TechLemon had a stand at Slush Tokyo, where visitors were welcome to experience a scene from the game concept with a Virtual Reality headset. It was a fun, tropical island experience for people, above all for those who had never tried Virtual Reality headsets before!
We’re really happy to announce that the full version of our game Odyssey VR, The Deep Space Expedition has been released on Steam today. Odyssey VR, an indie game, is a story driven space adventure and audiovisual single/multiplayer experience that you can play on Desktop or in VR. The objective is to find a planet that can support life, but in order to find it there the players have to protect the spaceship (Odyssey) from asteroid storms and engine failures. The ship showcases elements from Earth, such as a collection of plants that are being kept alive in the ship’s greenhouse for potential further use on another planet, and art in the art gallery. You’re in for a thrilling ride on Odyssey.
Odyssey VR: The Deep Space expedition started as a side project in 2016 in Australia where we were building experiences for people who want to know what is is like to be an astronaut and more interestingly how to learn scientific facts about space environments (what are they) in the three-dimensional space experience. That was an interesting topic that me and my friends wanted to explore further. We attended to an exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden and an early version of Odyssey VR was presented there. So we started creating Odyssey VR (and other products) in our development studio in Finland.
To build a story based, narrative space adventure experience that combines multiplayer possibility.
To make a memorable VR experience that also explores issues and searches answers to climate change and sustainability.
To make and publish a game, learn and explore the area of VR and production.
What is the story behind:
The story is about humans who built a temporary outpost in space after the world could no longer support life.
The objective is to find a planet that could support life, but in order to get there the players have to protect the exploration ship (Odyssey) from asteroid storms and failures. At this point the game is limited to protecting the ship and there isn’t yet a new home planet to reach. It is still an early access game and not yet a full version. In addition to actual game play, the single player can explore the main ship and learn more about the background story.
What makes it special:
The game is a single player/multiplayer game where friends (up to 3 players) can join. The game has uniquely some academic research behind it, such as the study of virtual characters. It was developed by a indie team of about 5 people and most of the voice acting, 3D models, programming and story was made by us. Totally inspired by Chris Hatfield’s video about being in a spaceship. Combining VR, Desktop multiplayer, and a story based post-apocalyptic space theme in Odyssey VR has potential and we are proud of it.
Odyssey VR is now on Early Access on Steam and 1.0 will be published this year with a Soundtrack DLC. The game has changed a lot due patching after the trailer was released, so I hope for patience. Here is the image to the playlist for Odyssey VR soundtrack:
Odyssey VR Soundtrack DLC will be available to download for people who already own Odyssey VR game on Steam platform
If you’re interested in Finnish art, you definitely need to check out a VR museum experience called The Finnish Virtual Art Gallery. Or if you’re already a fan of Finnish art, this VR experience is a great way to revisit some of you’re favorite paintings by Finnish artists. The artworks are by artists from the turn of the last century, a period of Finnish national revival and romanticism, when artists such as Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, the Ferdinand brothers, and Helene Schjerfbeck were redefining what Finland is, what the country represents and how it wants to be seen by the world, through their artwork. This period of national romanticism in Finnish art predated the horrors of the War of Independence, the Finnish Civil War, and the Second World War, which lay ahead for Finland in the decades following the country’s independence in 1917. These artworks continue to draw crowds today, and have had a lasting effect on Finnish art and national identity.
The Art Gallery is set in a space station with art galleries, and includes a warehouse and an extra gallery for Mr. Hugo Simberg’s paintings. Here is a list of the artists in alphabetical order:
Ahlstedt, Fredrik Churberg, Fanny Edelfelt, Albert Gallen-Kallela, Akseli Järnefelt, Eero Schjerfbeck, Helene Simberg, Hugo Wright, Ferdinand von Wright, Magnus von
Find us on Steam or VIVEPort, and you won’t have to leave your living room to experience some of the finest Finnish art! Our VR experience is compatible with VIVE, VIVE Pro, and Oculus Rift headsets.
TouchDown Creations has a collaboration with The Finnish Virtual Art Gallery on Steam. You can contact art@appila.fi or timo.polvinen@appila.fi for more information.
Outside the gallery
Virtual Art Gallery Logo
Gallery Wall
Gallery Lobby
Appila Oy Logo
Witten by Jannica Renfors (TouchDown Creations). For more projects, contact Jannica Renfors jannica.andrea@gmail.com
Odyssey VR Combines Desktop and VR. VR games are a lot of fun to play, but they’re still not mainstream and not every household has a VR or MR headset – yet. With this in mind, a Finnish company called TouchDown Creations has created a space experience game that can be played on both desktop and in VR, for those players who do have VR headsets. Odyssey VR : The Deep Space Expedition is an immersive space experience game where players become scientist explorers who are flying through space, trying to find a planet that can support life.
Along the way, the explorers encounter problems and must try to keep the ship intact to remain alive, and to prevent the biodiversity on the ship from being destroyed and lost in space. Asteroid storms, fires on the ship and mechanical problems make this difficult. The size of the ship also adds challenges as explorers race against time. The game is currently available on steam as ‘Odyssey VR : The Deep Space Expedition’ and is playable on desktop and on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality Devices.
What is this game about?
The game is a single player/multiplayer game where friends (up to 3 players) can join. The story is about humans who built a temporary outpost in space after the world could no longer support life.
The objective is to find a planet that could support life, but in order to get there the players have to protect the exploration ship (Odyssey) from asteroid storms and failures. At this point the game is limited to protecting the ship and there isn’t yet a new home planet to reach. It is still an early access game and not yet a full version. In addition to actual gameplay, the single player can explore the mainship and learn more about the background story.
Here are some screenshots from the game:
Find A Planet That Could Sustain Life
Get The High Score
Try The Multiplayer
Conquer Obstacles
Follow the instructions of our experienced quide
Virtual Reality UI works with Cross Platform As Well
TouchDown Creations have worked with a short 360 film called Devil’s Lungs. The final outcome included a 360 film that the user watched with a Virtual Reality mask. The final 360 Virtual Reality outcome was presented at a Cannes Film festival in France. A final VR product was shipped by TouchDown Creations.
Developing games with outstanding tools like Unity3D and Blender! Juho’s presentation is about creating digital entertainment and developing games with an artistic twist. Juho will show his experience on game development providing inspiration and entertainment for you explorers!
Juho Kastemaa is a creator and founder at TouchDown Creations. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) M.Sc. graduate from the Royal Institute of Technology. Juho is developing games and experiences for digital immersion and new emerging technologies. Juho has been developing and publishing experiences and games. Recently, he published a Virtual Reality/Desktop Multiplayer/Single player game called: “Odyssey – The Deep Space Exploration” on Steam. It is a game about a hope to preserve parts of the Earth’s biodiversity!
Please, take a look at our seminar at ASSEMBLY summer 2018!
Mentoring and Judging at Marimekko Design Hackathon where participants Explored Virtual Reality for Textiles. Marimekko is a Finnish home furnishings, textiles, and fashion company based in Helsinki. Marimekko was founded in 1951.
It was a pleasure to judge and mentor the participants at the Marimekko Designathon (Design Hackathon) in Helsinki.
I believe that Virtual Reality and especially new technologies give great capabilities and possibilities to many companies.
