The Explorer

The Explorer (Game Development on Simulated Ecosystem for Learning through Virtual Reality Technology)

My Responsibility: Coding game system via blueprint, Post processing (except LOD) 

    Project's Background:

    Computer games have become a part of the daily life of most people’s entertainment activity either stress-relieving, practicing, or interacting with others. Virtual reality (VR) technology is used to simulate the experience that helps users feel tangible to the real world. VR is broadly applied in various fields, one of the most popular applications is games. This project was developed by combining HTC Vive PRO as a VR device and Wizdish ROVR 1 (VR treadmill) as a player controller.

    This project is a first-person game that simulates an environment of three different types of ecosystems; tropical rainforest, savanna grassland, and desert. One drawback of VR applications is the dizziness which often presents when wearing a device for a long period of time. The common cause is asynchronous between vision and motion while playing. To reduce this effect, a VR treadmill is used as a player movement controller which directly accepts input signals when a player walks on a treadmill.

    

    Virtual Reality (VR):

    Is to simulate the environment through a computer system and displayed through the computer screen rr a 3D display device such as VR glasses. In addition, the equipment such as treadmill, gloves may be used to fulfill awareness or user experience. In this project we choose HTC Vive Pro as a main equipment. 

    HTC Vive Pro:

    HTC Vive Pro has three components; first is headset, second is controller and third is station base. all three components have a sensor that detects another device (proximity sensor). But the headset also has other sensors that detect the movement (g-sensor or accelerometer) and the direction of facing or the angle of the head down or up (gyroscope).

 

    VR Treadmill:

   Is a connected gaming device based on a virtual reality (VR) technology platform designed for running and exercise which allows users to enjoy exercising through gaming with a virtual reality technology device. The VR treadmill is also designed to address the problem of dizziness and nausea (Motion Sickness) that results from the brain feeling disconnected from the virtual world.

  We decided to use Wizdish ROVR 1 to control a player character. Wizdish is one of a VR treadmill, is receive input by a microphone under a platform.

    Main Menu:

    Once the player enters the game, this is the first thing that the player will see. The main menu was designed by a player who has stood on a small island that around by sea. There are four portals that players can interact. Three portal that transfers the player to another level; Tropical Rainforest, Desert and Savanna. One portal that exits a game. There is also a platform for collect trophies which will be obtained from completing missions within the game.

    Mission:

    We have three tiers of missions in this game. Tier 1 mission is all about taking a photo in the game. Tier 2 mission is all about collecting data from animals that players found. Tier 3 missions can complete when players complete all tier 1 and tier 2 missions in this game.

    Taking Photo:

    The player can take a photo in a scene by using the Camera function, a Camera function will capture a scene and save it in the player device as a screenshot.

    Collecting Data:

    In each level will have an animal to explore, player can collect animal data by going to near it and clicking on a button to collect data Once the player had collect data, a game will show animal data; name, scientific name, type, and nutrition.

    Tropical Rainforest:

   The Tropical Rainforest was designed by trees are growing massively and a river flowing through the middle of the scene. For animals in this level, we have a vampire bat, an armed spiders, a trinidad gecko, a leopard, a tiger a toucan, and a box turtle.

    Savanna Grassland:

    The savanna grassland was designed by there are growing trees that are spaced apart, but with the growth of shrubs are very dense. It also has a greater variety of life than other scenes. For animals in this level, we have an african elephant, a cape buffalo, a rhinoceros, a zebra, a lion, a crocodile, and a hippopotamus.

    

    Desert:

    The most of desert scene are sand dunes and open-plan scenes, but this level has less of a living diversity than the others. For animals in this level, we have a camel, a fennec fox, a desert horned viper, a horned lizard and a yellow fat-tailed scorpion.

    Day/Night Cycle:

    In this game, we have a day and night cycle to all three-level except the main menu. The duration of one cycle is equal to fifteen minutes in the real world. Also, the time of day and night. It affects the appearance of certain animals as well.