Welcome to Panther VR Early Access!
Hi Everyone,
We hope you are all safe and well.
With great pleasure, we want to welcome you all to the Panther VR early Access! After a successful Kickstarter campaign and months of hard work, we can finally release the first Early Access version of Panther VR to the public.
First of all, we want to thank all of our Backers and our amazing community for testing the game and providing us with a lot of positive feedback and support. Now the time has come to release Panther VR to the public and to start our Early Access adventure together with our community. The 0.1.0 Version contains the base mechanics of the game to showcase our vision and future direction of the game. You can start a randomly generated mission from your hideout, use weapons and gadgets to evade security, go full stealth or guns blazing to get to the objective, find loot hidden all around the heist locations.
Panther VR aims to bring the stealth-action genre to VR. We want to have a high focus on sandbox mechanics. For the player to discover their own route in open levels, choose their own playstyle with different approaches, and to play with the environment, gadgets, and weapons to aid them in their heists. All current and future content is added with a sandbox in mind and is largely based on feedback and suggestions from our community.
We have huge plans for Panther VR, and a big list of content, reworks, and ideas for future updates. While we are super happy that Panther VR is finally open for the public, we also want to add, that this is still a VERY EARLY version of Panther VR. While the base game is present and we are very proud of what we have made already, it might still be a bit rough around the edges at some points and the game may contain some bugs. Please keep this in mind when buying the game, but if you do decide to check it out, it will help us out to improve the game immensely and hope you will see our vision and love for the game. If you want to help us out even more: you can share your feedback and suggestions with us in the Discord, together we can make this game into something amazing!
Thank you all so much for supporting the game and we hope you will enjoy this journey with us!
Have fun!
-Wolfdog Team
Panther VR Roadmap
This update is just the beginning of Panther VR. We have a lot of new features planned for future updates. We made a roadmap of the upcoming updates to let you know what you can expect from the first content Patches. There are currently 4 updates on this roadmap, but these are just the first of many, and the roadmap will extend in the future. Please check out our Panther VR roadmap to see what kind of new content we want to add in future updates:
Added: The Hideout [MAIN HUB]
The Guild provided your crew with their own Hideout. This secret base of operations is located in an abandoned warehouse and is repurposed with the following high tech equipment: An operation center for planning your missions, an armory for your weapons and gadgets, and a garage for your escape Vehicle. It will also be a perfect place to relax between dangerous missions.
The player Hideout will serve as the main hub of the game, you'll start your game in the hideout and it will be the location where you'll select your missions in the operation center. Since it is still an early version of the game, your hideout will only contain the mission selection screen, but many more functionalities will be included in later updates, such as a functional armory for weapon and gadget customization.
Functionality:
- Operations Center: Select missions (more functions added in future updates)
Added: Facility N4 [HEIST]
Welcome to Facility N4, a research facility located between the mountains and in a dense forest. This highly secured location is the home of many secret experiments, ranging from the creation of pharmaceutical samples to the productions of weapon prototypes. Its large open laboratory is crowded with security, but the machines and canisters should provide enough cover for our agent. Gain access through the loading dock, or go straight for the Main Lobby. Make sure you don’t forget to explore the offices for useful items and loot.
Facility N4 is one of the first Heist locations in the game. Let me explain what a heist location means for the game. When you select a mission, it will take place at a heist location. These are prebuilt open-world locations. This means that the location will look the same, however, your selected mission will change a lot of variables at this level. Security will be in different locations, start and end locations will be different, loot will spawn in different locations, etc. Each heist location is also designed as a fully open level. You can always choose your own path and approach for each time you play a heist.
With the combination of level randomization, and open level design, each level will have countless combinations and approaches and a high replayability factor.
Notible level locations:
- Laboratory
- Loading Dock
- Visitors lobby
- Research offices
Added: First Heists [MISSIONS]
In a distant future, ruled by international Corporations, there is always a struggle for power. Most power can be bought with money, everything else can be stolen. This is where the “Guild” comes into place. An international secret organization of master thieves, working for the highest bidder. These companies are always interested in obtaining prototypes, samples, or top-secret documents from their competitors. That is where you come in.
You can take on missions provided by the Guild. They can be selected in the Hideout. The first missions you can play are Heists. A Heist always has one primary Objective: steal the main object. This sounds easy on paper, but the main objective is always locked in a secure room. So your first goal is to gain access to this secured room. This can be done in two distinct ways:
1) STEALTH The first is the stealth approach. You can choose to complete two secondary objectives to gain access to the vault. The first and only secondary objective currently in the game is to override power to the vault door. More variants will be added in later updates, for example: hacking a terminal. Once these secondary objectives are completed, the vault door will unlock and the main objective will be for the taking.
2) LOUD You can also choose a more direct and loud approach. Instead of completing the secondary objectives, you can also place a lasercutter on the vault door. This lasercutter will gradually cut a hole in the door, but it will also trigger the built-in security system, which will sound the alarm. To be on the lookout for incoming armed forces, and try to protect the lasercutter al all cost. When a hole is cut with your lasers, your final barrier will be gone, and the objective can be looted.
Developer Comment: While the stealth approach is always the first and suggested way to go, (netting you more rewards in later updates), the more forceful approach is also needed when the alarm is triggered in stealth approach, and you didn’t complete the secondary objectives. Once you obtained the primary objective, it is time to head to the Getaway van. Each Heist will be randomly generated and is sorted on difficulty. In the current version, there are 2 (random) generated test missions before we integrate a fully-fledged mission system in a later update.
Heist Structure:
- Primary objective: Secured in Vault. Vault can be opened by completing secondary objectives (Stealth) or with a lasercutter (loud)
- Secondary objective: Override power to the vault (optional)
- Escape: Bring the main objective back to the Escape van.
Mission Randomization (All things random in a mission)
- Start locations
- Loot and item locations
- Secondary Objectives locations
- All security locations
- Escape Locations
Added: Movement Options [SYSTEM]
Everybody has its own preference when it comes to movement in VR. That is why we already added a variety of movement options to choose from. For your main movement, you can choose between movement with the stick, or our own “Arm Swing” system. (Same as in VR Dungeon Knight). For turning you can pick between smooth turning, and snap turning and they all can be calibrated with different speeds and snap angles.
Movement options
- Smooth movement: Move forward with Stick
- Armswing movement: Move with forward by swinging you arms
- Turning Options: Smooth turning (Different speeds)
- Turning Options: Snap Turning (Differen angles)
Added: GOHL-S [WEAPON]
Introducing the Gohl-s. The Gohl is the standard issue handgun for all Guild Agents. This all-round handgun is always a good choice on a mission. Especially if you equip them with the silencer, it becomes a fast, deadly and silent solution for taking down guards.
Weapon statistics:
- Comes equipped with a silencer (weapons modification added in future update)
- Very useful for stealth approach
- Fast fire
- Normal range
Added: FELDT M33 [WEAPON]
When a plan does not work out as expected and you need to engage in full combat, the Feldt will be your best friend. This Guild-issued assault rifle comes with a good fire rate and a decent-sized magazine. Equipped with Iron sights, it can be precise on a good range. This assault rifle can be held with both hands.
Weapon statistics:
- Can be wielded with both hands
- Very useful for Loud approach
- Very Fast fire
- Normal range
Added: Grappling Hook [GADGET]
A good item for traversal is important for any thief. Use the grappling hook to get yourself up too hard to reach locations. You can find hooks and ledges scattered around the heist location. Shoot a rope from a distance and climb up on the rooftops. The grappling gun grants access to new routes and different approaches.
Gadget statistics:
- Shoot a climbing rope from a distance (More functions added in future update)
- Opens up new routes
Added: Scout Drone [GADGET]
The more you know about your surroundings, the better. Make use of the Scout drone, and scout ahead before entering. It’s a small two-wheeled drone and comes equipped with a camera. The scouting drone can reach new places through small vents and can mark guard locations with its camera. The drone cannot be spotted by security, so it very useful for gathering intel.
Gadget statistics:
- Use the drone to scout ahead (More functions added in future update)
- Marks guards
- Can go through small vents
- Can be used to hack Security Routers
Added: Loot [COLLECT]
Exploration is key as a Thief. Take a good look around during your heist to find many useful and valuable items. I’m sure nobody will miss their valuable belongings right? Scattered around the heist locations you can find loot. Pick them up and sell them for a good profit. Some extra money, above the initial mission awards, will always come in handy.
Details:
- Find randomized loot all across the level
- Gain some extra cash for what you collect
- Loot comes with a different value
Added: (Non)Lethal Weapons [ITEM]
Your own weapons aren't the only ones that can be useful during your heist. If you are creative enough you can use some items you find throughout the heist locations. A pointy screwdriver can be a deadly throwing weapon in the right hands, and the guard will take a good nap after a kiss to the face from a wrench. You can use items as lethal weapons to dispatch guards in creative methods. (non-lethal takedowns will be added in a future update)
Details:
- Find items during a heist to use as a weapon
- Use a screwdriver as a deadly throwing weapon
- Hit a guard unconscious with a heavy wrench (more items will be added in a future update)
- Blow up propane canisters
Added: Climbing/vents [ENVIRONMENT]
When you run into an obstacle during your heist, you might need to look for a different route. Use rain pipes, ladders, and ropes to take the high road to your objective. Large air vents may also prove useful to navigate around the location, it is also a good place to hide, for when the guards start looking around.
Details:
- Use pipes, ladders and ropes to climb
- Sneak inside with the use of an Airvent
Added: Cardboard Box [ITEM]
Sometimes, the best place to hide is in plain sight. We got a Solid tip from a very experienced agent that a cardboard box will do the trick. I’m sure there must be some boxes laying around you can use. The key is to stay very quiet and don’t move. The guard won’t blink an eye from a distance, but they might be suspicious from a shorter range.
Details:
- Hide in a Cardboardbox
- Sneaky like a snake
- Don’t move!
Added: Security Guard [GUARD]
Müller international security [MSec] is responsible for the protection and security of high priority locations. They enlist and deploy trained security guards to patrol around important targets. Be on the lookout for these guards. They follow a strict patrol route, but they will also investigate anything suspicious. When they find something that confirms their suspicion they will call out for backup, or even sound the alarm. Do your best to avoid these guards, and only use force if necessary. If so, try to hide the body if you can.
Details:
- Avoid detection
- Patrols a set route (A.I will be reworked in future update)
- Will investigate anything suspicious
- Can be taken out
Added: Heavy Guard [GUARD]
When a normal Security guard doesn’t suffice, bring in the Heavy Guards. These Heavy guards are all padded up, and come equipped with bulletproof helmets, which prevents headshots. They can take a lot more damage than normal security guards, so try to avoid them at all costs. However, if you can get close enough, a well-placed screwdriver might do the trick.
Details:
- Armored, can take a lot of damage
- Patrols a set route
- Will investigate anything suspicious
- Vulnerable for melee.
Added: Security Camera [SEC SYSTEM]
Security cameras are the first line of defense. They can be found all over the location, and they always scan for anything suspicious. Close track their movement and locations, and try to stay out of their sight. They won’t detect noise, and a well-timed shot can take them out of service. However, guards aren’t so keen on finding broken security systems.
Details:
- On the lookout for intruders
- Won't detect noise
Added: Laserfence [BASIC SEC]
A very efficient and common security system is the Laser fence. These strategically placed fences are used to keep intruders out. Small points emit painful lasers to form a large grid, to block off a certain route. The lasers are calibrated on the presence of Guards and SWAT, which will make them immune to the effect of the lasers. However, if an intruder touches the laser grid, they will receive a painful shock, and the gate will sound a short alarm for any surrounding guards.
Details:
- Blocks route for intruders
- Very painfully when touched
- Calibrated to Guards and Police
Added: Security Routers [BASIC SEC]
All these different security systems need a way to communicate with each other. That is where the Security routers come in to play. Every system is linked together with everything else in a room. Locate a security router in a room, and try to disable with your drone, or to destroy them with brute force. Once the routers are deactivated, the other systems in the room will pose no threat, but a sudden system failure won’t go unnoticed.
Details:
- Controls all security systems in a room
- Can be deactivated
Added: Keycards [BASIC SEC]
One of the best things you can do to avoid an intrusion is to lock your doors. That is why some of the doors are locked shut with a Keycard panel. These doors can only be opened with the right access. It is also possible to gain access to a locked door with a borrowed keycard. Or just look around, there is always a way to get inside.
Details:
- Some doors are locked with keycard
- Guards and Police can use these doors
- You can gain access with the right keycard
Added: SWAT [POLICE]
When your stealthy approach proves unsuccessful, and the alarm is raised, then the Police arrive at the scene. Trained SWAT agents will storm the location and will try to neutralize any intruder insight. Once this police raid takes place, there will be no turning back to normal. Armored SWAT with a deadly assault rifle will keep coming until the player leaves a location with the escape van, or when they are killed. Try to ward off all the attackers and defend the laser cutter at all costs.
(Full rework of this action phase in a future update)
Details:
- Trained and armored SWAT agents will hunt down the player
- Try to escape as fast as possible, or risk being killed
- They keep coming
Bug Fixes
(From BETA)
- Fixed Rifle handling bug
- Fixed Camera spotting through vents and doors
- Fixed Guards having trouble walking on Stairs
- Fixed first amount of performance issues (need more testing and feedback)
- Fixed blocked drone vents
- Fixed main objective pickup Glitch
HOTFIX 0.1.0f1
(ADDED 19-06-20)
- Added Left-hand support in options
- Added Audio settings in options
- Added Arm calibration in options
- Added small Graphics options
- Added finger movement
- Added Roadmap in Hideout
- Added Tutorial Tablets in Hideout
- Increased Bullet speed
- Fixed Arm location
- Fixed End screen button
- Fixed Propane tank spawn
Discord
If you haven't already, don't forget to join the Panther VR Discord! Share your comments and suggestion with us and the community!
Socials
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Developer page
Check out and follow our Steam Developer page for more news on our VR Titles. Wolfdog Interactive Developer Page.
Thanks
Thanks for all the support and feedback from our amazing community. This update is made possible by you guys!
