Richie’s Plank Experience is a unique VR title that’s been known for a while now, as it was released in 2017 and since then has been known as one of the top experiences to showcase to your friends. Developed and published by Toast Interactive, the game has been the beating heart of the studio. The Toast Interactive crew really enhances the playful vibe of Richie’s Plank in my opinion, and watching their reactions and behind-the-scenes content is a blast. If you haven’t seen their videos and stuff on social media, do yourself a favor and check them out. These are some quirky, fun-loving folks who clearly enjoy terrifying people in VR (for a good cause I swear).
But back to Richie’s Plank Experience. The concept of this game is simple – you walk out on a virtual plank extending from a tall building. Look down, and it feels like you’re teetering in the air, hundreds of feet from the ground! From influencer reaction videos to viral clips of first-timers freaking out, it’s clear this game knows how to evoke some serious emotions. But it’s not all anxiety-inducing heights. There’s also a mode where you fly around like a superhero. One of the things that grabs your attention is the variety of gameplay Richie’s Plank offers beyond just the plank walk. You can race through aerial courses in Rocket Race mode or extinguish blazes in Fire Fight mode. There’s even holiday-themed variants like the Santa Simulator and a scary Nightmare mode. I may or may not have screamed at a jump scare… or two…
Canyon’s Edge DLC and Mixed Reality Update
Imagine this – just as I finished terrifying my neighbors and friends with the main game, I uncovered that the developers just dropped a new DLC! The highly anticipated Canyon’s Edge DLC and Mixed Reality Update has just launched, this past Wednesday. This sweet new content is supported on Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro, optimized for Quest 3. The Canyon’s Edge DLC ($3.99) adds an all new western-themed plank walk. Inspired by famous gorges and canyons, it was carefully crafted with realistic graphics to deliver maximum acrophobic intensity atop a stunning horseshoe gorge! I don’t know about you, but I’m hyped to experience these new crazy heights and vistas. My knees are already getting wobbly just thinking about teetering on the plank above the canyon’s dizzying depths and expansive views.
The free Mixed Reality Update on Meta Quest 3 also includes the biggest graphical improvement of the city since its initial release. It uses Quest 3 passthrough to transform the experience by blending the virtual elevator into your actual living room! Even for Quest 2 users, Toast Interactive has managed to squeeze in most of the improvements. You’ll be able to summon the elevator, step inside in real life, and then get whisked away to the virtual heights. It really blurs the line between the real and VR world. Just imagine standing in your own home, hitting the elevator button, and suddenly getting teleported hundreds of feet into the air above a canyon or cityscape! They aren’t kidding when they say this update takes immersion to the next level.
I don’t know about you, but I’m so down to freak out my friends by having them enter the “elevator” in my house and then appear on the plank. Their minds will be blown!
Interesting Facts
I was lucky enough to get some inside scoop that the developers tested other environments like spaceships and pirate ships, but the city and now canyon work best. The secret is having lots of visual elements between you and the ground so you can actually feel the depth! The canyon was inspired by places like the Grand Canyon and made with realistic photoscan assets. It’s technically a steep, narrow gorge rather than a canyon. Remember to follow the safety guidelines and don’t hurt yourselves because the experience feels real! Canyon’s Edge was made for putting friends and family on the plank. And since Christmas is coming, this might be a perfect option to have some additional fun at the party.
So if you want an intense VR thrill ride, give Richie’s Plank a look. With the social potential and variety, it delivers hilarious scares. Just watch your boundaries and use common sense! Let me know if you try it out. I’m pumped to keep daring the heights!
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