Latest news with #Arina
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between Brings Heartfelt Puzzle Adventure to VR on August 7, 2025
Melbourne-based developer The Voxel Agents is transforming its award-winning puzzle adventure The Gardens Between into an immersive VR experience with Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between. Launching August 7 on Meta Quest andSteamVR, this expanded edition reimagines the touching tale of childhood friendship between Arina and Frendt. Set two decades after the original, Hidden Memories begins when Frendt stumbles upon Arina's old diary while moving. Opening it transports him-and players-back into the dreamlike Gardens Between. What follows is not just a replay of the original journey, but a deepened emotional experience enriched with Arina's personal reflections and diary entries. This VR edition more than doubles the original content, adding approximately 40 all-new puzzles woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. The game infuses classic time-bending mechanics-manipulating the flow of time to guide Arina and Frendt across garden-like islands-with tactile, VR-specific interactions. Players can build friendship bracelets bead by bead, paint art, explore cherished toys, and physically engage with diary pages in a vivid, sensory journey through memory. The storytelling is as poignant as ever, spotlighting shared childhood moments like art sessions, outdoor play, and heartfelt bond-forming. Through Arina's diary, players gain a fresh perspective on her adolescence and the friendship's evolution, while interactive elements breathe light and life into every memory. "Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between pays homage to precious friendships we hold near and dear to our hearts," says Simon Joslin, co-founder of The Voxel Agents. The VR experience also supports both controller-based gameplay and hand-tracking on Quest devices, deepening the connection between player and narrative. With its August 7 release, Hidden Memories invites both veterans of the original and newcomers to step into a tender, whimsical world redefined for VR-where time, memories, and friendship intertwine in beautiful harmony. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Engadget
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Indie hit 'The Gardens Between' has been reworked for virtual reality
The Voxel Agents has significantly expanded its indie hit game, The Gardens Between , and has remade it for virtual reality. It has debuted the new version of the time-bending puzzler at the Shacknews E4 Indie Showcase, which featured 15 game developers showing off content for their upcoming titles. The new game, now called Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between , still revolves around childhood best friends Arina and Frendt. But now the story begins two decades after the original one when Frendt finds Arina's old diary in the midst of moving. Frendt is transported back into the events in the original The Gardens Between, but he's now guided by Arina's diary, which will show her perspective as they traverse the dreamlike landscapes of the game. The new version comes with 40 new puzzles across levels with immersive interactions made specifically for virtual reality. Players will be able to reach out to assemble toy parts, for instance, lift a brush to paint and even craft a friendship bracelet with their hands. "We wanted to tap into something relatable, familiar, and nostalgic through the lens of VR. The magic of being a kid is fleeting, but the story of Arina and Frendt captures that enchantment in a beautiful package," said Simon Joslin, co-founder of The Voxel Agents. The developer will be releasing a demo of the game at Steam Next Fest, which will take place from June 9 to June 16, 2025. Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between has no release date yet, but it will be available sometime this year for the Meta Quest and SteamVR. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ukrainian children perform at London service to mark anniversary
"We want freedom and we want peace," said 11-year-old Liza, from St Mary's Ukrainian School Choir in spoke following a performance at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster to mark the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine."I have the power to tell the story of children," she said. "I really want to see my bedroom again."We want this cruel, frightening war to stop." 'Really hard' Liza recalled the moment she came to the UK, having fled the war."It was really frightening and scary," she said. "You enter a new country without learning any of the language."It was a really big change for me. But now everything is good. Our family have many friends and I feel really comfortable here." Arina, 13, also from the school's choir, said that children in Ukraine needed a "normal childhood"."This day is really hard. It's a day when we can remind people that there is still a war in Ukraine. Children in Ukraine need peace."She also spoke of her arrival in the UK."It was really hard for me," she said. "When you're younger, it's hard because you left your friends and you just moved to another country, but it's easier to learn a new language and adapt to a new country. "But when you're older, you understand that you haven't just left your friends and family. You left, and you'll be safe, but your family members and your friends will be in danger."That's much harder to understand."Arina added: "Maybe one day I will go back and just help to restore the country." The interfaith service on Monday welcomed several Ukrainian community ambassadors, MPs, members of the House of Lords and other civil Kenneth Nowakowski said it was a challenging day."It's hard for me to believe," he said. "It's saddening and it's shocking... passing this third anniversary." Nataliya Vitiv, from Ukrainian Community Centre East London, said she prayed for peace in Ukraine and the rest of the world."Today is three years since the war has started, and it's very hard for us because many young people died," she Vitiv said she had been living in the UK for eight years but still had family in Ukraine."Many friends are fighting, defending Ukraine, so it's not easy for us. But we pray and we wish that the war will stop soon, and we will be happy again." 'Our heart is there' She told BBC London about phone calls from her mother, who is in Ukraine, during which she could hear noise from the war, and was told of people hiding in shelters."It is not easy," she said. "I call them every day. We support them, we send them help and kind words."Even when we are far from them, our heart is there."
