The summer I spent at the tip of the "word" -VRChat "Project: Summer Flare"

In September of this year, one VRChat world was released.The name is "Project: Summer Flare".This is a new world by creator Yotsu -flame, who has worked on the media art exhibition "1%virtual" and the mystery solving world "Asterisk flower language".

The maximum recommended number of participants is 1 to 4 people (up to 8 people can participate depending on the specifications of VRChat).The assumed play time is 2-3 hours.It boasts countless unique gimmicks and "crazy" productions, magnificent and mysterious scenarios, and the VRChat world that can be said to be out of standard.Immediately after the release, many impressions and considerations have been received, and some people push the drums with "masterpieces that remain in the history of VRChat world."After clearing solo, he was one of the people who fell in love with this world so much that he invited people to take on the second challenge.

This time, we went around this "Project: Summer Flare" with the creator Yotsumi flame.The following contains a lot of spoilers of "Project: Summer Flare".If you want to challenge this world without the previous information, we recommend that you read it after it is actually cleared.

This is because the essence of this world cannot be expressed in the following "words".

Welcome to "that summer day"

A sandy beach illuminated by the dazzling sunlight enough to narrow your eyes.At a glance, the sight that is intuitive as "summer" spreads.

In the immediate vicinity, there is a bulletin board with a design that is likely to be posted on the "Neighborhood Association".The illustrations that are likely to be in the picture diary of a child, which can be read as "put a bell, a ball and watermelon in a box".This is the first mission, and you can read it soon.

There are various things on the summer beach.A monitoring table that seems to be sitting on a beach volleyball or a life saver.There are also pure white chairs, tables, and umbrellas, which is a good place to spend a "summer sea time".Of course, it is perfect for watermelon splitting.

There is a large aquarium right near the beach.It is beautiful and modern, and the interior based on white makes you feel clean.I thought, "Have you ever been there?"

In the back is a huge tank with a tunnel in the water.The aquarium that spreads out in the field of view is photogenic.I was taking a commemorative photo here, both when I played solo and when I visited with my acquaintance for the second time.

The aquarium is not only beautiful, but also makes it clear that there is actually such a building.When I first saw it, I took a breath just by walking along the route.

On the other hand, fish swimming in the aquarium are symbolic.It can be said that the abstract image of "fish" is swimming.It is in a space that is not surprising to be real, and only they exist like foreign matter.Hako is perfect, but the contents are.I also got such an impression.

At the end of the route, collect the beach balls placed in the exit shop.The place to leave is a bell.The place where bells are likely to be placed is a shrine.With the watermelon in my hand, we started walking for the shrine.

What you can get on the way is a landscape that can be said to be a "local city that has developed to some extent."The cityscape with convenience stores and condominiums will be more familiar than the "country" for some people.That summer day is visible, where you go to the sea with your friends, buy ice at a convenience store, and do homework in one room of your friend's apartment in the afternoon.

The shrine is a bit of a place where you pass through the tunnel.It is a place where the forest is growing closer to the "countryside", and even if there is a fox ear maiden somewhere, it will not be surprising.The image of a "summer countryside shrine" is also fun to climb a long and long stone steps.

On the grounds, there are "three boxes" seen on the bulletin board.

If you put a watermelon, a ball, and a bell in the box, the surroundings will darken-

Protocol, start

Where is the scenery of that "summer"? After the darkness, the inorganic ruined that spreads in front of you.The sight of the loneliness that can be seen outside the dome is "winter" if you dare to compare it.

The scenario from virtual reality to reality is common.However, if you experience it with VR, you can't help but feel the surprise and anxiety that you woke up from a wonderful dream.

And the player is given a new mystery solving.A power supply unit with a lever arranged in a meaningful manner, a cable crawling on the ground and pillars, and a locked door.At first, what to do at first, but if you follow the cable that extends from the door, it will be clear what to do.

At the end of the door lock, there is a mysterious tablet terminal that floats in the air, and a character called "LUPI" will talk to here through the terminal.The gimmick that transforms with a cool animation when picked up is the first to be caught, and the narration that appears at the same time and the "request" from the Lupi displayed on the tablet draw in the player at once.

The NPC's request, "I want you to reset" Satellite ", is the introduction of common games.But this is the VRChat world.It is quite rare to install such a gimmick.Above all, at this moment, it seems to switch from a "place where you can spend your time freely" to "VR games", and you feel the immersion at once.

As you get a tablet device and go along the road, there is a gimmick that opens the large door by "continuing the chain" on the way.Gimmicks that require the same movement as reality, rather than just pressing the switch, are the real pleasure of VR.There are many fundamental pleasure of VR games that move the world as a controller as a controller.

As you follow the dark tunnel, a huge robot named "Daidan" is waiting.This is the first "surprise" of this world, firing a thick laser for the player.

From here, in order to take the "weapon" in the back, we will run through at full speed while avoiding the laser of Daidan with a shield.You need to make full use of jumps, and you tend to get fumulated where to go, so it is inevitable to panic.Above all, the laser that is released with a roaring sound is scary!

But just running away does not end.After holding his handgun and switched to a mode that emits a huge bullet, he turns off.

I will silence Daidan, who emits the laser, with one fire!

Through a series of "counterattacks from the plight", you will realize that this world is not just a VRChat world.When you escape from Daidan's attack and experience the development of defeating with a mysterious pistol from a first -person perspective, the word "hero" will not come to mind.

Athletic zone dropped by many people

As you calm down the Daidan and proceed, you will reach a space where the pillars of the concrete concrete and the liquid of the waste liquid will spread.This is a place equivalent to the beach in the "table" world.And it is also a very difficult athletic course in this world.

The purpose of this area is to collect the sword "Fake-Durandal" landed on a high pillar.First, start by worrying about how can you go up?After finding the route, you will just climb up.

Climbing a ladder is the beginning.Anyway, "muscle strength" is required, such as crossing a thin scaffold, grabbing a protruding horizontal bar, going like a cloud card, and crossing the rope with only both hands.Many unfamiliar players will fall on the way and sink into the green sea.I often witnessed a companion who fell well in the first play, and the second play fell.

You will struggle until you get used to it, but if you have a VR game experience, it will be easy to do to some extent.Especially if you have played "The Climb 2", the title for Oculus Quest, that experience should be particularly useful.However, it is true that it is thrilling.

In addition, a handgun that was active earlier is needed to start a gimmick.What you need in that case is a gimmick that draws key items.It is quite pleasant that the key item appears in an instant just by holding the palm of your hand.It is a fresh experience that can be convenient and feel as if you have psychic power.

Fake-Durandal is also collected safely.As an aside, the origin of the fake-Durandal is the Holy Sword Durandal, a hero Laurent, appearing in the epic "Laurent's Song".It is a "never broken" sword, which is famous for the anecdote that "I hit the rock for fear of crossing the enemy, but did not break the rock."

Aquarium full of trauma

Fake-proceed to the aquarium in this world with Durandal.The aquarium is not a fish, but an object such as a car and a sign, and its disorder is eerie.

In the aquariums covered with disturbing objects, there are turrets in various places to intercept the invited customers.The turrets invade the rain of the bullet emitted by the fake-Durandal with the "never broken" blade, and invades the back.If you play with multiple people, this shield role will look very reliable.

On the way, NPC characters that appear (with a substance) appear for the first time in this world.However, conversation or interference is not possible.The head is attached to a futuristic HMD.The appearance of looking around with strange movements is very eerie, but I think that the writer wearing a VR headset may look like that.

When they try to go backwards, there is a disturbing message.

Ignore it and pick up the handset in the telephone box placed in the elevator ...

Escape from the instance

An alert similar to real earthquake bulletin.A red message that covers the visibility.The distance of a missile that shrinks ruthlessly.In order to escape the nuclear attack by satellite, released to kill the player, we will run back on the road that has followed.

The alert message indirectly hinders this view, as it is impatient to get close to time every moment.It's like being attacked by the world itself.In a hurry, hurry, the controller of both hands is involuntarily powerful.

Then, when I first checked the passcode at the abandoned house I met with LUPI, to the new "Project: Summer Flare" instance from the "Project: Summer Flare" instance that is currently Join to escape the nuclear attack.You need to "escape".

While the alarm does not stop, jump into the portal that leads to a new instance.It is a raging escape drama that drips cold sweat, but the last "switching the instance" is very hot.

To "that summer day" again

Blue sky.White cloud.A sandy beach illuminated by the dazzling sunlight enough to narrow your eyes.At a glance, the scene that makes you intuitively intuitively "summer" -On again, spreads in front of you.

The scenery is the same as when you first visited.However, Lupi left the previous instance, "Go to that summer phone box."So enter the passcode.

If you enter a 4 -digit passcode in a telephone box that is now disappearing from the real city, you will get a communication from the voice that claims to be "FAS".It is different from the mechanical voice LUPI, and this is a tone that looks somewhat rounded.Somehow, I thought of a feminine image.

I will pass through the tunnel according to the FAS guidance.Then ...

What happened in that instance was that it was not a "parallel world story."

And Daidan, which is only called the head, is called by raising his hands.With his laser, you will be able to move to the center of the closed satellite.

Beyond that is the center of satellite.

To the satellite center

Follow the FAS's voice and invade the center to shut down the satellite.On the way.

The world can suddenly repain the "that summer day".

But you can only see the sight for a moment.Which is a dream and which is more reality?Maybe "madness" is already eroding inside you?

If you go to the back while hesitation, you will reach a parcel with a huge fan.A strong wind has been released from the fans, so you can't go deeper.

We will switch the fans' ON / OFF and proceed.The lever installed on the wall slowly pulls with both hands one by one.

Going further along the way, it turns out that the ongoing route is in the lower layer of the parcel attacked by that day darapoch.You can see this lower layer from the upper layer, so you may have noticed it.

And you will be blocked by two days of Daydaraboch at the end.At that time, the last guide from the FAS.

And when you grab the marker that appeared in "in front of you "-

Break summer, words

Interview with the creator

We asked Yotsumi frame about the production of "Project: Summer Flare" and the commitment in the world.

――Please tell us your purpose and reasons for creating “Project: Summer Flare”.

――I think that “summer” is large as the theme of such a “story”.What kind of intentions are the theme and keywords "summer"?

――The world explanation has a phrase “break the language”, and in the final development, there is also a development that “not speaking”.What kind of intentions are included with "words"?

――First of all, it's about “summer”.As a "one city", it is quite real, but please tell us about the specific commitment to the production.

――In this world, your own guidance signs have appeared for key items and gimmicks.Why was this unique gimmick implemented?

――Is there any VR games that were referred to other than “Half-Life: Alyx”?

――Do you have any attention or consideration for gimmicks in general?

―― Next, about the athletic zone, I often hear that it is still difficult here (laughs).

(A place where ladder is lined up for "practice")

―― About the escape part after that.There is a production that hacks the view itself, but is that intentional?

―― At the end of the escape part, it will be a “switching instance”, but please tell us how it looks like that, including the gimmick in the telephone box.

――At the beginning of the “second part”, there is a gimmick that suddenly the scenery becomes “that summer day”.

――You know the psychology of VRChat users ...!

――Is it remained without breaking even if you receive a nuclear attack!?

("Yusha no Ken")

――How is the reaction of those who have experienced this world?

――Are there any people who will challenge “Project: Summer Flare” or have already challenged, do you want to experience this world?

――Do you plan to create a new world or content in the future?

――Are there any development about “Project: Summer Flare” in the future?

――By both are looking forward to it.Thank you very much.

Click here for access to "Project: Summer Flare".https: // vrch.at/WRLD_AA762EFB-17B3-4302-8f41-09C4DB2489ED

Writing: Kazura Asada