Monthly Archives: April 2025

Loop One: Done Is A Roomscale Mixed Reality Sandbox About Automation

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Loop One: Done is a mixed reality sandbox game about automation that’s heading to Quest Early Access next week.

Described as a “mixed reality automation game where you record loops with drones and robots,” Loop One: Done sees you placing buildings across your play space to mine for materials. Factories can then convert these materials for better products, while you can record loops to automate this process and become as efficient as possible.

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It’s a solo independent project by Jonas Sandstedt, who confirms that he handles all the programming, art, music, design, marketing, and more. Loop One: Done has been in development for over four years, and Sandstedt plans to “push out many new updates” after the early access launch, with new facilities and materials for expanding your factory, alongside a scenario mode.

Loop One: Done is built for hand tracking with support for controllers, looking to deliver roomscale gameplay through selecting ‘XL scale’ while also supporting smaller play spaces with a ‘Miniature Mode.’ There’s also a campaign mode with objectives and tasks to complete for unlocking new facilities or materials, alongside a sandbox mode.

Loop One: Done enters early access on May 2 for $12.99 on the wider Meta Quest platform.

Cyclists who kill pedestrians could be jailed for life under new law

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Cyclists who kill pedestrians by dangerous cycling could face life imprisonment in England and Wales under changes to the Crime and Policing Bill.

The amendments tabled on Thursday will bring the offence of death by dangerous cycling in line with motoring laws, the Department for Transport says.

Under current legislation, dangerous or reckless cycling can usually only be punished by a maximum two-year jail term. 

The change, led by Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, will close a legal loophole that meant cyclists who hit and killed or seriously injured a pedestrian were charged under legislation from the 1860s.

The amendments revive a plan originally proposed by the Conservatives that was derailed due to the 2024 general election. 

Campaigners have welcomed the legislation. Speaking to The Telegraph, Matt Briggs, whose wife was killed by a cyclist in London, said: “After losing Kim in 2016, I began campaigning the following year to have these laws enacted.

“The use of the wanton and furious charge for so many cases has been inadequate and archaic.

“I’m absolutely delighted that this Labour government has followed through with our calls for new legislation.

“This isn’t just a victory for me and my family, it’s also a victory for all the families who have worked tirelessly through their unbearable tragedies to have these laws changed.” 

Boardman SLR 9.4 during development
Chris Boardman has criticised the decision. Boardman Bikes

Others have criticised the decision. Chris Boardman, former Olympic cyclist and National Active Transport Commissioner, said tougher laws could deter people from cycling. 

The new legislation also comes after Labour promised more funding for cycling in the UK as part of plans to improve health and inequality, alongside meeting net zero targets.

Debian Package Management: Aptitude vs. Apt-Get in Ubuntu

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Package management is at the heart of every Linux system. It’s what makes installing, updating, and managing software on Linux-based distributions not just possible but streamlined and elegant. For users of Debian and its popular derivative Ubuntu, two powerful tools often stand at the center of debate: apt-get and aptitude. Though both are capable of managing packages effectively, they have unique characteristics that make them better suited to different use cases.

Waymo Reports 250,000 Paid Robotaxi Rides Per Week In US

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Waymo is now providing over 250,000 paid robotaxi rides per week in the U.S., up from 200,000 in February, as it expands into cities like Austin and grows partnerships with Uber and automakers. CNBC reports: “We can’t possibly do it all ourselves,” said Pichai on a call with analysts for Alphabet’s first-quarter earnings. Pichai noted that Waymo has not entirely defined its long-term business model, and there is “future optionality around personal ownership” of vehicles equipped with Waymo’s self-driving technology. The company is also exploring the ways it can scale up its operations, he said.

The 250,000 paid rides per week are up from 200,000 in February, before Waymo opened in Austin and expanded in the San Francisco Bay Area in March. Waymo, which is part of Alphabet’s Other Bets segment, is already running its commercial, driverless ride-hailing services in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin regions.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Symphoni Adds Custom Songs & Mod Support To The Mixed Reality Rhythm Game

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Mixed reality rhythm game Symphoni introduced mod support and custom songs in today’s update.

Following last month’s launch on Quest, the first major post-launch update for techToy Studio’s Symphoni is now live. This lets you create custom songs through an open beta release of ‘Symphoni Composer,’ a new timeline-based map editor with visual creation tools for designing, testing and sharing your songs. Today’s update also integrates mod.io support for easier mod browsing.

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Symphoni focuses on classical music with composers ranging from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky. Featuring 16 different tracks with three difficulty levels, it aims to deliver a blend of spellcasting mixed with colorful interactive landscapes. Hand tracking support is available, though Touch controllers are also supported.

We had positive thoughts in our hands-on impressions last month. Though we criticized the minimalist presentation and lack of musical variety, we still considered it a welcome addition to Quest’s rhythm library.

Symphoni is a welcome addition to the VR rhythm library for those with more classical taste than contemporary, even if Maestro has already long beaten it to the punch in hand-tracking. Yet in its abstract, bare-bones presentation, it could do with making the experience feel just a touch more magical.

Symphoni is available now for the Meta Quest platform.

Symphoni Hands-On: Conducting The Classics With Your Hands Is Intuitive If Simplistic
Symphoni brings the mixed reality rhythm game to Quest today, and we went hands-on before launch.
UploadVRAlan Wen

Stay: Forever Home Brings A Mixed Reality Pet Sim To Quest Today

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Stay: Forever Home, the charming new mixed reality pet sim from the creators of Bogo and First Steps, is now available on Meta Quest headsets. 

Today, Quest owners will get their first chance to meet Ember, a delightful new virtual pet that brings its own distinct personality and aims to transform your living spaces into a whimsical mixed and virtual reality playground. Developed mostly for MR by Windup Minds, Ember interacts within a player’s scanned environment, sometimes blurring the boundaries between virtual care and genuine companionship. One interesting thing we noticed in the setup is the need to accurately set the height of your real-world couch, so Ember can jump onto it. 

Image captured by UploadVR

With this game, Windup Minds aims to take players on an interactive journey through both virtual and mixed reality worlds alongside their new companion Ember, whose quirky behavior and playful nature evolve in response to attention and affection. Whether she’s begging playfully for treats or guiding players through unexpected adventures, Ember feels alive and, quite frankly, has become another dog living in my house. 

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Video captured by UploadVR

Stay: Forever Home is out now exclusively for Meta Quest headsets. We’re currently diving paws-first into the experience, exploring just what makes Ember such a memorable companion and should have a full review soon. Until then, we’re going to spend more time getting to know Ember a bit better to see if this new MR title truly lives up to the promise of being “a game that loves you back”. 

Contractors Showdown: ExfilZone Adds New Zone, Hideout Overhaul & More

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Contractors Showdown: ExfilZone received a hefty content update today with a new deployment zone, updated hideout and more.

Marking its first server wipe since the alpha launched in December, Contractors Showdown ExfilZone notably added a new urban combat environment called ‘Resort’, which features three new bosses. Air-drops are also being introduced for high-risk loot across Resort, Dam and Suburb, while the Contractors Showdown’s Battle Royale reborn mode also features this area.

Today’s update also features a new Safe Container System for securing items during raids, meaning they won’t be lost if you die, though certain things like keys and quest items can’t be stored here. The ExfilZone hideout has been overhauled to let the weapon wall include helmets, armor and backpacks, giving you a new Medical Storage Box and Accessory Storage Box for organizing items.

Other changes include new weapons ranging from a set of G3 rifles to PSG-1 Designated Marksman Rifle, joined by a new set of G3 attachments. The overall number of missions has increased from 96 to 150 with new types of tasks available, like taking photos or using specific items. Two new female characters are now available, there’s a revamped medical system, and more.

Contractors Showdown: ExfilZone is available now on the Meta Quest platform and Steam.

Myst Added The Age Of Rime In Major Update

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Myst’s VR puzzle adventure remake introduced a new area, alongside bug fixes and quality of life updates.

Developed by Cyan Worlds, Myst is a game with a long history, initially launching on PC in 1993. Since then, the cult classic has received sequels, remasters and remakes, including a VR remake in 2020. While we missed the initial announcement last month, Myst received a major update that includes an area called The Age of Rime. You can read the full patch notes here.

The Age of Rime was not a part of Myst when it launched in 1993, and was added in the 3D remaster realMyst, which launched in 2000. In 2014, realMyst was remastered under the new name realMyst: Masterpiece Edition, which is still available to play on Steam. Now, The Age of Rime meets the refreshed visual standards of the 2020 remake, with Cyan Worlds packing in new lore and puzzles for both Myst veterans and new players to unpack

The Age of Rime is an icy, frozen outpost that players can unlock from the central hub island with a completed game save. Here, players can learn more about the game’s central protagonist, Atrus. You’ll be exploring an area that his family used to visit before the events of Myst and Riven.

Myst’s Age of Rime update is available now on Quest, Steam and Viveport.