Google Earth VR
This page is a stub, please expand it if you have more information.| Google Earth VR | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| VR/AR | VR |
| Developer | |
| Publisher | |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Device | HTC Vive |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Type | Full Game |
| Genre | Adventure, Casual, Free to Play, Simulation, Free to Play, VR |
| Input Device | Tracked motion controllers |
| Play Area | Seated, Standing, Room-Scale |
| Game Mode | Single Player |
| Language | English |
| Review | Overwhelmingly Positive |
| Release Date | Nov 16, 2016 |
| Price | Free |
| App Store | Steam |
| Website | https://vr.google.com/earth |
| Infobox Updated | 11/20/2016 |
Contents
Review
If by any chance in your life you’ve been on the internet and gotten bored, it’s more than likely that you’ve gone onto Google Earth to waste some time; look up a new street address or just see what it’s like in other countries in comparison to your own. At first the VR variation may not in actual fact scream fun, it definitely does make things interesting.
For those of you who might not know already, Google Earth is Google’s attempt at trying to map out the entirety of planet Earth using images that are shot in a 360° angle and are spliced together to give you a real sense of what that location is truly like; without it being just a simple picture. Google Earth VR effectively takes that specific formula and adds a VR element to it all to give it that added layer of depth that you wouldn’t find any other way – besides being in that very location yourself.
Google Earth VR does require you to make use of the HTC Vive, which I can understand to some degree, but it shouldn’t be mandatory. The reason they do require the Vive is because you can use the controllers to scroll around the Earth and its subsequent areas, however, you can do the exact same thing with a mouse and if you already have a VR headset, such as the Oculus Rift, it kind of makes enjoying this program a little more difficult. Again, it’s completely understandable on why they would have you use the HTC Vive and its motion controllers; it would just be nice to be able to turn off that particular option and use your mouse and keyboard as you see fit.
Moving past that, there are a vast number of areas that you can explore and encounter that have their buildings built into a 3D perspective. What this means for the user is that they can look around some of the finer details of buildings that you might not be able to experience in real life. For instance, you could look around the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben and see areas of those two landmarks that you would never be able to do in real life; well, short of actually climbing the building for yourself!
Following on from that, the only real detriment I’ve come across in Google Earth VR, not that it’s exclusively to the VR version of Google Earth is some of the more rural areas don’t have the detailed buildings that popular, world-renowned cities and towns will have. On the upside to this, though is that Google Earth is constantly being updated and improved, so within time the globe will come ever closer to being fully realised in a 3D space.
In comparison to the original version of Google Earth this doesn’t add anything extra, other than the added depth of VR to improve the overall experience. There is absolutely no way at all that this could be considered a reason to pick up a VR headset, but if you already have one and want to see some new locations around the globe, without having to pay to physically go there, then Google Earth VR is a great, little addition to anyone’s VR library.
Overall, Google Earth VR isn’t going to be one of those flagships titles that are a diehard reason to purchase a VR headset, but the added depth that you’ll be receiving from it is an experience that you won’t want to miss. Unfortunately, not all locations in the world are quite as widely developed, such as all the landmarks in the world, but the improvement of both Google Earth and Google Earth VR is ongoing and in time you’ll have the opportunity to walk through that tiny village in the middle of Spain that you’ve never heard of, but love the cosiness of it all.
Description
Google Earth VR lets you explore the world from totally new perspectives in virtual reality. Stroll the streets of Tokyo, soar over the Grand Canyon, or walk around the Eiffel Tower. This virtual reality app lets you see the world’s cities, landmarks, and natural wonders. You can fly over a city, stand at the top of the highest peaks, and even soar into space. Earth VR comes with cinematic tours and hand-picked destinations that send you to the Amazon River, the Manhattan skyline, the Grand Canyon, the Swiss Alps, and more.
Features
System Requirements
Windows
Minimum
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 or later, Windows 10
- Processor: Intel i5-6400 equivalent or better
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, AMD Radeon R9 Fury equivalent or better
- Storage: 4 GB available space
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel i7-6700 equivalent or better
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 or better
- Storage: 8 GB available space
