//hxm

//hxm reviews: horror vr (ios)

linked in. my retinas peer through spherical glass only to consume the illusion that I have entered a new world. this new world is an unconvincing approach toward making me believe I am immersed within what seems to be an abandoned/haunted house. the atmosphere is eerie. the minimal colors used paint a scene similar to a classic horror film. high contrast, spotlight technique used as a flashlight, and a setting from before our time. at first it seems it has potential to offer at least some cheap thrills but i quickly realize the app’s performance cannot match its ambition.

during the first playthrough i was able to walk through the creaky manor and gain a better perspective of the experience the devs intended to create. that was followed and ended by the shocking confrontation between a monster and i meeting f2f. his sudden appearance startled me but the haunt did not last long as he was merely a stationary image acting as a pop-up cardboard cut out. it was so bad it was meme worthy. i attempted to play again, but try after try, the game became unresponsive to any cmds or ctrls. the application only proved to be an addition to the stains of games that ruin the reputation of the vr horror genre. if you manage to get the app working, you’ll find that the devs held a visceral conception for the setting by using realistic spaces throughout the house. the spooky house is furnished like any older haunted building might be. unfortunately it can be difficult to admire such work when the setting is darkened so much that it burdens the gameplay.

many vr apps in the appstore tend to publish concepts of games, tools, or experiences rather than completed products. this seems to be one of them. sadly, most of them are bad examples of how to immerse a player within a digital world. they lack design in setting, which is the first thing to have an impression on a player. by analyzing these attempts and sharing constructive criticism, we improve the medium. TL;DR - if the horror vr app could fix its performance issues it might actually be worth recommending. although its appearance seems promisingly frightening, the only thing frightening is its lack of story, instructions, and functionality.

what is “the future” if “the future” that humans have always imagined is already here? welcome to the future. we are computer processors with personalities, sentient sloppy joes jacked-in[1] and communicating through glass screens and bright lights. we are self-evolving every day and pushing our existence further and further into the digital realm; electronic immortals.

a turning point has occurred, a new milestone in which consciousness, reality, and the net have graciously crashed into each other with tek[2] that has never been more accessible than it is now. tek that has been dreamt of for as long as humans have possessed imagination. to conceptualize what my words are attempting to convey you’ve gotta be keeping up with the villiers[3] but since many of you aren’t and those of you who are just can’t seem to get enough, this gargoyle[4] (me) will be folding[5] deep reality[6] and diving into the net[7] gathering all the hot data you meat puppets seek. i’m talking tools to weave meat-space and cyberspace into one. i’m talking tools like vr[8] and ar[9], needles with precision that craft seamless experiences that partner with the electronic worlds of imagination. wakarimasu-ka?[10]

the beginnings of this weblog will be constructed by entries reviewing and discussing software and hardware relating to the most accessible vr technology available: google cardboard[11].

later on and in between there will be slips of dialogue from my subconscious to yours exploring philosophical thoughts about the never-slowing advancements of the future we now call the present.

who am i? i am the reporter. i am the digital storyteller. i am the decker[12]. i am the critic of bit jockey[13] hackware[14]. i am the hexed[15] marionette[16].

//hxm