Trains enter into realm of virtual reality

Gamers around the world are playing with Marlborough’s railways in a new virtual reality (VR) game.

Gaugepunk Games has released Rolling Line, a VR game that looks like a model train set and follows the railway line from the Picton ferry terminal to the Kaiko¯ ura tunnels.

The game sold so well in its first few days on gaming retail hub Steam that Blenheim-based game developer Jack Huygens plans to spend the next six months improving it.

Huygens said he wanted to expand the game with railways set in other regions, and the trans-alpine railway through the Southern Alps was the top of his list.

‘‘Even through the North Island there are some good spots – Wellington, for instance, or the central North Island volcanic plateau with the volcano in the background,’’ Huygens said.

Rolling Line was built for virtual reality gaming, which requires a visor headset and controllers for an immersive experience.

But it could also be played on ordinary computer monitors and laptops, and Huygens said he suspected train enthusiasts would enjoy the customisable nature of the game.

‘‘You can walk around the world, you can push the trains along the tracks ... you can put the tracks where you want – you can even ride the train.’’

Huygens was halfway through a four-year degree in software engineering at Victoria University when he got a summer internship at a computer pro- gramming company, and was considering applying for a job there instead of finishing his studies, he said.

But instead, Huygens decided to develop Rolling Line, living off his savings.

The concept for Rolling Line was a step beyond his previous VR game, Echo Grotto, set in the caves of Takaka, near his hometown of Nelson. Players were able to climb through the limestone caves and wave a controller, which acted as a lantern, to light up the pitch black caves.

He was surprised by the feedback he got after setting the game in New Zealand, he said.

‘‘It had fern fronds and weta, and people really liked it. The amount of people commenting from New Zealand and who recognised it was more than I expected.’’

So he decided to set Rolling Line in Marlborough, having moved there from Wellington to go flatting with friends, and being impressed by the varied and picturesque landscape.

‘‘Rolling Line is special, for that. It’s got Picton, Blenheim, the rail bridge near Seddon, the Kaiko¯ ura tunnels, even the saltworks.

‘‘The Marlborough Flyer is even in it.’’

When Huygens uploaded the game he found gamers as far afield as Germany and Russia were waiting for its release, he said.