Kerestell Smith claims to hail from New York, though he’s reluctant to provide further details due to the fervor of some passionate Gorilla Tag players.
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced physical playgrounds to shut down, Smith started conceptualizing a virtual alternative – Gamers in Gorilla Tag swing their arms like monkeys, engaging in a thrilling digital chase across an immersive playground.
“In December 2019, I started working on the prototype that would eventually become Gorilla Tag,” Smith explained to UploadVR during our interview at Meta’s event last year. Then around January 2020 was when I first started getting my hands on the motion prototype working. Following a few months, the idea struck me to recreate Tag.
The title initially debuted on Steam and SideQuest in 2021, introducing in-app purchases later that year before expanding to a full launch on Quest and PC VR headsets in December 2022. Since its release, Gorilla Tag has raked in over $100 million in revenue solely through players’ enthusiasm for virtual reality gaming. As Smith launched his exceptional career, in August 2022, he formed a strategic partnership with David Yee, formerly of Meta, and David Neubelt, previously of Prepared At Daybreak. Now, they envision a much grander future for VR sports activities than what has come before.
Orion Drift: Whispers in a Galactic Abyss
Before Meta discontinued the game, Smith held the distinction of being a top-ranked Echo Environment participant.
As One Other Axiom expands its second title into a closed beta, Smith can’t shake off the exact camaraderie he experienced when players coalesced around the zero-G launch tubes?
“Echo isn’t entirely an inaccurate description,” Smith notes about their work on Orion Drift.
Orion Drift’s ambitious concept revolves around creating a diverse array of sports, including soccer, volleyball, and golf, all centered on “hand-based locomotion” within designated districts on an infinite space station capable of accommodating up to 200 individuals? To dissolve the boundaries between observer and competitor within this massive complex, gamers form impromptu coalitions and navigate fluidly across various zones.
And, indeed, there could potentially be a dedicated zero-gravity zone within this space station as well.
“Participating in an environment, you’re surrounded by subsequent environments, each hosting a distinct game or activity,” Smith explained. “Courts stretch out before you, allowing people to traverse and discover different games unfolding, as another match commences and spectators flow over there – effectively creating one comprehensive district.” “For Gorilla Tag and future video games, the DNA is being refined and integrated, rather than cherry-picking specific interactions or game modes.” Being in a situation surrounded by people from diverse backgrounds. The connections you’ll forge, the communities you’ll join.
As our meeting convenes at Meta’s headquarters, Smith’s enthusiasm for his ambitious project – a zero-gravity district in Orion Drift – becomes palpable, threatening to spill over into conversation despite his group’s reluctance to disclose details?
You start to distance yourself from a friendship, with one person extending the olive branch by saying, “Hey, maybe it’s best if we’re just acquaintances, and maybe we’ll even have some healthy competition.” “That distinctive expertise in a flatscreen recreation never materialized for me; I neither sought nor acquired it, but the recreation itself motivated me to collaborate with others in ways that yielded immense value…and that’s something uniquely empowered by VR,” Smith notes.
Don’t we always compare apples and oranges when discussing the drawbacks of virtual reality, though? Isn’t the weight of responsibility just what’s needed to stay focused on a crucial task? You have to ensure it’s properly charged before proceeding. Meanwhile, wouldn’t it be much easier to simply settle into your favorite armchair and indulge in some gaming bliss on your PlayStation or Xbox?
To me, compatibility seems to hinge on being able to coordinate time with your family, secure reliable transportation, and determine a meeting location. Will we gather at a local eatery or someone’s cozy abode? Does somebody have youngsters? Do they want a babysitter? Can you explore multiple destinations within a single itinerary? We won’t even consider joining like that.
Let’s get together right away – let’s sync up our headsets so we can converse freely. That is the comparability. The versatility of virtual reality technology truly leaves me breathless. As you don a headset, your loved ones suddenly appear right before you. “That’s the essence of expertise, with no alternative capable of replicating its potency.”
As a result, Smith is convinced that widespread virtual reality adoption is an unavoidable fait accompli.
“Folks derive immense value from social connections, togetherness, and the assurance of synchronicity with a precise individual, regardless of physical distance. This craving is so profound that I firmly believe the triumph of virtual reality is all but assured.”
