VR Stalker

File:3DOIM VR Stalker.jpg

{{Expand section|date=January 2024}}

VR Stalker is a combat flight simulator featuring jets such as the F-14, F-16, and A-10.{{cite magazine|title=Finals: VR Stalker|magazine=Next Generation|issue=2|publisher=Imagine Media|date=February 1995|author=Next Generation staff |page=92|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n93/mode/1up|issn=1078-9693}}

VR Stalker was developed by Utah-based Morpheus Interactive and was originally published by American Laser Games in the United States in 1994 as the first flight simulator for the 3DO.{{cite magazine|author=Edge staff|date=September 1994|title=CES News|url=https://archive.org/details/Edge_UK_012/page/n14/mode/2up|magazine=Edge|issue=12|page=14|issn=1350-1593}} The following year, the game was picked up for PAL region distribution by BMG Interactive. Portions of the gameplay and graphics were reworked for this release and the game had to be resubmitted to The 3DO Company for approval.{{cite magazine|author=3DO Magazine staff | date=April 1995 | title=Snippets | magazine=3DO Magazine| publisher=Paragon Publishing|url=https://archive.org/details/3-do-magazine-03/page/7/mode/2up|issue=3|page=7|issn=1355-9621}}

After VR Stalker, Morpheus made announcements for a multi-vehicle shooter game for 3DO called Saturncide{{cite web | author=Game Players staff | date=February 1995 | title=Currently in Development | url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_49_February_1995/page/n23/mode/1up | magazine=Game Players | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=49 | page=24 | issn=1087-2779}}{{cite magazine | author=Electronic Games staff | date=April 1995 | title=Computer Picks: Action/Action-Strategy | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-04/page/44/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Games | publisher=Decker Publications | volume=3 | issue=7 | issn=0730-6687}} and a personal computer game called Secrets of the Luxor, originally based on a Luxor Las Vegas attraction.{{cite magazine | author=Loyola, Roman | date=December 1995 | title=New Games Go High-Tech | url=https://archive.org/details/MacUserUSDec1995_201511/page/n16/mode/1up | magazine=MacUser | publisher=Ziff Davis | volume=11 | number=12 | page=50 | issn=0884-0997}} Trademarks were filed for other titles including Geneticide and Fatal Contract.{{cite book | date=April 30, 1996 | title=Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office | url=https://archive.org/details/officialgazette1185cunit/page/n1142/mode/1up | publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office | volume=1185 | page=TM188}}{{cite book | date=May 22, 1996 | title=Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office | url=https://archive.org/details/officialgazette1186bunit/page/n675/mode/1up | publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office | volume=1186 | page=TM324}} Morpheus entered a publishing agreement with Sanctuary Woods and began work on a real-time 3D engine with plans to release number of games starting in 1996.{{cite magazine|author=Sherman, Chris|title=Sanctuary Woods Acquires Morpheus|magazine=Next Generation|issue=15|publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1996|page=19|issn=1078-9693|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_15/page/n20/mode/1up}} The partnership was dissolved shortly thereafter when Sanctuary Woods underwent corporate restructuring.{{cite magazine | author=Billboard staff | date=February 10, 1996 | title=Sanctuary Cuts | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Dg8EAAAAMBAJ/page/n61/mode/1up | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Penske Media Corporation | page=62 | issn=0006-2510}} Development of Secrets of the Luxor eventually went to Strata Interactive.{{cite magazine | author=MacUser staff | date=August 18, 1995 | title=QuickTime VR game ready for autumn launch | url=https://archive.org/details/eu_Macuser-1995-08-UK_OCR/page/n37/mode/1up | magazine=MacUser | publisher=Dennis Publishing | volume=18 | number=17 | page=38 | issn=0269-3275}}{{cite web|author=Danielson, Darcy|url=http://justadventure.com/Interviews/Secrets_of_the_Luxor/Secrets.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222163814/http://justadventure.com/Interviews/Secrets_of_the_Luxor/Secrets.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2001|title=Interviews: Secrets of the Luxor Designers|date=February 22, 2001|accessdate=January 14, 2024|website=Just Adventure}} None of Morpheus' other projects ever materialized. Morpheus president Ken Bretschneider, who worked as a digital and fine artist for VR Stalker, later went on to co-found The Void, a company which created virtual reality entertainment attractions.{{cite web | author=Kester, Eric | date=May 10, 2016 | title=What Virtual Reality Needs Now Is This Immersive Playground With Wind Machines and Smoke | url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a20236/virtual-reality-you-can-walk-around-in/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813200331/https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a20236/virtual-reality-you-can-walk-around-in/ | archive-date=August 13, 2020 | publisher=Hearst Communications | website=Popular Mechanics | accessdate=January 1, 2021}}{{cite web | author=Martindale, Jon | date=May 24, 2015 | title=The Void will use reality to transport you to a virtual world | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-the-void-plans-to-put-reality-back-in-virtual-reality/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522122738/https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-the-void-plans-to-put-reality-back-in-virtual-reality/ | archive-date=May 22, 2023 | website=Digital Trends | accessdate=January 14, 2024}}

{{VG Reviews

|EGM = 24/40{{cite magazine | author1=Semrad, Ed | author2=Carpenter, Danyon | author3=Sushi-X | author4=Manuel, Al | date=December 1994 | title=Review Crew: VR Stalker | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65/page/n47/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=65 | page=44 | issn=1058-918X}}

|GamePro = 3.75/5{{cite magazine|title=ProReview - VR Stalker|magazine=GamePro|issue=67|publisher=IDG|date=February 1995|page=98|author=Quick-Draw McGraw|issn=1042-8658}}

|JS=139/200{{cite magazine | author=Pinky | date=November 1994 | title=Vidéotest: VR Stalker | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick054/page/n98/mode/1up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=54 | page=99 | language=fr | issn=1145-4806}}

|NGen = {{rating|3|5}}

|rev1 = 3DO Magazine

|rev1Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine| date=September 1995 | title=Reviews: VR Stalker| magazine=3DO Magazine| publisher=Paragon Publishing|url=https://archive.org/details/3-do-magazine-05/page/42/mode/2up|issue=5|page=42|issn=1355-9621|author=Wynne, Stuart}}

|rev2 = Games World

|rev2Score = 59%{{cite magazine | author=Games World staff | date=February 1995 | title=Reviews: VR Stalker | url=https://archive.org/details/games-world-08/page/n22/mode/1up | magazine=Games World | publisher=Paragon Publishing | issue=8 | page=23 | issn=1354-2907}}

|rev3 = Electronic Games

|rev3Score = B{{cite magazine | last=Kunkel | first=Bill | author-link=Bill Kunkel (journalist) | date=January 1995 | title=Flight Sim Lands on the 3DO | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-01/page/126/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Games | publisher=Decker Publications | volume=3 | issue=4 | page=126 | issn=0730-6687}}

|rev4 = MAN!AC

|rev4Score = 49%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/MANIAC.N015.1995.01/MANIAC.N015.1995.01-DURiAN_Searchable/page/n35/mode/1up|title=Overseas: Import - VR Stalker |magazine=MAN!AC|issue=15|publisher=Cybermedia|author=MAN!AC staff|date=January 1995|page=35|lang=de|issn=2191-012X}}

|rev5 = Super GamePower

|rev5Score = 4/5{{cite magazine | author=Marjorie Bros | date=January 1995 | title=3DO: VR Stalker | url=https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_Ano_01_No._010_1995-01_Nova_Cultural_BR_pt/page/n46/mode/1up | magazine=Super GamePower | publisher=Nova Cultural Publishing House | issue=10 | page=47 | issn=0104-611X}}

|rev6 = VideoGames

|rev6Score = 6/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-january-1995/page/83/mode/1up|title=Capsule Reviews - VR Stalker|magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|issue=71|publisher=Larry Flynt Publications|date=January 1995|page=83|author=VideoGames staff|issn=1059-2938}}

}}

Next Generation reviewed the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "A mild disappointment, but not if you are looking for fast action."

3DO Magazine gave the game two stars out of five, finding "plenty of fast, frantic action and varied missions" but that it "sits awkwardly between Shock Wave and Flying Nightmares, lacking the stunning arcade visuals of the former, while falling equally short on the realism stakes compared to the latter."

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{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mobygames.com/game/vr-stalker VR Stalker] at MobyGames

Category:1994 video games

Category:3DO games

Category:3DO Interactive Multiplayer-only games

Category:BMG Interactive games

Category:Combat flight simulators

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games about virtual reality

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games set in the United States