Space Channel 5 Coming To VR Devices?

[Sonoshee]

Looks like it's a bundle of both Dreamcast titles and not a remake (which would have been nice since it's VR), but beggars can't be choosers. Just happy to see Sega taking note of classic IPs again.

http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2 ... on-vr.html

This article has been updated in light of new information becoming available. We already know about Rez being given the VR treatment in preparation for the PS VR launch in October...but how about Space Channel 5? You may notice that question mark in the title to this post (article was originally titled 'Space Channel 5 Coming To PlayStation VR?'), and that's because we're not totally sure if this is a hoax, so please take this with a pinch of salt. According to this NeoGAF thread, a Space Channel 5 VR demo will be shown at Tokyo Game Show 2016 (running from 15th to 17th September) and a link takes you to a fairly convincing teaser site.

Further links redirect to another site (written in Japanese, screen above) that seem to hint that the new VR experience could be a bundle of both Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5 Part 2. Quite how these games will implement virtual reality technology remains to be seen, as does any concrete evidence to suggest that this is a real thing...but from what we've seen so far it is very convincing. Being able to jump around in time with Ulala and rid the galaxy of Morolians through the medium of actual dance sounds like an 'interesting' prospect, and we're sure our Japan correspondent Ross will be only too happy to try this out for us when he gets his PS VR...!

Update
Further details have come to light and this looks like it may very well just be a 'VR experience,' and not a full blown Space Channel 5 reboot after all. Still, it's nice to see some of the lesser known Sega IPs being wheeled out for a new audience, even if it's not in the way we expected. Further to this, Ross has done some Japanese to English translation work for us. The 'game' is indeed a 'viewing only' demo at present and will initially be coming to the HTC Vive. Adding weight to this is the fact that the game director and assistant producer from the original Space Channel 5 are attached to the project, and it appears that the game is being developed for an upcoming VR service from telecoms firm AU, and will be known as Linked Door. Linked Door will reportedly allow VR users to meet up in cyber space (I can't believe I just typed that expression, by the way) and hang out online. The service is also coming to VR-capable phones and a device similar to Google VR. So not the PlayStation 4 then. Not yet, anyway...

[Kintor]

Space Channel 5 would certainly be an interesting VR game, since the original Dreamcast games had a lot of great visuals that could benefit greatly from the level of immersion that VR provides.

Even if this VR demo just has you watching a performance, rather than taking part like a full Space Channel 5 game, this is still an important step for VR. Figuring out movement in VR remains a major hurdle, mess up the way a player moves in VR and the game will just cause motion sickness. This is why a lot of these current VR demos are more about being a spectator then an active participant in events.

Even so, every new demo and every technological advancement brings VR close to the full-level of immersion that was first promised in the 90s. I dream of being able to play a VRMMORPG, something like Phantasy Star Online but in VR like out of a .hack anime; not just seeing that virtual world through a TV screen or monitor but literally walking amongst it.

It may not seem like much now but a little VR demos like Space Channel 5 will go a long way towards achieving that dream.

[shredingskin]

Never liked the game.