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If you’re looking for some new games to keep your teens entertained, look no further! Here are 5 Meta Quest games that are sure to please. Each one is recommended by teens who knows what’s hot right now. So put down the phones and tablets, and get your (VR) family game on!

Note: You can read our report about VR safety for kids.

Beat Saber

Buy Beat Saber here

Imagine, dual-wielding light sabers, while red and blue boxes are rapidly flying toward you, your goal, cut the boxes in half. Now imagine that but with epic music in the background. The main premise cutting boxes to the rhythm of the music. with many styles of music from pop to county to rock there is a style for everyone. There is also a campaign that gives special win conditions for different levels in different difficulties, such as moving your hands a certain distance or only having a certain number of misses or incorrect cuts. In addition it also gives you a good arm workout and feels like you have actually been swinging around lightsabers at high speed. Doesn’t that sound fun? If it does, Beat Saber is the game for you. If it isn’t, your insane. Beat saber is a VR rhythm game where you’re trying to cut boxes out of the air, and its amazing.

Super Hot VR

Buy Super Hot VR here

If you have ever watched the Matrix and wanted to do that cool bullet time thing, SUPERHOT is the perfect game. Time only moves when you move, and only moves at the speed you move, making it an amazing puzzle shooter, where it makes you feel like an action movie star bobbing and weaving between an onslaught of bullets. Superhot forces you to pay attention to not moving at all when you assess a situation, while doing so moving around locations where you can throw weapons to yourself just before moving to that next location. It also has you make do with what is around you to defend yourself and attack the enemy. Fighting with everything from wine bottles and ashtrays, to ninja stars, to pistols and machine guns.

Moss

Buy Moss here

Moss is a third-person action game where you guide a mouse through a wildlife adventure. With beautiful graphics, fast-paced combat, and Zelda style puzzles, Its one of the best VR games for new players, as it takes a familiar genre, and puts it into a new perspective. Check out the impressions from the E3 Team in 2017 here.

Job Simulator

Buy Job Simulator here

Job Simulator is a physics-based VR game that is a basic simulation of how jobs work narrated and lead by JobBot. There are four jobs to choose from, office worker, gourmet chef, auto mechanic, and convenience store clerk. It uses floating CRT monitors to simulate people and interact with them, and it allows you to just mess with everything if you want. everything has physics and throwing things at the robots will cause them to respond. The tasks you are given range from giving a presentation to your coworkers to being on TV with CookBot Ramsey. It is a fun game you you can play for countless hours, changing different things every time, or going into infinite overtime narrated and lead by TempBot, which is and endless mode with countless other things to do. These things range from playing silly knockoff games on the computer, like flappy bot, to supping up a bots car for a street race.

Cooking Simulator

Buy Cooking Simulator here

Cooking simulator VR takes the chaos of working in a kitchen, but makes it harder by giving you semi-realistic physics. A super fast-paced, and chaotic physics game. It’s a must-have for those who like bringing their headset to parties, and like social games. In the story mode it is your job to take orders and turn a 1 star restaurant into a 5 star restaurant, with one catch, you are by yourself, and are taking multiple orders at a time. There is a time constraint. or you can play in free play and make whatever you like, refining your skills to that of a professional cook. It also allows you to find and learn how to make real recipes (with the exception of how much time they take to make) and gives you all the tools to make almost whatever food you want. With several locations/kitchens to cook in and explore.


This article was created with contributions from Isaac Wrobel

Photo Credits: Isaac Wrobel


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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With the new PSVR (PlayStation VR) headset on the way to players all over the world, virtual reality is on the forefront of parents’ minds. The world of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) is fascinating and, in all fairness, kind of confusing. Some of these experiences aren’t just relegated to video games, either. Let’s dive into some definitions and recommendations.

Virtual Reality

Definitions

Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive experience that is accessed through a headset that covers a player’s eyes and controllers that act as haptic (to simulate the sense of touch) feedback and interactivity in the experience itself. Headsets provide a field of view (FOV), on average, between 96 and 108 degrees so it doesn’t quite mirror a human’s full FOV, but it gets close. As a result of modern VR hardware, VR allows a player to fully immerse themselves in anything from a video game to chat to movies.

Augmented reality (AR) superimposes a digital world onto the physical world, which allows players to see virtual objects in their physical environment. AR is typically accessed through a smartphone or tablet, which uses a camera to display the real world and overlay virtual objects on top of it. The best example of AR in video games would be Pokemon Go, the world’s most successful AR video game.

Augmented Reality

Mixed reality (MR) is a combination of VR and AR technology, which allows players to interact with virtual objects in a way that is tethered to the physical world. MR requires special headsets (HoloLens, Magic Leap, and nReal are best known) and many of these headsets have not been updated in at least four years. It’s supposed to create experiences that feel seamless between virtual objects and the real world in a way that AR or VR couldn’t manage alone. 

Safety 

One of the most important things to remember about virtual reality headsets is that they are not recommended for children under 13, namely due to their growing eyes and the eye strain that VR requires for everyone that uses the headsets. Though there isn’t peer-reviewed research to explore the sensory effect on children in VR, everything in virtual reality is much more vivid than they are on a flat screen. Violence in VR is particularly jarring, as are startling changes in environment or proximity. 

Mixed Reality

For children over 13, it’s important to enforce rigid time limits to minimize long-term eye strain. We recommend three hours maximum time in VR with breaks every thirty minutes to give eyes a break. 

Additionally, all VR requires enough room (8×10 rectangle of space is recommended) to move safely. The Meta Quest & Quest II require a “guardian” space to alert players when they are about to move into space that is no longer defined as “safe” within the operating system. Controllers should always be strapped and tethered to one’s wrists (like the Nintendo WiiMotes) and hands to make sure that controllers don’t get tossed across the room by accident. 
Check out EFG Essentials list for the Meta Quest. We also recommend the very adorable What the Bat?, a VR spiritual successor to What the Golf? from Triband.


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Virtual reality isn’t an emerging, fringe technology that is limited to tech nerds. These are mainstream pieces of technology that can be readily purchased at Target and Amazon. They’re cool pieces of technology that play games so it was only a matter of time before parents started asking us about virtual reality and whether or not it is safe for their kids.

We did our homework! Here are our findings!

What is Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is an immersive environment accessible through an avatar (computer representation of the player) through a set of glasses. Players can interact with a 3D space, as their avatar mimics their actions. VR can take the player to any environment imaginable and allow you to interact within that space through button pushes, movement monitoring, screen swipes, and so on. VR has the potential for education, social interaction, and gameplay combined.

Most VR glasses/headsets are recommended for children 12 years of age or older. The biggest concerns for parents in the short term will be VR sickness and eye strain.

VR Sickness

VR sickness is similar to car or motion sickness. It is caused when there is a difference between what is in your field of view and what your vestibular system detects. (The Vestibular System is the system in your inner ear that helps detect motion and to help with balance.) If your child is susceptible to either car or motion sickness then there may be a risk of VR sickness in the future. As technology progresses, there will likely be more ways to combat this, but there is no real “cure.” Most home remedies lack any real scientific backing.

VR Induced Eye Strain

Eye strain is a problem with any long-term screen usage. You can combat that with 15-minute breaks for every hour of screen time. Younger gamers may not be able to convey this to parents and require more parental supervision than others. Encourage frequent breaks, talk to your child about how they feel when and during play, and adjust their equipment for them where possible.

If your child wears glasses, then you should make sure that they fit comfortably inside the VR headset to limit discomfort.

Headaches and eyestrain could be increased for those with eye conditions. Frequent breaks can help

VR With Younger Children

VR is designed to create an immersive experience for the player. The younger the gamer, the more intense this immersion can feel. While this means younger children will often have a stronger emotional experience with VR tech. They might be scared or uncomfortable after experiencing something frightening or disorienting.

This means it will be very important for parents to talk to their kids. . Let your child tell you about their experiences and help them better understand the difference between the real world and VR.

Does this mean that children under 13 should be cut off from VR? Not necessarily. Every person is different. Monitor equipment for fit. Shorter time on the system. Talk with your children about how they feel during and after gameplay. However, because of the age limit on most headsets, content may need a closer review.

Many parents are concerned about the long-term effects of VR on developing brains and on vision. But, there is very little consensus from medical experts and manufacturers around this. This is why 12 seems to be the most common age limit among VR manufacturers six years into VR’s mass market availability. There have been a few studies done on mice and they did not demonstrate long-term effects on young mice. However, most professional advice regarding VR and kids leans towards being conservative and not using your child as a guinea pig. Every child is different so parents should use their own judgement.

VR Games and Content

Our advice regarding content for VR is the same as every other console. Parents should do their research on the VR games their kids want to play. Remember if it’s not something you would let them play in any other game setting, those rules will still apply to VR.

We do, however, recommend that new players (young and old) start with less stimulating experiences to ease their introduction to virtual reality and help them adjust to the new game style. 

Some VR games do have in-game purchases. Parents should check the parental control functions, and set limits with your child to avoid potential problems.

(Note: Check out our list of Essential VR Games for the Meta Quest.)

Safe Space

Virtual reality requires a lot of space (most of the time). Imagine your child moving around your house with a blindfold. That is going to be their real-world experience while they are in VR. Clear a space for them to play to make sure your child won’t knock into a wall, fall over a coffee table, or break your favorite vase. No setup is perfect though, so you will want to supervise them during gameplay until they are accustomed to their devices and the games they play.

Final Thoughts

VR isn’t all that different from other forms of technology that are out there. Each family needs to evaluate what works best for them. Parents can look to current research, but ultimately they need to know their children and their own comfort levels in order to make the best decisions regarding virtual reality or any other new tech.


What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!

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Sony invested a lot of money in their PlayStation VR platform before it was launched, but it hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. The headset has underperformed against modest sales expectations and many people in the industry suspected that it would be absent at E3 this year. I know I wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t there either. We were all wrong though. Sony had a massive booth at the show this year that had a TON of games in it. Below is a list of games that the EFG Staff enjoyed.

Editor’s Note: VR Games are not encouraged for younger gamers. The PSVR platform is specifically recommended for gamers age 13+.

The PSVR Games


Astro Bot: Rescue Mission

Developer: Sony Japan Studios

Platform: PSVR

Release date:Fall 2018


We got an opportunity to play this rather unique platformer utilizing the PS4 dualshock controller and the VR headset.  Moving Astro Bot around the environment to rescue is tiny robot friends was very similar to most other platformers and it took me a little while to realize what I was missing by not just simply turning my head to look around.  They made sure to use every inch of space in order to make you look around to find the correct way to get access the spots where they hide your goals. So really if you are a platform junkie with a soft spot for cute robots this might very well be the one for you.

 

Ghost Giant

Developer: Zoink

Platform: PSVR Exclusive

Release Date: TBD


This is a beautiful puzzle game coming to PSVR, you play a literal giant ghost who has been sent to help and protect a lonely, bullied boy named Louis. You interact with the world using a series of levers, knobs, and picking things up and moving them to solve problems and assist Louis. Get used to looking at everything and everywhere to find your solution.

 

Beat Saber

Developer: Hyperbolic Magnetism

Platform: PSVR, Oculus, HTC VIBE, Windows Mixed Reality

Release Date: TBD on PSVR, Out everywhere else

 

 

SPT: Space Pirate Trainer

Platform: Steam, Oculus, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality and PSVR

Developer: I-lllusions Game and Media Development

Release Date: Currently Commercially Available (Arcade licenses only)

Do you want to be Starlord?  In 2018 you can with SPT, seriously, it is Galaga in VR and the enemies shoot back at you.  Space pistols for everyone!!!!!

 

Creed: Rise to Glory

Platform: PSVR

Developer: Survious

Release Date: 2018

Guess what, boxing makes you tired, and so will Creed on PSVR.  The gameplay was solid and fluid and really did force you to use the whole virtual experience.  Just be careful of the cords as the last thing you want to do is rip the audio plugs out while trying not to get knocked to the canvas.

 

This one is VR. Just Not PSVR

HAVER (Hyper Arena VR)

Developer: Hyperbook Studio

Platform: Steam

Release Date: TBD

Tron… It’s Tron and it is just as zany and wacky as one would think a game that ostensibly looks and feels like playing in the first Tron movie.  Our team really enjoyed the dynamic movement and the speed that you could play at once you are used to the environment and controls. I mean really who does not want to hit their friend in the head by bouncing a laser-powered disk off the floor into their face.

 

What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Pixelkin.org. Make sure to check them out when you get a chance!

Ubisoft has announced a multiplayer virtual reality game called Star Trek: Bridge Crew. Ubisoft was going to be a big part of the virtual reality gold rush. They are always an experimental publisher who is willing to take risks for the sake of big rewards. With that said, I think that a Star Trek licensed VR game might be the closest thing to a sure-fire win as you can get.

If you’ll forgive me making some assumptions; I think it is more than a strong possibility that the majority of early adopters of VR technology will be fans of the Star Trek universe of one level or another. Now, I’m not saying that all of them speak Klingon fluently, but I can imagine a lot of them have dreamt of being on a starship’s bridge. Star Trek: Bridge Crew is designed to give those fans exactly that opportunity.

The game requires multiple players to put on their VR headsets and take a station on the bridge of a starship while they complete missions. They can take up position at Engineering, Security, the Helm, or the Captain’s chair. Each station has different responsibilities and they will need to communicate and cooperate in order to succeed.

The story of the game is straightforward. Players will take on roles aboard the starship U.S.S. Aegis. They will be on a mission to explore a region of uncharted space known as “The Trench.” The goal is to find a new habitable home world for the Vulcan people whose planet has been destroyed. Unfortunately, this region is very near the Klingon Empire who is, as one might predict, less than enthusiastic about this decision. The players will need to chart the region and make smart decisions to complete their mission and make it out in one piece.

Anyone concerned that it might be tough to get three other people together to play this game can take heart though. The game can also be played in single player when you take on the role of captain and deliver orders to an NPC crew.

 

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Microsoft showed off a demo for a new version of Minecraft designed for use with the Microsoft Hololense device during their 2015 E3 press event.

I am not certain how it works, but I spent the vast majority of the demo in slack jawed awe of the technology. It is a demonstration of an insane future that I wasn’t sure would ever happen.

The Hololense is a set of glasses that will let the user see projected images in the environment around them. The original technical demo involved the idea of being able to place a monitor on a wall. This allowed for a lots of neat viewing angles and some interesting communication options, but it didn’t really show us the gaming potential until E3.

The Minecraft demo shows an entire world being available for play using hand controls Tony Stark style on a coffee table. It was insane watching the world fly across the table while a god-like being, essentially, moved it around and called down lightning strikes!

We live in a very interesting future my friends. I can’t even imagine where it is going to go next!

 Go here for all of our E3 2015 coverage!

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