The Planet VR

Role: VR Developer, Experience Designer, User Researcher

Timeline: Apr 2019 - Jul 2019

Platform: Windows, HTC Vive

Background

The Planet - Virtual Reality Space Exploration" The project aims to popularize and make space exploration more accessible by providing a cutting-edge technological experience while educating users about space exploration and increasing their interest in space science. This project was independently completed at Auckland University of Technology (ARDN706), including programming and sourcing art assets.

The project aims to create a virtual reality experience that highlights the technical features of VR and space simulation games, such as physical law simulations, user interaction, and sensory experiences, to make space exploration more engaging and educational for a wider audience.

Objective

Virtual Reality (VR) Game Research

Service Name

Virtual Reality, usually abbreviated as VR, can be traced back to Ivan Sutherland’s ‘The Ultimate Display’ (1965). This thesis provides a theoretical basis for existing virtual reality research. (Gobbetti & Scateni, 1998).

Service Name

The form of VR has also evolved as time passes: in 1968, Ivan Sutherland, with the help of his student Bob Sproull, created ‘The Sword of Damocles’, which is widely considered to be the first virtual reality and augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display (HMD) system ("Virtual reality", 2016).

Service Name

Nowadays, the more economical and portable Google Cardboard can implement the essential functions for VR merely through cardboard and a cell phone. In addition, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PSVR are common VR device brands, whose minimum necessary configurations are the helmet, controller and mainframe.

Space Simulation Research

The space simulation game can convince players that they are in the space, where they can explore the virtual space environment by manipulating the game objects. The space simulation games can be traced back to 1983, and Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space (Activision, 1983), released on Atari 2600 by Activision, is one of the first space simulators that build flight mechanics (White, 2015).

Technical/Mechanical Marking

Usually including the elements such as space, planets, aliens. The movement in the virtual environment conforms to the practical physical laws.

Emotional and Sensory Experience

Users will firstly get visual pleasure when entering the space simulation game because it directly displays the vast universe, the planet, and alien creatures.

Player Engagement Motivation

Space simulation is advantageous in creating the experience for users that cannot be felt in their daily lives. People like to seek extraordinary in ordinary life.

Space Simulation Games

A well-known case is EVE (2003) --a PC online game developed by Icelandic CCP Games. Others include the works that have been highly discussed in recent years: such as No Man's Sky (Hello Games, 2018).

Methodology

VR in Interdisciplinary Fields

It combines VR, shooting, space simulation, building, and multiplayer game prototype concepts, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach.

Methods and Outputs

The four main steps are planning, production, testing, and evaluation.

User testing

User testing was conducted, and the game design was adjusted based on feedback.

Product Development

planning-making-test-evaluation

The figure shows the ideal flow chart for making this game. The three steps of making-test-evaluation are iterative throughout the process.

User Feedback

Alexa Y

“That is hard to understand the game mechanics within a short time"

Considering the high demand for equipment and venues in VR games, I showed a game trailer at the exhibited. According to the feedbacks, the game trailer is improved gradually.

Results

The project was exhibited at Auckland University of Technology, attracting over 100 visitors, including students and faculty. Through the exhibition, the project successfully demonstrated its educational and entertainment potential, receiving positive feedback.

Conclusions

The "The Planet" project successfully applied VR technology to space exploration education, providing a platform that is both educational and entertaining, increasing users' interest in space science. The project demonstrated the potential of VR in the field of education, particularly in enhancing the immersion and interactivity of the learning experience.