HappyGiant, the award-winning AR and VR game developer, announced today it has signed with a new publishing partner, Big Sugar, for its latest game Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual!. Additionally, the developer revealed which VR platforms the virtual reality adventure will be available on, leading with the Oculus Quest platform, this June for $29.99 USD. Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual! will then follow later this year with versions for SteamVR and Viveport Infinity, and then be released on PlayStationVR (PSVR) in early 2022.
Gameplay Highlights
- Experience the two-fisted japes and tomfoolery of internationally beloved icons Sam & Max in mind-melting virtual reality!
- Push yourself to be the best of the best of the middling, as a dog and a naked rabbity thing harangue and cajole you through a bewildering assortment of Freelance Police Academy training challenges.
- Discover the horrible and socially relevant secrets lurking behind, under, and within Cap’n Aquabear’s rotting theme park!
- Give evil scientists and demonic trespassers their just desserts… with sprinkles!
- Immersion so real you can feel Sam’s breath on your neck!
“We’re thrilled to finally announce platforms for Sam & Max: This Time’s It’s Virtual!”, said Mike Levine, HappyGiant CEO. “We’ve created something insanely weird and fun. It’s breaking new ground for VR, while staying true to the Sam & Max / LucasArts vibe”, added Levine. “The folks at Big Sugar have been phenomenal supporting us and helping us bring the game to as many platforms as possible.”
Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual! is the pair’s first original game in over a decade, as well as their inaugural foray into VR. It blends the banter and classic crime-solving adventure elements for which the duo is known with specialized Freelance Police training exercises, resulting in a fresh, eclectic experience that is unique to the medium.
Even multimedia evil-slappers like Sam & Max could use a hand, and this time they’re using the incomprehensible magic of virtual reality to invite the player into their off-kilter world for a furious day of monster-slaying, obstacle courses, responsibly discharged firearms, and, of course, saving the entire freaking world.
“HappyGiant has assembled an all-star team of LucasArts veterans, and created a game dripping with nostalgia, as well as being on the cutting edge of VR Gaming”, said Nick Alfieri, CEO of Big Sugar. “Whether you are an old school Sam & Max fan, or new to the franchise, this game has something for everyone.”
HappyGiant’s team includes Steve Purcell, the creator of Sam & Max, who is consulting on the game design, art, and story. In addition, other team members include renowned concept artist Peter Chan and writer/designer Mike Stemmle, both of whom held lead roles on LucasArts 1992’s Hit the Road. Julian Kwasneski and Jared Emerson-Johnson of Bay Area Sound, who worked on the Telltale series, are also on board. David Nowlin and Dave Boat are returning to voice Sam and Max.
