When I asked Györei about the safeguards they put in place, he shared that the same rules Zen Studios normally has when creating table environments also applied when preparing pinball experiences with virtual reality in mind. In implementing such tricks, there’s a fine line between table effects that add to the immersion and those that distract from the play experience. By this grouping, Pinball FX2 VR is decidedly well-rounded in catering to multiple pinball audiences: the intrigued new starter, the skilled pinball wizard, and the player who’s in it for the mesmerizing effects that virtual reality will bring. And then Secrets of the Deep is the visual showstopper of the group, turning your virtual home into a diving simulation with jellyfish, roaming sharks and other neat effects. Compare this with the charming Epic Quest table, which rewards experts who can master its unique RPG structure. Mars is an especially approachable, uncomplicated table that new pinball players can get accustomed to without feeling dizzy by excess compartments and technique-demanding missions. Being underwater, on the planet Mars, and in a funny, epic RPG gave us an excellent mix of themes with the ability to do totally different things with each.” Having personally played two of the three tables through Zen Pinball 2, though, it’s evident that theming is only half of the equation. “We wanted to provide a good variety of themes that offered us a chance to test the waters with VR, but also confidently produce something that was exciting. Narrowing down the selection, according to Kirk, came down to what would offer the most range thematically.
“Selecting tables from our table library for a new adventure is like picking from a group of amazing friends who get to go on some crazy trip, but there are only enough seats for a few.” “This was not an easy process,” said Mel Kirk, Zen Studios’ VP of Publishing. Zombies table, and their Marvel representations of X-Men, Spider-Man, and The Infinity Gauntlet. And this is before accounting for their licensed material, like the superb Plants vs. Although newcomers may be surprised by the small selection, the truth is Zen Studios has a substantial catalog of tables to choose from, including El Dorado’s temple expedition, the military-vs-aliens premise of Earth Defense, as well as the posh Rome table. All are non-licensed creations that showcase different themes - space, deep-sea diving, and medieval times. When it comes to table selection, Pinball FX2 VR currently features three: Mars, Secrets of the Deep, and Epic Quest. “These would have been hard to achieve in a traditional arcade setting.”
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“We wanted to freshen it up and create the illusion of a modern home for our beloved virtual pinball machines, capable of hosting what we need to provide a totally immersive experience.” It wasn’t simply to ensure that players didn’t feel boxed-in while controlling tables the bachelor pad’s large windows offer flexibility for future tables that may have more demanding backdrops.
“We had to have space around the tables to bring toys and effects to life,” Györei said, when asked why the opportunity for an authentic experience wasn’t pursued. Viktor Györei, Head of Studio, told me in an interview that while an arcade would have made sense (it’s synonymous with pinball culture after all), it also would have conflicted with their direction for this title. Pinball FX2 VR pushes for comfort with a roomy beach-side bachelor pad as its choice of venue. Interestingly, tables are not housed in an arcade where players could relive the experience of a highly active setting with background noise and intense gazes challenging your concentration. They’ve effectively done away with strict menu navigation so that players now make selections in a virtual location and can feel a sense of cohesion with the connected pinball experiences. Unlike prior titles by Zen Studios, Pinball FX2 VR is structured as a hub, rather than having individual tables take place in their own bubble.
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