An attendee tries an Oculus-powered Samsung Gear VR headset during the French telecom Orange annual company's innovations show in Paris October 2, 2014.
An attendee tries an Oculus-powered Samsung Gear VR headset during the French telecom Orange annual company's innovations show in Paris October 2, 2014. Reuters/Charles Platiau

If there's only thing that can rival the awe inspired by virtual reality headsets, it's the sheer marketing push and hype surrounding the technology. The Internet is abuzz with previews and technology showcases VR prototypes such as Sony's Morpheus and Valve-HTC joint venture Vive VR headset. Even as these VR companies provide a sneak peek into what consumers can expect in the future, Samsung's Gear VR headset already has a finished VR product in hand.

Japanese videogame developer DeNA has announced "Protocol Zero" at the Game Developers Conference, according to Gamespot. The VR game is exclusive to the Samsung Gear VR headset, which incorporates core Samsung hardware powered by technology developed in conjunction with the VR pioneer Oculus Rift.

In addition to requiring the Gear VR headset, "Protocol Zero" can only be run on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The game is a first-person shooter that pans out in a futuristic sci-fi setting. The story seems to be the cookie cutter FPS affair, which isn't out of the ordinary since this is a mobile game. Players assume the identity of lone operative who has been sent on a one-man mission to overthrow a brutal regime in a war-torn city.

"Samsung Gear VR Innovation Edition offers a thrilling experience of complete immersion and discovery in mobile games, and DeNA is excited to be amongst the first to tap into the device's massive potential," explains Barry Dorf, Vice President of Partnerships and Alliances at the developer DeNA through the official press release. "We've designed Protocol Zero to exclusively leverage the Note 4 and Oculus technology behind the Gear VR, including the smooth 360° scanning and movement around environments, use of hi-tech military optics, suspenseful action, and a point-to-point tactical gameplay experience."

The game can be best described as a VR clone of the "Splinter Cell" games, where the player has to silently and covertly take down unsuspecting targets without being detected. The stealth gameplay isn't the only commonality. The protagonist in "Protocol Zero" is equipped with the sort of gear that Sam Fisher would approve of. The VR experience is enhanced by incorporating advanced tactical optics, such as night vision and X-ray, as well as thermal optics. The basic gameplay involves scanning rooms for hostiles using the myriad tools at the player's disposal, and then taking them out with covert precision.

"Protocol Zero" was initially launched as a free demo, with the full version made available later for $5. The demo version is still in existence for those who want to try out the VR experience to determine if it's worth shelling out the asking price. However, the game entails a higher price of entry for those who do not possess a separate gamepad for their Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The game absolutely requires a separate gamepad.

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SAMSUNG GEAR VR PROTOCOL ZERO DEMO (credit: GamesWithWolfsuka YouTube channel)

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