- Little Big Update - 12 June 2023
The little big update just dropped Friday night! This has been a monumental update on the technical side. We've refactored the architecture to reduce crashing and shrunk the game's footprint from 10 GB to 6 GB! This frees up a lot more memory for graphics. This update is also a step towards handling different inputs. There are now optional feet and multiple tracker support. We're also really close to full gamepad + third person support. It's a huge game changer, enabling us to speed up our development. We also tweaked the physics using player feedback to make the game more realistic. Unfortunately, that action unbalanced the courses, and now they need some redesign. You'll see that old courses will be occasionally updated with new features. With this update, we're finally positioned to add multiplayer. It still needs some polish, so it wasn't included in this release but expect some tes…
- Steam Sports Fest Sale - 16 May 2023
Hello Steam Sports Fest! We've been working tirelessly to clear the road(map) for THPVR like a mountain town buried by this year's winter storms. We wanted to ship this big-little update in time for Steam Sports Fest, but we're just a few bananas short of a bunch as of this writing. First, I'd like to announce that Steam has nominated THPVR for Steam Sports Fest, and to show our appreciation; we're discounting the game 25% this entire week. So what is this big-little update? It's a slow introduction of all the rad new features you all have asked for over the years. Better snow, better flow? Check. Better track design, more park features? Check. Vive tracker and/or foot controls? Check. LIV camera support? Multiplayer? Yup. It's all coming this week. We will announce it in detail when it happens and spend the next couple of weeks dialing it all in. New and remixed tracks will be dropping…
- Are You Ready for Full “Tilt” VR Snowboarding? - 16 October 2021
As the march toward the Midpoint Mega Update continues, we’re making refinements across the board. Speaking of boards, when you’re boarding down the mountains in the upcoming release, the tiltmeter will turn with the player’s view. This way you won’t lose site of it while scoping out the best line to take. It changes colors as well, depending on the mode that’s being executed. Will you go full tilt? One requested feature is for the HUD to be resizable, and hidden if needed. How would Terje ride down the mountain? With a HUD, or with his own internal HUD that few can match? We’ll give you the accessories you need to get started, and the freedom to explore on your own. Coming soon - sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates!
- Are You Ready for Deeper Powder? - 11 October 2021
The upcoming Midpoint Mega Launch has one feature we’ve all been waiting for - more Powder! Ever ride off the back of a slope through fresh powder? It’s an entirely different feel than neatly groomed tracks. You can sink in and really get a better connection with the mountain. For the upcoming release we’re giving you a more powdery cushion to carve up on your descent down the slopes. Make full use of your board as it glides through the snow. We also modified and recalibrated acceleration and the slide vs carve mechanics to feel more realistic. We take into account both the gear you’re using and your current speed. Be sure to customize your player to test it out. One thing we removed were stability modes. They weren't intuitive enough and caused confusion. Have suggestions on features you’d like us to include? Tell us about them on our Steam Community Page and on our Discord!
- An Existential Crisis? Or Just Our New Recentering Room - 30 September 2021
Due to popular demand (and a few internal requests too), we've revamped the centering process. Before you start every level we place you in a cold, dark, black room- for orientation purposes only. There you can ponder the depths of the reality you find yourself in. First escaping from one into our breakthrough VR game, then finding yourself outside the game, but still in it, in a blank and mysterious void. Its purpose is one: so you can know which way to face. While we know not what you may encounter in such a stateless state, amid the sensory deprivation set before you you may find the very thing you were looking for all along: which is the front, and which is the back. Helps with leaning too. While it's happened before where side games and subplots become that of fan fiction and outshine the main affair, we sincerely hope that no such fanfare amasses itself around the recentering room…
- New Release Coming Soon! LIV support, European Language Support, and more! - 26 June 2021
The drive to our next release has been a little longer than expected. Thanks for your patience while we continue on the trek to bring you the best virtual ski & snowboard slopes the VR world has to offer. A few highlights we have planned for you are Menu Translations for European languages Critical bug fixes that caused the game not to work on some system configurations Revised gameplay that makes the powder in Powder VR feel more like powder More tricks that are easier to pull off Updated Menu Interface that's easier to find what you need LIV support for diehard Powder VR content creators. Show off your best runs! It's totally awesome making Terje Haakonsen's Powder VR and seeing you make this virtual world your own. After this upcoming release we have story mode planned, where the game's headliner Terje Haakonsen will be making his entrance as your team captain and guide. Stay tuned f…
- EARLY ACCESS VERSION 0.8.5b! - 13 March 2021
Added Winter Summit finals course Adjusted gates in La Floria
- EARLY ACCESS VERSION 0.8.4b! - 5 March 2021
Extended Winter Summit qualifier by a week Fixed World Tour "next" button going to blank screen
- Compete with THPVR to win $500 prize money in VAL Winter Games! Deadline Mar 12! - 1 March 2021
Terje Haakonsen's Powder VR has been invited to participate in the VAL Winter Games! Show off your best tricks to win your share of the $500 prize pool. Register Here today! See Event Details here today! Event Rules Two slopestyle courses: VAL 2021 Qualifier and VAL 2021 Finals will replace the superpipe and doublepipe courses in the Kastle Ridge exploration mode. To reach the course, you must have earned at least 6 medals in the game and have Kastle Ridge unlocked. Qualifying Round 02/27 - 03/12 Sign up at the Virtual Athletics League. Start your recording at the Title Screen / Lodge to show your avatar and loadout. To play the qualifying round, go to Explore > Kastle Ridge > VAL 2021 Qualifier. Starting at the first whistle, you must time yourself as you will have 5 minutes to perform as many runs as you would like. Scoring will stop at the end of 5 minutes and you will be judged on t…
- Updates Notes for v0.8.3b - 28 February 2021
VAL VR WINTER SUMMIT ANNOUNCED - Register here! Qualifying Round, 02/27 - 03/05. Finals 03/06 - 03/13. $500 total prize money! volumetric lighting optimized performance on floria changed equip mechanic to shoulder grab redesigned options menu added explainers for each option added animation fx to title screen reverted beginner gear to old acceleration added toggle for arcade sound FX added toggle for pilot commentary added toggle for using grab button to trick added optional checkpoint helper arrow
- Wingsuit Update! - 28 December 2020
Wingsuit and Boostpack side quests are now available and can be found during exploration mode. Other changes include: Re-adjusting World Tour stage modes Easier race and checkpoint difficulty More paths through glacier in Courmayeur Also, there has been a lot of feedback regarding the tutorial and having a more guided experience so we will be redirecting our focus to remaking the tutorial and adding more instructional beginner courses. Happy Holidays everybody!
- Early Access Release - 17 December 2020
It's game time! The chopper awaits, more mountains await, and the first descent of the best winter sports VR game has begun. Download Terje Haakonsen's Powder VR today! After 2 years of development, we feel like there's enough game to offer a unique experience. THPVR is now Early Access which means it's playable but still in active development! It's not 100% finished but with your help, we can improve and evolve THPVR into the best game possible as we cross the finish line together. If you're looking for a polished finished product, please wait until the full release. If you liked the beta and want more, join us in Early Access for the full ride. What's in the Early Access release? 20/60 total playable areas + new maps dropping weekly 3/6 playable mountain ranges, Mega City by Xmas, Alaska in January 5 modes: Race, Freestyle, Checkpoint 1+2, and Time Attack Huge explorable areas: 100km²…
- Early Access Delay - 12 December 2020
It was not an easy decision. We found some last minute issues and decided to delay the release to shore up the quality before asking folks for their hard-earned money. We will be working through the weekend to make it happen. New release date is Wednesday Dec 16th. Thank you everyone for your patience and support.
- New Beta Release! V0.7.9b - Speed, HDR and the Weddle - 16 November 2020
Subscribe to our mailing list to get a free test key. lean graph more visible jump indicator movement assisted jump mechanic two handed pole moving moved sluff to per-track feature added settings for auto camera tightness added shadow settings adjusted terrain popup values added vegetation to Mt. Stormier changed tree model in Mt. Stormier added HDR effect changed fs indy to fs nosebone changed mute to weddle limited air spin speed adjusted acceleration speed adjusted slide vs carve traction revised powder snow trails made transparent blue more visible added snow on goggles effect changed regular and goofy order make lean tutorial easier added ramps to tutorial simplified snowboarding tutorial Here's an article from Tony Hawk Pro Skater on the rechristening of the mute grab trick to the weddle. Chris Weddle who is deaf, is the trick's creator. The move was subsequently named to reflect…
- 12 Arcade vs. Simulation Part 3 - 12 November 2020
So where do we draw the line? Nobody wants to play a game to relive pizza / french fries. Notice how snowboarding games start after the falling on your butt phase of learning? Well what we want players to experience is winter sports at the pro level: 60+ mph no sketch, even if you’ve never ridden a lift in your life. All the fun without waiting for weather delays, waking up at 3am, and growing icicles from your nostrils. Pedal to the metal, send it from the mountaintop. If you get really good at the game, you should be able to board like one of the world’s best. It’s not just a snowboarding simulator, it’s a snowboarding-like-Terje-Haakonsen simulator.
- Dragging Your Hand - 11 November 2020
Ever take a hard turn on your board, lay back, and drag your hand in the snow? Well now you can do it virtually! Your hands now work the same as poles in the game! Want to drag your hand in the snow without slowing down too much? Disable super braking. Congrats, your game just got real(er). One other reason to drag your hand in the snow? To make projectiles! How else will you protect your snow fort?
- Marine Corps Birthday - 10 November 2020
Happy Birthday USMC! We might not be making a biathlon or tactical skiing game, but there might be some firearm-related easter eggs in the game. Get your copy on Black Friday and get your ski on. And unless you’re a leatherneck, the cake is a lie.
- NEW VERSION BETA 0.7.2! Snowballs, Adjustable AI Difficulty, Tutorials - 12 October 2020
Dynamic sluff Adjustable pole height Can drag gloves in snow Snowballs Adjusted AI difficulty Position hud overlay Checkpoint hud overlay Tutorial pole grabbing Tutorial improvements Join the mailing list to get a key. Join our Discord to share your feedback. Check out the Game Guide! See activation instructions here!
- NEW Version Beta 0.7.1 Released! - 23 September 2020
After receiving everyone's feedback in our open beta the new Powder VR beta version is now available! New loading screens Flip tricks (enable in menu, then lean forward or back and crouch as you jump, stand up to right yourself) New lean graph Sucking up bumps (increase downforce by ducking while riding over terrain) New basic tutorial New menus and modes Ingraham flats exploration Reworked jump heights Tons of bug fixes Join the mailing list to get a key. Join our Discord to share your feedback. Check out the Game Guide! See activation instructions here!
- Arcade vs Simulation Part 2 - 14 August 2020
It's been a while since the last update but I think we can all agree that this year has been nuts! It's always encouraging to see people leave comments and participate in the development of the game. We would love to add polls to these discussions. Do Steam discussion boards support polls? Many comments in the last post have indicated a preference from halfway to mostly realistic gameplay. All of our pro snowboarding consultants have insisted we push the envelope in terms of realism. Unsurprisingly, most pro athletes along with a huge chunk of the population are not avid VR gamers. VR locomotion takes some getting used to. So not only are there a bunch of first time VR gamers, but also a lot of gamers who have never gone skiing or snowboarding. Native VR gameplay is a brave new world. If this was a non-VR game, there would already be a template in place and all we'd have to do is add ne…
