I plan a 3 phase Procedural maze generator…

Phase 1: Generate – Use one of the above algorithms to generate the basic Maze based on a number of parameters, must include a start and end.

Phase 2: Populate – Place preset Room’s, some could be preset puzzles, skills, mine carts or layouts that fit into the maze, I plan to allow creation of these prefabs in the editor too, and save them for re-use.

Phase 3: Decorate – Process the maze to make it look good, add lights, pits, wall decorations etc

This should give a random and unique playable level with plenty of surprises, I imagine that this will give level editors a really good kick start to a layout that can then be optimised, I may also include a ‘Play a Random Dungeon’ as a bonus in the final game, exploring the truly unknown should be quite fun.

Crystal Rift DK2 Alpha 4 Demo, no Flat Walls and Waterfalls

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Crystal Rift – Alpha 4 Demo release for Oculus DK2 0.4.1

Crystal Rift is a square base dungeon crawling Oculus Rift Game for Windows, Unix and OSX inspired by Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder.

Download Crystal Rift DK2 Alpha 4

Change Log:
All textures now have depth maps and have been improved, no more flat wall textures here…
The map has grown again giving a longer demo
I have added Waterfalls
New Light Colours
Improved Animations
Spikes in the pits
Very large pits (Fear of Heights inducing)
More puzzles
Many speed optimisations to improve framerates
Lots and Lots of minor improvements

Please read the included Readme for game keys and launch instructions

Enjoy…

Crystal Rift Alpha 4 Waterfalls

Crystal Rift Alpha 4 Waterfalls