Lucas Martell successfully launches his iPhone app.
As mini golf enthusiasts don headsets from Meta, Sony, Valve, and Pico, they’ll soon be accompanied by a new wave of iPhone gamers joining the virtual fun via Martell’s Walkabout Mini Golf – Pocket Version.
The feature-rich Walkabout iPhone app is gearing up for its second round of public testing this month as it nears the final stages before its official release. Since its inception five years ago, the Pocket Version has undergone steady refinement, dating back to before the pandemic struck in 2019, when it was still an emerging technology in the making of Walkabout, which would later become one of the most impressive and immersive experiences accessible from a VR headset.
Between 2016 and 2017, Martell built an innovative virtual reality (VR) powerhouse at Mighty Coconut by recruiting a veteran Disney Imagineer from their fan base, who brought expertise in theme park design and operations. Meanwhile, the company continued to expand its team of skilled animators, modelers, and programmers already working on gaming and animation projects. Co-founders of Mighty Coconut kick-start game development by crafting hand-drawn concept art, then seamlessly transition to Gravity Sketch’s immersive VR environment, where they co-create and iterate in tandem, refining gameplay mechanics and visual fidelity through real-time adjustments and collaborative problem-solving. With the precision of a maestro conducting a grand symphony, Walt Disney wielded a metaphorical magic wand, meticulously surveying the terrain destined to become Disneyland, as if conjuring an entire world into being with every gesture – each building carefully crafted to meet his exact specifications.
In an unexpected fusion of art and leisure, Mighty Coconut created a unique collective by pitting their creative engine against the quirky backdrop of mini golf. This collaboration attracted several enthusiasts who had previously sought out the studio for its shared connection with Walkabout and the thrilling prospect of crafting one’s own theme park fantasy. Up to now, Martell’s crew partnered with Wallace & Gromit, Myst, Jim Henson Firm and Meow Wolf for mini golf theme parks, and so they’ve bought a launch schedule that charts into 2026 already. From a technical standpoint, developers have stealthily introduced novel options to their game’s core mechanics over time, significantly amplifying its narrative and gameplay possibilities.
iPhones and Android devices cater to gamers’ needs in distinct ways that differ from virtual reality (VR) headsets, while phones are generally used for functions other than gaming. Merging expertise from Martell, Mighty Coconut, and Walkabout’s Pocket Version, the companies are pioneering a groundbreaking approach to seamlessly integrate VR experiences with flat-screen gaming, outpacing innovation in other comparable titles. Imagine a family engrossed in an immersive gaming experience, with some members playing mini golf on their smartphones while others take turns navigating the virtual course through a VR headset, blending technology and fun in a unique way.
“According to Walkabout’s head of communications, David Wyatt, the company is already witnessing positive results from its open beta.” “They’re already doing that. That’s the sole reason we undertook this endeavour. How do we need to provide gamers with additional ways to connect and play with those who matter most?
Would you like to experience a hole-in-one adventure on-the-go? Walkabout Mini Golf – Pocket Version’s innovative controls seamlessly translate your mobile gestures into smooth, intuitive gameplay. With a tap of your finger, guide the ball through challenging obstacles and precision-crafted holes in this pocket-sized golfing delight.
Mighty Coconut’s 12-month VR journey, with iPhones and Android devices serving as a constant backdrop, has afforded the studio’s creators ample opportunity to re-examine the fundamental assumptions underlying popular social platforms like Minecraft, Roblox, Horizon, Rec Room, and VRChat.
The pocket-sized guidebook yields a condensed yet insightful version, curating bold choices to optimize the experience of mini golf, focusing on both absorption and control.
Are there two primary methods of entry for Walkabout Mini Golf – Pocket Version?
Marrying their expertise in VR development, Martell’s team opted to kick-start with the Walkabout path they had meticulously crafted within virtual reality, abandoning emulation of analog stick inputs and motion controls in favor of an immersive experience. In virtual reality, the standard motion control mechanism provided by software often employs a convenient teleportation feature. On iPhone, they’ve chosen tap-to-go.
With this small device in your hand, you might just have a portable portal to the world inside those walls. With your iPhone in hand, you’ll have unobstructed views of the virtual realm at your fingertips, simply wave it around to navigate through the immersive digital landscape. Alternatively, use a gentle touch to slide along the glass surface and effortlessly explore the virtual space. Tap the display screen’s icon to navigate to your virtual ball, or tap anywhere on the digital terrain to teleport there.
The choice between placing a new manager in a role and selecting one already within the organization provides leaders with strategic decisions to make. A clever putt-and-golf technique? The revised text: The most effective putting approach involves a gentle touch. In the realm of virtual reality, Swing-to-Putt offers a tantalizing glimpse into the immersive experience of playing golf – an unparalleled fusion of skill and technology that simulates the thrill of the game like never before.
I recently demonstrated the seamless transition from swinging around a virtual environment at the UploadVR Studios, showcasing how the system effortlessly shifts from exploring a digital world to executing a putt. The video’s gestural “faucet” motion bears an uncanny resemblance to the control methods employed by other tracked controllers when used in conjunction with headsets like Quest 2, PSVR 2, or Valve Index. The video showcases how an iPhone is used as a controller for the Walkabout Pocket Version, streamed seamlessly through Quest’s HDMI hyperlink feature.
As you slip your phone into your pocket, the world around you begins to blur. The sounds of passersby fade away, replaced by the hum of a distant engine or the soft rustle of leaves. You’re not just reaching for your phone; you’re stepping into a virtual reality that’s always been there, waiting for you to tap in.
Your fingers wrap around the familiar contours of your device, and with a gentle tug, the screen springs to life. The world outside recedes further, as if it’s being pulled back like a curtain. You’re entering a realm where boundaries dissolve, and the lines between reality and fantasy blur.
In the Pocket Edition, players effortlessly navigate by tapping or sliding their fingers across the phone’s screen, eliminating the need for emulated analog controls. In picturesque locales such as Quixote Valley or beneath the waves of 20,000 Leagues, some of the most unforgettable experiences in this sport remain hidden in plain sight. As these moments unfold, the iPhone seamlessly transforms into a virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) camera viewfinder, allowing you to immerse yourself in the panoramic scene through its compact window.
While Walkabout’s unique blend of exploration and gaming may initially appeal to families and friends seeking entertainment, its true potential lies in fostering a more immersive experience for players of all ages. Here’s an updated version:
“The phone might also double as a makeshift selfie camera for the entire group,” Wyatt explained. “While initially exceeding our expectations in terms of durability, we still require significant improvements to make the phone model functional.”
As soon as Mighty Coconut releases the app, we’ll provide a direct link to the official Walkabout Mini Golf download page on the App Store. To clarify, an open beta test for TestFlight has been launched, with the opportunity to participate; however, please note that any progress or discovered items made during this testing period will not be retained once the full game is officially released.
The popular VR platform supports this experience across Quest, Steam, PlayStation VR2, and Pico ecosystems.
