Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul

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Buried Egg Mar 31, 2017 @ 6:00am
Have I hit a "game-ending bug"? (SPOILERS)
***NOTE***
< This post only pertained to the Non-Updated version of this game. This bug is no longer present in the game Post-Update! >

I escaped the lady with the hammer, ended up in that red version of the house. I "chose my path" and got the cleaver/knife. As soon as I picked up the knife I was teleported back to a 'regular' room in the house. I got the tape recorder/tape, played it in front of the fire (there's already a fire going in the fireplace) and nothing happened. The kitchen key is back hanging on the bathroom mirror again (even though there's an identical kitchen key stuck in the kitchen door from before).
The room next to the kitchen (I can see a hair brush through the window in there) is locked.
I can't do anything now except walk around the house and pull on locked doors. Is the game broken? I've been stuck for three days now.
Last edited by Buried Egg; May 1, 2017 @ 6:16am
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Showing 1-15 of 16 comments
shponglefan Mar 31, 2017 @ 6:23am 
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
I got the tape recorder/tape, played it in front of the fire (there's already a fire going in the fireplace) and nothing happened.

That sounds like a bug. Unless there is some other invisible 'trigger' that was missed in the mean time, but not sure what that could be.
Buried Egg Mar 31, 2017 @ 7:06am 
Yeah, I'm having a very hard time trying to figure out if the things in this game are bugs or deliberate. I've had books fly right at my head and not even hurt me. I've had spikes shoot right out of a door and go right through my body and not kill me. Is this supposed to happen? So far I'm not scared at all. Why is everybody saying this game is scary? This can't just be me. When the little girl appeared right in my face in the dark red hallway, I just calmly (without screaming like the people in the trailer videos) got as close to her with the lighter as possible to study the details of her face.

Keep in mind that my Vive play area is a 40x40 foot garage with padded floor and ceiling-swivel-mounted cables (to keep the headset cables out of my way at all times), so I don't have to use any trackpad locomotion at all. I just walk around the virtual house with my real body like I'm really there. So, I don't think the problem is my setup.

As soon as I realized that nothing can hurt or kill me (except the lady with the hammer) I start feeling like I'm in a tech demo. It honestly feels like that "Showdown" demo where you just walk around and watch bullets and rockets and bricks fly into your face and nothing hurts you.

Devs, please let me know if I've misunderstood and just got the wrong idea. Is this "horror game" supposed to be like a 360 movie experience or a truly interactive game? The only "interaction" I've had in nearly FOUR HOURS of play is just walking around the house picking up freekin' children's toys off the floor. Is that it? I'm a parent! That's what I do in real life already! I don't need VR to experience collecting kids toys off the floor and hearing the occasional door handle jiggle from some kid trying to 'scare daddy'.

Please devs, let us know if there's going to be more. The scares aren't working at all for me. I've kept my word, since release day, and have not written a review until the game is done. But, honestly, I've been more generous with this game than with others by spending this much of my precious little free-time trying to keep playing and replaying trying to figure out if I've hit a bug or if I just missed something.

Really trying to be understanding here because I want this game to succeed!
Last edited by Buried Egg; Mar 31, 2017 @ 11:21am
Hooded Crow Mar 31, 2017 @ 9:44pm 
Im calling BS on your 40x40 garage, "I walk the entire house" statement because I know for a fact you cant just walk up the stairs in game and the lighthouses aren't capable of that much play space anyways. There is danger in this game but it's only during or between certain events. This game is probably not for you if you havn't enjoyed it up to this point even with experiencing game breaking bugs. The scares you've encountered are along the same lines of the rest that you will experience if you were to keep going.
Last edited by Hooded Crow; Mar 31, 2017 @ 9:44pm
Buried Egg Apr 1, 2017 @ 6:30am 
Originally posted by Hooded Crow:
Im calling BS on your 40x40 garage, "I walk the entire house" statement because I know for a fact you cant just walk up the stairs in game and the lighthouses aren't capable of that much play space anyways. There is danger in this game but it's only during or between certain events. This game is probably not for you if you havn't enjoyed it up to this point even with experiencing game breaking bugs. The scares you've encountered are along the same lines of the rest that you will experience if you were to keep going.

Oh go$#amnit. I messed up on the footage. The garage VR playroom is 8 yards x 8 yards so that's 24ft x24ft. Not 40x40. I'm sorry my math was wrong. I have a 2hr commute each way and am sleep deprived. So, you're half right. But still, obviously I have to use the trackpad to go upstairs! C'mon. Cut me some slack!
Here's some video of my co-workers and some neighborhood kids playing in my 24x24 setup:
https://youtu.be/Wc0v75-hfCg
It's no BS, dude.

That said, I only get an hour each night to play in VR and make notes on bugs for the games I really want to help out the developers with and that's kinda why I feel cheated when I run into so many points in games like this (paid Triple A price for Early Access and now I'm bugtesting?) where I have to start hunting around the whole game space testing every nook and cranny to determine if its a bug and I should start over, or if I just missed something. I've lost a lot of game-time to PAVR because of this. A LOT! I've actually compiled a massive list of bugs, notes, and suggestions if the devs here actually want it.

I graduated from an Architecture, Engineering, & Design School with a heavy focus on VR and Motion Rides. I also worked for Acclaim back in the nineties, so I know a bit about game design and bug-testing. When it comes to good AAA immersion there are "rules" now. There was a big talk given at a panel recently (I think the article is at RoadToVR) where things like "always use particles", "everything should be interactive/grab-able", "always use textures or at least noise mapping", etc, are agreed upon now as imperative for good immersion. Look at "The Lab". They follow almost every guideline.

You know, this could really be a scary game if things like those door spikes were a little easier to dodge, but would end your game if the y hit you, forcing you to respawn a short bit backward in your progress. Also, don't you agree that all the scares (the non-lethal ones) feel like that Dinosaur in the DreamDeck demo from last year? You know, the T-Rex is kinda scary but as he's standing over you roaring, you just kinda stand there looking at him, calmly studying him. The scariest thing in this game, to me, was running from that hammer woman. I knew I had to act in order to survive, rather than just gawk at the "scary thing" on screen like a movie. I think, instead of relying on so many jump scares, they could have more threatening things like something dark, big, and clumsy lumbering quickly down the hallway toward you. Doesn't even have to kill/hurt you, but at least it would seem more threatening. Maybe instead of constant door handle sounds (I'm totally desensitized to them now btw) maybe upstairs footsteps or heavy footsteps in another room. "Something might be coming to get you!" kinda sounds, ya know? "Arizona Sunshine", specifically the mines, is ten times scarier because if something jumps out at you in that game you *have* to react to it (kill it) and quickly or you're dead, period.

I've typed waaay too much here so I'm gonna cut it short. Just for now, and I'm being honest in order to be helpful, it feels like a "Go Around The House and Pick Up Things" simulator ...during a thunderstorm. Maybe that's because I'm stuck on a game-ending glitch and can't proceed. Devs haven't responded to my original message in 2 days so I don't know. All I know is I've been stuck walking around the "haunted house" for the last 3 days just walking from room to room with nothing going on except for door handle jiggles to try and scare me. I tried restarting and it always ends up the same. Boring.
VRWERX  [developer] Apr 3, 2017 @ 8:55am 
Buried Egg, thanks for the support. We have not seen this bug yet and will try to reproduce it. we are exploring the issue. In regards to being scared, there is nothing we can do. thats a completely subjective matter. are you playing with the headphones on? the audio definitely enhances the experience. This is an Early Access build and many more scares and the alternate ending is being added. including our randomization of items and scares. regardless, thanks again for playing and we'll check back in in regards to your game bug. thank you.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
I escaped the lady with the hammer, ended up in that red version of the house. I "chose my path" and got the cleaver/knife. As soon as I picked up the knife I was teleported back to a 'regular' room in the house. I got the tape recorder/tape, played it in front of the fire (there's already a fire going in the fireplace) and nothing happened. The kitchen key is back hanging on the bathroom mirror again (even though there's an identical kitchen key stuck in the kitchen door from before).
The room next to the kitchen (I can see a hair brush through the window in there) is locked.
I can't do anything now except walk around the house and pull on locked doors. Is the game broken? I've been stuck for three days now.
Buried Egg Apr 4, 2017 @ 9:52am 
VRWERX, thank you for checking on this. As of the latest (March 31st 2017) Update the fire extinguishes and the fireplace now properly opens when I play the tape player. Believe it or not, in order to report back to you guys accurately, I literally started a new game (post Update) and performed all steps and picked up all objects in the exact same order as I did before (pre-Update) to make sure the fireplace glitch I experienced did not reproduce.

As for the scare suggestions, I know that those are creative decisions and your Creative Team are the artists, not me. Your creative vision as artists is the only one that should count because this piece of work is your artistic expression, not mine. So it's cool with me if you never change anything scare-wise.

In that spirit, I only suggest that you possibly add more "scares" that require the user 'react' or do something (run?) because that might help create more stress or a sense of *urgency* for users, ie; more fear! Every time I've played through this thing, the only thing I truly dread is that mother with the hammer. I even sometimes try to see how long I can stand there before I *have* to run! Ha!

I've found that with horror software titles, the most frightening situations (for me of course) are when there is a sense of *urgency* added to the atmosphere of dread and jump scares. You're plodding through this creepy house taking your time inspect everything and all of a sudden the walls are closing in you have to find a way out. Or something is coming directly for you and whatever it is you've got to do something about it now. You know, in film it's the ol' "fumbling the car keys while the monster is chasing you" gag.

Thanks again for a great ride so far! ...and thanks for listening!


Originally posted by VRWERX:
Buried Egg, thanks for the support. We have not seen this bug yet and will try to reproduce it. we are exploring the issue. In regards to being scared, there is nothing we can do. thats a completely subjective matter. are you playing with the headphones on? the audio definitely enhances the experience. This is an Early Access build and many more scares and the alternate ending is being added. including our randomization of items and scares. regardless, thanks again for playing and we'll check back in in regards to your game bug. thank you.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
I escaped the lady with the hammer, ended up in that red version of the house. I "chose my path" and got the cleaver/knife. As soon as I picked up the knife I was teleported back to a 'regular' room in the house. I got the tape recorder/tape, played it in front of the fire (there's already a fire going in the fireplace) and nothing happened. The kitchen key is back hanging on the bathroom mirror again (even though there's an identical kitchen key stuck in the kitchen door from before).
The room next to the kitchen (I can see a hair brush through the window in there) is locked.
I can't do anything now except walk around the house and pull on locked doors. Is the game broken? I've been stuck for three days now.
Last edited by Buried Egg; Apr 4, 2017 @ 9:58am
Buried Egg Apr 4, 2017 @ 10:03am 
I forgot to add one other thing I noticed. During the sequence where the user has to hide under the stairs, I couldn't tell whether the "mother" was looking at me when she bent down and spoke or if she was just peering into the darkness still looking for me and just talking.

Maybe have her head track the user's head (like the inflatable clowns did) or even have the pupils of her eyes focus (narrow down) on the user?

Anyway, thanks again for listening!


Originally posted by Buried Egg:
VRWERX, thank you for checking on this. As of the latest (March 31st 2017) Update the fire extinguishes and the fireplace now properly opens when I play the tape player. Believe it or not, in order to report back to you guys accurately, I literally started a new game (post Update) and performed all steps and picked up all objects in the exact same order as I did before (pre-Update) to make sure the fireplace glitch I experienced did not reproduce.

As for the scare suggestions, I know that those are creative decisions and your Creative Team are the artists, not me. Your creative vision as artists is the only one that should count because this piece of work is your artistic expression, not mine. So it's cool with me if you never change anything scare-wise.

In that spirit, I only suggest that you possibly add more "scares" that require the user 'react' or do something (run?) because that might help create more stress or a sense of *urgency* for users, ie; more fear! Every time I've played through this thing, the only thing I truly dread is that mother with the hammer. I even sometimes try to see how long I can stand there before I *have* to run! Ha!

I've found that with horror software titles, the most frightening situations (for me of course) are when there is a sense of *urgency* added to the atmosphere of dread and jump scares. You're plodding through this creepy house taking your time inspect everything and all of a sudden the walls are closing in you have to find a way out. Or something is coming directly for you and whatever it is you've got to do something about it now. You know, in film it's the ol' "fumbling the car keys while the monster is chasing you" gag.

Thanks again for a great ride so far! ...and thanks for listening!


Originally posted by VRWERX:
Buried Egg, thanks for the support. We have not seen this bug yet and will try to reproduce it. we are exploring the issue. In regards to being scared, there is nothing we can do. thats a completely subjective matter. are you playing with the headphones on? the audio definitely enhances the experience. This is an Early Access build and many more scares and the alternate ending is being added. including our randomization of items and scares. regardless, thanks again for playing and we'll check back in in regards to your game bug. thank you.
VRWERX  [developer] Apr 4, 2017 @ 11:58am 
Buried Egg, thank you so much for taking the time to write this. So greatly appreciated. Great comments. We are adding more scares and the the mother animation is actually be reworked. new fixes, tweaks and additions for the final version. The mother does have head tracking but the eye tracking is still being worked own and hopefully we pull it off. seems like the head tracking was not working for you? we will look into that. in regards to the sense of urgency, that will be in future builds if not latest the final version. The will be a Death mechanic and you will need to hide. Bottom line, you are 100% correct, but please know thats why this is early access. all those items are being designed currently, and we are tracking peoples experiences to hopefully improve them. THANK YOU again for being such a great supporter!
Buried Egg Apr 28, 2017 @ 8:26am 
Well, I said a while back that I would always admit when I'm wrong. Here we go...
I ran into something last night in this game that made my heart beat so fast and hard that I had to rip the headset off and shut the game down. Nevermind all the bull$#!7 I said about not being scary enough above. Its scary enough. No. You know what? As a matter of fact, PLEASE don't make this game any scarier! I've learned my lesson. You guys got me. Holy $#&7! I'll never act tough again and say this isn't scary I was wrong... just so wrong... Oh God, how am I going to finish this game?

The horror... The horror...

Originally posted by VRWERX:
Buried Egg, thank you so much for taking the time to write this. So greatly appreciated. Great comments. We are adding more scares and the the mother animation is actually be reworked. new fixes, tweaks and additions for the final version. The mother does have head tracking but the eye tracking is still being worked own and hopefully we pull it off. seems like the head tracking was not working for you? we will look into that. in regards to the sense of urgency, that will be in future builds if not latest the final version. The will be a Death mechanic and you will need to hide. Bottom line, you are 100% correct, but please know thats why this is early access. all those items are being designed currently, and we are tracking peoples experiences to hopefully improve them. THANK YOU again for being such a great supporter!
VRWERX  [developer] Apr 28, 2017 @ 8:39am 
Thank you, and greatly appreciate you sticking with the game! we truly are grateful.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
Well, I said a while back that I would always admit when I'm wrong. Here we go...
I ran into something last night in this game that made my heart beat so fast and hard that I had to rip the headset off and shut the game down. Nevermind all the bull$#!7 I said about not being scary enough above. Its scary enough. No. You know what? As a matter of fact, PLEASE don't make this game any scarier! I've learned my lesson. You guys got me. Holy $#&7! I'll never act tough again and say this isn't scary I was wrong... just so wrong... Oh God, how am I going to finish this game?

The horror... The horror...

Originally posted by VRWERX:
Buried Egg, thank you so much for taking the time to write this. So greatly appreciated. Great comments. We are adding more scares and the the mother animation is actually be reworked. new fixes, tweaks and additions for the final version. The mother does have head tracking but the eye tracking is still being worked own and hopefully we pull it off. seems like the head tracking was not working for you? we will look into that. in regards to the sense of urgency, that will be in future builds if not latest the final version. The will be a Death mechanic and you will need to hide. Bottom line, you are 100% correct, but please know thats why this is early access. all those items are being designed currently, and we are tracking peoples experiences to hopefully improve them. THANK YOU again for being such a great supporter!
Buried Egg Apr 28, 2017 @ 8:51am 
No problem. But, you guys owe me a new pair of underwear! I was so scared I could feel my heart beat in my neck and my arms and legs, man! Great work!

Seriously, though. It was so frightening that I was too rattled to continue playing *any* other VR games last night. Even silly ones like "Rick and Morty"!

Not exaggerating. I finally had to just go upstairs and drink straight whiskey and watch Star Wars Rebels to calm my nerves. But, even with the whiskey, I could barely pay attention to the cartoon! Too shook up by what I had encountered in-game.

Excellent work guys. This is my new go-to experience to show new-to-VR guests!


Originally posted by VRWERX:
Thank you, and greatly appreciate you sticking with the game! we truly are grateful.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
Well, I said a while back that I would always admit when I'm wrong. Here we go...
I ran into something last night in this game that made my heart beat so fast and hard that I had to rip the headset off and shut the game down. Nevermind all the bull$#!7 I said about not being scary enough above. Its scary enough. No. You know what? As a matter of fact, PLEASE don't make this game any scarier! I've learned my lesson. You guys got me. Holy $#&7! I'll never act tough again and say this isn't scary I was wrong... just so wrong... Oh God, how am I going to finish this game?

The horror... The horror...
Last edited by Buried Egg; Apr 28, 2017 @ 8:52am
VRWERX  [developer] Apr 28, 2017 @ 8:58am 
haha, we can't replace the underwear, but if you get us an address we'll send you a Paranormal Activity The Lost Soul tee-shirt.thanks again.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
No problem. But, you guys owe me a new pair of underwear! I was so scared I could feel my heart beat in my neck and my arms and legs, man! Great work!

Seriously, though. It was so frightening that I was too rattled to continue playing *any* other VR games last night. Even silly ones like "Rick and Morty"!

Not exaggerating. I finally had to just go upstairs and drink straight whiskey and watch Star Wars Rebels to calm my nerves. But, even with the whiskey, I could barely pay attention to the cartoon! Too shook up by what I had encountered in-game.

Excellent work guys. This is my new go-to experience to show new-to-VR guests!


Originally posted by VRWERX:
Thank you, and greatly appreciate you sticking with the game! we truly are grateful.
Buried Egg Apr 28, 2017 @ 9:13am 
Ha! Ha! Thanks! Where can I privately send my home address to you? I don't see a way to PM you here.

Originally posted by VRWERX:
haha, we can't replace the underwear, but if you get us an address we'll send you a Paranormal Activity The Lost Soul tee-shirt.thanks again.
Originally posted by Buried Egg:
No problem. But, you guys owe me a new pair of underwear! I was so scared I could feel my heart beat in my neck and my arms and legs, man! Great work!

Seriously, though. It was so frightening that I was too rattled to continue playing *any* other VR games last night. Even silly ones like "Rick and Morty"!

Not exaggerating. I finally had to just go upstairs and drink straight whiskey and watch Star Wars Rebels to calm my nerves. But, even with the whiskey, I could barely pay attention to the cartoon! Too shook up by what I had encountered in-game.

Excellent work guys. This is my new go-to experience to show new-to-VR guests!

Last edited by Buried Egg; Apr 28, 2017 @ 9:14am
VRWERX  [developer] Apr 28, 2017 @ 2:02pm 
you can send a private message via twitter @pavrgame if you like?
Hooded Crow Apr 30, 2017 @ 12:55am 
Do you guys have a merch shop? I sell Vives and give demos, yours not included. I don’t think I could get away with a T-shirt but I'd love to have like a sweat band or something to promote it.
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Date Posted: Mar 31, 2017 @ 6:00am
Posts: 16