Adrift: Why Virtual Reality Games Need a Tourism Mode

Released last 28^th of March this year, Adrift follows an astronaut, floating through the ruins of a space station with little memory of the incident.

Set in space, Adrift can be played either on a standard monitor or with an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. One stressful aspect of this survival game is the limited amount of oxygen.  Caught up in a desperate situation, players always need to be mindful of the air volume left as they search for the other canisters, creating tense among players.

However, it is optional now, partially though. As cited in an article on Polygon, Adrift allows players to go back and then play any cleared level again through the EVA Free option found on the menu. The EVA Free option removes the non-stop struggle for oxygen, meaning players can actually explore, float around in space and enjoy the act of being in space. Such is in fact a compromise between what users are asking for and the players vision for Adrift according Adam, the game's developer.

In one of his statements, Adam told Polygon, "We really believe in feedback and we also really believe in our game." He further explained, "We wanted to make a game in this genre, and we wanted to have game mechanics and systems and stuff, and we didn't want to make a float around and look kind of thing." But the real catch is people just want to float around and observe the environment. The EVA Free mode gives players this opportunity, which is the essence of VR gaming.

Orth told Polygon, "We definitely toyed with having that mode all the time, we went back and forth and back and forth with it. We decided in the end to wait and see if people want that," He even furthered, "It turns out they do. I think what we've given now is a good version of that. You have the intended game experience and then if you want to go off and do your own stuff you can."

"I don't want to give up our vision, but there's nothing wrong with expanding it," Orth continued.

Adrift's VR portion is the major reason why fans really want to play this mode. It is indeed exciting to let others experience what it is really like to play this game in VR. Adrift, however, can be very challenging each time players are in constant risk of suffocation.

Orth told Polygon, "I think VR games are going to have to start including basically a tourist mode." This is true since VR has now become a trend.

The unlimited oxygen mode, in addition, is not only the best way to ensure players that they will find all the collectibles, but this mode can also be a means for players (especially the newbie) to enjoy the enormity of the Adrift's world without having to worry of virtually choking to death.