The virtual sport all competitive VR esport players need to play.
Its free and offers great practice for future competitive VR titles.
In Rec Room Paintball players shoot physics based projectiles at each other in games of capture the flag and team battle. One direct hit and the target is knocked out. Knocked out players remain just long enough to wave goodbye, or smack a grenade as it rolls by. They respawn a few seconds later on their team’s side. Room-scale movement is key to compete in the 4v4 matches.
The projectiles are physics based and travel at a speed players can both see and dodge in room-scale if they’re quick enough.
The main weapon used is a paint pistol, which can be duel wielded when a second weapon is found. Shotguns, snipers, grenade launchers, and burst rifles can be found around the arenas as well as grenades and shields. Each item is physics based in that a player can toss a weapon to a teammate, bounce a grenade around a corner, or spin their shield like tossing pizza.
Simple in nature, Rec Room paintball is a perfect multiplayer VR experience in that it encourages room-scale movement, player to player body language, and requires timing and physical skill to win. The gameplay does not get bogged down by progression systems, damage multipliers, or complexities beyond the creativity of its competitive players.
Each item is physics based in that a player can toss a weapon to a teammate, bounce a grenade around a corner, or spin their shield like tossing pizza.
RecRoom Paintball’s core combat outshines the vast majority of current esport style VR games with its no frills focus on full body room-scale movement. Both tele-dash and sliding locomotion are welcomed, and the competition shines in a player’s ability to navigate room-scale space.
The simplicity of RecRoom Paintball makes it a great platform to build from. Players who excel at the one-hit-knockout style gameplay can transfer their skills easily to other shooter style VR games. And developers of eSport titles would do well to study the competitive play taking place amongst top tier players.
The population of RecRoom Paintball is high enough that a full game can be found 24/7.
I’ve played at 6AM Central Time here in the US against quick footed Australians, and at 8PM against chill Californian gamers. Players at all levels play daily and a player run league is in its third season with two divisions duking it out every week.
The population is growing as players of RecRoyal find their way into Paintball matches and stay for the lighting fast action.
The skill level of players is increasing. At any time of day you will find newbs, a few league players, and skilled players being asked to join the league. Which so far has successfully grown by friendly word of mouth. One day soon, when the VR population hits critical masses, games like RecRoom paintball will adapt eSport style ranks and ladders.
For anyone interested in competitive VR play, practicing some RecRoom paintball is a must. RecRoom is entirely free for all so as VR grows so does RecRoom’s traction. Not to mention the cross platform play between Vive, Rift, WindowsMR, and PSVR. The population is growing as players of RecRoyal find their way into Paintball matches and stay for the lighting fast action.
Arenas range from a classic paintball field to the close quarters interiors of a hydro plant, to a sniper’s dream of a rock quarry.
Each map can be played up to 4v4 as capture the flag or team battle. First to 3 flag caps or 50 knockouts wins respectively. And the flag itself is a physics object so when you find yourself in a tight situation, toss it over to a friend quick! Or use the flag as bait before you take it back to your base.
Of all the VR games in recent news being touted as esports, RecRoom Paintball has more of the magic that makes VR special. Military sims like Onward are really hitting the mark for their particular style, and zero-g shooters like Echo Combat are sure to bring thrills, but the free to play RecRoom Paintball has the sweat breaking intensity of a real world sport all wrapped up in a room-scale VR wrapper.
Against Gravity has really nailed the foundations of what will come to be known as a virtual sport. What happens when Oculus Quest players can get in on the action?
