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For flat-screen gamers, their only current option to engage with the sweet science digitally isUndisputed.
Meanwhile, boxing has made a nice home for itself within the virtual reality world.
Eventually,The Thrill of the Fightgrew even more popular once released on the original Meta Quest in 2019.
Im in there every day, talking to fans, hearing what they think, Fitz says.
They know what they want, and were listening to every suggestion, every bit of feedback.
Rolling with the punches
The Thrill of the Fightfeatured relatively simple mechanics for boxing.
Much of that was based on a force adjustment system where controller velocity determined the impact of hits.
Now, the fighting engine removes the force adjustment system and considers other factors during punches.
Its not just about swinging fast, Fitz explains.
Now, the engine takes into account how you angle and guard, how well youre timing your hits.
Its really like a new level for the genre.
Because of the improved fighting mechanics, hitting someone or getting hit feels significantly better.
The in-ring movement has also seen significant improvements through two movement modes.
Players will be able to host or join game lobbies through a number code and jump right into matches.
Multiplayer rings in a robust character creation as well.
This includes being able to play as a female combatant which was hugely requested by the community.
It was super important to me to have female avatars for female players.
Theres also a feature where players can double-check opponents match their gender.
During the early access, the only thing players can do outside of multiplayer is hit a boxing dummy.
According to Deo, smarter opponents force players to adapt and strategize like a real boxing match.
We wanted solo players to feel like theyre getting a workout, both mentally and physically, Deo explains.
The sequel running again in Unity manages to take advantage of theMeta Quest 3hardware in meaningful ways.
Textures, lighting, animationseverything has been amped up.
We wanted the environments to feel intense and gritty, capturing the true world of boxing, says Fitz.
Doe adds that its strikingly different from the original, and fans are going to notice that right away.
Audio is even more immersive thanks to the Quest 3s spatial audio.
Youll notice how the crowds reactions evolve with the match, Fitz says.
From cheers to gasps, the energy of the sound shifts based on how youre performing.
That doesnt even factor in the licensed soundtrack from Cincinnati-based composer Mr. Watt.
Well keep adding new content and listening to what the players want, Deo confirms.
Its all about making the experience feel fresh and responsive.
After playing a few rounds, its shaping up to be something that accomplishes that and more.
