Job Simulator Gets Twitch Chat In-Game, A VR First

Owlchemy Labs released an update to its popular standing-scale VR game, Job Simulator, that introduces a first for a VR game: an in-game Twitch.tv chat window that you can read while streaming the game.

“As part of our efforts to make VR more social, we wanted to add the ability for streamers to be able to react live to their viewers when broadcasting 'Job Simulator' gameplay,” Owlchemy Labs said. “When you’re inside VR, it can sometimes be hard to get to the information you need, so why not pipe it directly into the experience!”

Owlchemy is on a quest to pioneer social uses of VR. The company already added a spectator mode that gives the player an in-game movie camera that can be placed anywhere in the environment, or you can hold it in your hands, letting you play as the camera technician. Job Simulator also features a mixed reality mode that makes it easier to record yourself inside the digital environment.

Owlchemy Labs said that both of these features will help you share the experience of VR with others who haven’t yet had the chance to try it for themselves, and now you’ll be able to interact with your viewers as you play around within the game.

The Twitch chat screen appears in-game as a small square tablet. In typical Job Simulator form, you’ll have liberal freedom to do what you want with the chat window. You can scale the size up and down to make it easier to read, or you can just pick it up and look at it closely. You can also place it anywhere within reach of your controllers.

Owlchemy Labs said that the Twitch.tv chat integration feature launched today in an automatic update through Steam. The update also adds the ability to put on a virtual hat! What can’t you do in VR these days?

Follow Kevin Carbotte @pumcypuhoy. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.

 Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years. 

  • jaber2
    Nice, teaching our kids the jobs of tomorrow, in the service industry
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    Nice, teaching our kids the jobs of tomorrow, in the service industry

    I wouldn't let my kid anywhere near Twitch chat.
    Reply
  • gggplaya
    Working at the Quiky Mart is a dangerous job. If you screw up opening the safe, you could be dead. Good thing you can practice in VR.
    Reply
  • 10tacle
    17856387 said:
    Nice, teaching our kids the jobs of tomorrow, in the service industry

    Don't be so sure even those jobs will be around. The food service industry is looking into more food automation processes. There are even some full service sit down chain restaurants experimenting with table scheduling/reserving and order taking via phone or tablet app...so you don't even need a dedicated server or hostess.

    The idea is you check the menu and daily specials from home or the car, ask any questions or special requests from a customer service rep in live chat, then place your order and show up at your scheduled and assigned time and table.
    Reply
  • gggplaya
    17856904 said:
    17856387 said:
    Nice, teaching our kids the jobs of tomorrow, in the service industry

    Don't be so sure even those jobs will be around. The food service industry is looking into more food automation processes. There are even some full service sit down chain restaurants experimenting with table scheduling/reserving and order taking via phone or tablet app...so you don't even need a dedicated server or hostess.

    The idea is you check the menu and daily specials from home or the car, ask any questions or special requests from a customer service rep in live chat, then place your order and show up at your scheduled and assigned time and table.

    Actually Red Robin already have kiosks(tablets) built into their tables. You can order food and pay by seat all on the table. The someone just has to bring out the food.

    But the most restaurant innovation is coming out of Japan, they have some pretty cool automated systems which can deliver food to the table, or bring up a selection of sushi for you to choose from, then charge you accordingly.

    But yea, you're right. Alot of servers are going to lose their jobs at $15 an hour. Paying them $3 plus tips take most of the burden and risk off the restaurant owner. Resturants have very low margins. Unless you're a busy chain, they really don't make the kind of money people think they do.
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    if i want to play a job simulator i will just break out my copy of Postal 2 lol
    Reply
  • PopinFRESH007
    Not to knock Owlchemy Labs, But Toms is incorrect in saying they are the first with in-VR twitch chat. Their implementation is definitely cool, as well as their in-VR spectator mode cameras. However, the pioneers of both of those concepts belongs to the Northways with Fantastic Contraption. Northway Games has been on Twitch for a while now innovating in the area of Mixed-Reality streaming, and they were really the ones who turned Valve onto the notion for their Mixed-Reality SteamVR launch videos shot in the GreenScreen Studio.

    -PopinFRESH
    Reply