A Grand Day Out: Wallace & Gromit VR Honors the Classic

Wallace and Gromit in The Grand Getaway: A VR Adventure Coming to Quest

Get ready for an exciting new adventure as Wallace and Gromit return in their first-ever virtual reality (VR) experience: Wallace and Gromit in The Grand Getaway. Developed by Aardman, No Ghost, and Atlas V, this VR game pays homage to the beloved duo’s iconic debut in “A Grand Day Out.” Set to release on the Quest platform later this year, we had the opportunity to speak with the developers to learn more about this thrilling new VR experience.

From Muddling Dates to a Martian Adventure

In The Grand Getaway, Wallace and Gromit find themselves embarking on a holiday that doesn’t quite go according to plan. After Wallace messes up the dates, the dynamic duo rely on their famous orange Rocket to make it in time. But as expected, things take a turn for the unexpected, and they find themselves stranded on Mars. The game takes players on a journey through various environments, exploring familiar and eerie places as they try to find their way back home.

We had the opportunity to go hands-on with The Grand Getaway during its world premiere at Venice Immersive in Italy, and we’ll be sharing our impressions soon. But before that, we had the chance to interview the developers via email to learn more about the game’s development process and what players can expect from this new VR adventure.

A Collaborative Effort

The idea for The Grand Getaway came about during a meeting between Aardman and No Ghost. Finbar Hawkins, Aardman’s director and writer, explains that No Ghost was looking to develop “high level” concepts in collaboration with Atlas V, who was interested in commissioning an established IP. As a result, the iconic Wallace and Gromit characters became the perfect fit for this ambitious project.

Joseph Bell, producer at Aardman, confirms that The Grand Getaway is separate from the upcoming film and shares insights into the development process. Working alongside Aardman directors Bram Ttwheam and Merlin Crossingham, series creator Nick Park also played a role in expanding the concept beyond the Mars setting.

Paying Homage to A Grand Day Out

When questioned about the decision to set The Grand Getaway on Mars, Bell explains that the choice was made as a tribute to the duo’s first film, “A Grand Day Out,” and to capture the spirit of grand adventures reminiscent of old-fashioned cinema. The VR platform allows players to explore new virtual spaces, paralleling the duo’s journey into the unknown in their very first film.

Ttwheam adds that they wanted to infuse the game with a loving 50s/60s sci-fi movie flair, drawing inspiration from B-movies and Jules Verne-esque aesthetics. The team felt that this style aligned perfectly with the old-school look of Wallace and Gromit’s universe while delivering an exciting and immersive experience in VR.

Building on Past Experiences

The developers incorporated insights gained from their previous AR project, The Big Fix Up, into The Grand Getaway’s development process. Ttwheam describes The Big Fix Up as a great introduction to world-building and active story participation. This experience influenced the team’s approach to audience engagement and storytelling in The Grand Getaway.

Additionally, Hawkins explains that they reintroduced Beryl, an AI bot from The Big Fix Up, to assist players in The Grand Getaway. As Wallace is not the most reliable character, Beryl’s presence helps ensure a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.

An Immersive and Humorous Experience

Adapting the Wallace and Gromit series for VR was not a difficult task for the developers. Bell describes VR as an asset that enhances the humor and allows players to fully immerse themselves in the well-realized and tactile world of Wallace and Gromit. The team found that VR provided them with the freedom to create exciting and interactive scenes, taking full advantage of the duo’s established universe and character dynamics.

The gameplay in The Grand Getaway will feature multiple characters and chapters, allowing players to engage in a variety of activities, including repairing, launching, tuning, and solving puzzles. Players will experience the familiar humor and charm of Wallace and Gromit, accompanied by gameplay mechanics that require skill, timing, and problem-solving.

The Quest for a Great VR Experience

The Grand Getaway will launch exclusively on the Quest platform, with a focus on delivering the best possible experience for Quest 2 users. While the developers haven’t revealed specific enhancements for Quest Pro or potential future Quest iterations, they assure players that Quest 3 would offer improved resolution, finer texture quality, higher frame rates, and reduced load times.

Expanding to Other Platforms

While The Grand Getaway is initially exclusive to the Quest platform, Antoine Cayrol, Atlas V’s co-founder and the executive producer of The Grand Getaway, hints at the possibility of bringing the game to other platforms in the future. While not providing specific details, Cayrol mentions that they are always considering ways to reach broader audiences and that releasing the game on platforms like PSVR 2 is on their radar.

Conclusion

Wallace and Gromit in The Grand Getaway promises to be an exciting and immersive VR adventure that captures the charm and humor of the beloved duo. With a homage to “A Grand Day Out” and a Jules Verne-inspired vibe, the game takes players on an unforgettable journey through familiar and unknown landscapes.

With a focus on delivering an exceptional VR experience, The Grand Getaway offers engaging gameplay, narrative-driven storytelling, and a well-realized world that fans of Wallace and Gromit are sure to enjoy. While initially launching on the Quest platform, the developers are open to the possibility of expanding to other platforms in the future.

Stay tuned for our full impressions of Wallace and Gromit in The Grand Getaway as we explore this exciting VR adventure firsthand.

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