Sparc
Getting sweaty in a new VR game from the makers of EVE
I start to realize why they call it a vsport, because I’m bloody knackered
CCP Games is best known for making EVEOnline, the infamous space MMO that generates incredible stories of piracy, espionage, and backstabbing. So it might seem strange that it’s turning its attention to a fun, accessible VR sports game. But it isn’t really, because CCP is one of the most dedicated virtual reality developers in the business.
Its enthusiasm for the medium has never faltered, and Valkyrie and Gunjack— both set in the EVE universe—are some of the bestselling VR games released so far. And they are pretty good too, because the company has poured a good amount of time and money into figuring out this new technology.
Last year at Fanfest, CCP’s yearly celebration of all things EVE in its hometown of Reykjavik, Iceland, I played a prototype of Sparc called Project Arena. I called it an “incredible VR experience” and hoped it would become a full release. And, likely spurred on by the overwhelmingly positive press the demo received from almost every outlet that covered it, CCP has done exactly that, renaming it Sparc and making some changes to how it plays.
It’s the first CCP game not set in the EVE universe, and they’re calling it a ‘vsport’, which I’m not sure will catch on. That said, it is an accurate way to describe the game, because when you play Sparc you’re gonna sweat—especially if you’re an out of shape games writer who sits on his ass all day eating pies.
But what the hell is it? Slip the headset on (Vive and Oculus are supported) and you’ll find yourself standing in a corridor facing another player. In my case, a journalist from a rival PC gaming website, who starts dancing a jig in an attempt to intimidate me. The way the holographic avatars perfectly mirror the movements of your opponent is really impressive, and I respond by dancing a jig of my own. It’s like Tron meets West Side Story.
back and forth
Anyway, the match begins, and a hovering ball appears in front of me. I pluck it out of the air with the Oculus Touch controller and hurl it at my opponent, who lifts his arm and activates a small shield on his wrist, deflecting it back at me.
Then he tosses his own ball, which bounces off a wall and pings around the arena like a ricocheting bullet. I bring up my own shield and hit it back, and suddenly we find ourselves in an intense back-and-forth rally, with the two balls bouncing madly around our heads.
I can’t remember who scored the first point, but when one person gets hit the next round begins, and the first person to hit their opponent five times wins the match. As I’m playing, one of the game’s developers is encouraging me to move more, and seems a bit frustrated that we’re both basically standing still. So I loosen up and begin lunging for the ball as it hurtles past me, and I soon start to realize why they call it a vsport, because I’m bloody knackered when the match is over.
Sparc might be the best VR game I’ve played. It’s beautifully simple and easy to pick up, but at the same time there’s genuine skill to second-guessing your opponent and angling the ball to send them in the wrong direction.
Sparc reminds me of WiiSports in the sense that it’s a perfect game to bundle with the hardware to show off its power in a fun, accessible way. If someone doesn’t get VR, give them a go on Sparc and they’ll be sold instantly. Providing they can afford a Rift or Vive, which remains one of the biggest hurdles in the way of the tech becoming more than just something for moneyed enthusiasts and early adopters. Andy Kelly