When VRFocus has covered virtual reality (VR) titles that revolve around phobias – usually spiders – the aim of the experience is usually to help alleviate players fears of that particular phobia. Indie developer Grit Games has gone for a slightly different approach, combining several phobias together in a videogame that has no intentions of curing the ailment. This project is called FOBi.
FOBi is all about having fun with phobias, and it’s been designed purely for entertainment purposes only. To be released in episodes the first is tentatively called ‘The Package’ and revolves around an apartment with some nasty surprises.
The back story goes that the occupant opened a parcel which was incorrectly delivered. Inside there were numerous live spiders and bugs which then escaped and bit the unfortunate individual, killing them. The apartment, now quarantined, must be cleaned up and its up to players to search every cupboard, shelf, cabinet, sofa in order to find the specimens and capture them alive.
And there isn’t just one species of spider to look for, there’s different varieties which all have their own traits. While some will look menacing, they could be slow and harmless. But there are some which are aggressive, poisonous and like to jump, its these that like to go for hands and they do bite. Get bitten and there’s only a limited time to inject the anti-venom before death occurs.
Its not just spiders (Arachnophobia) that are included in FOBi’s list of phobias, players will also find: Insects (Entomophobia); Darkness (Nyctophobia); Thunder and Lightning (Astraphobia); Dead Bodies (Necrophobia); Holes (Trypophobia); Needles (Trypanophobia); Clowns (Coulrophobia) and Dolls (Pediophobia).
Head-mounted display support is currently planned for HTC Vive and Oculus Touch, with the possibility of PlayStation VR, Gear VR and Daydream in the future. At the moment Grit Games plans to launch a beta for FOBi sometime in August then a full launch hopefully in September 2016.
As development continues on FOBi VRFocus will bring you the latest details.
