Moving and Interact in a VR Environment

Since I plan to discuss methods for creating virtual reality environments that you can use for education in future posts, I figured it would be appropriate to look at ways to move and interact in that environment itself. While I do believe this can be difficulty, it will get better with time. As the technology gets better, it is still worth noting what someone can do as a virtual world designer.  One popular method for maneuvering in VR is through the use of what I like to call Look Controls. In the center of your vision is a dot that acts as your mouse. As you look around the environment you can point this dot on what you want to interact with either through a physical button press or a delay timer assist. This method is popular with many google cardboard applications.

Image from: http://www.coolhunt.net/traveling-without-moving-inside-the-vr-revolution

The next is something that its creator calls VR Comfort mode. It uses self-limitations to control the amount of acceleration that happens when you turn. It also utilizes many other small changes that, in general, lesson the effect of VR sickness. I suggest you look at their video for more details because I cannot accurately convey or explain all of it properly in a concise manner.

VR Comfort Mode Explained

The next way is one that has been in the gaming industry since its implementation of 3D world that is the third person view. It’s a tried and true method that is easy to implement and yes also lessons simulation sickness. It might not be appropriate though if you are trying to create a truly immersive scenario where you want the player to feel like they are a part of the environment.

Lucky's Tale - Coming for the Rift!

Vehicles on the other hand take advantage of VR current limitations, that of being confined to a chair or room depending on your personal spending preferences. Confining the game play to the cockpit of a vehicle increases the user’s emersion and despite this limitation, provides a convenient solution to how to move around the game.

What is Hover Junkers?

Another creative way people are playing with the games limitation is by utilizing teleportation mechanics. In the game Budget Cuts, players use a teleportation gun to hop around a large game map despite being confined to a small playing area. This makes the player feel like they have much more mobility then they actually do.

Budget Cuts - Vision Summit 2016 Awards (pre-alpha trailer)

Finally and probably the game that is the most fun in my opinion is called Flight. Using the free mobility of light as an excuse to continually have forward movement, players can make small adjustment as need be to explore immense play spaces. Imagine exploring Paris or some other city as if you were a bird yourself.

Eagle Flight (Virtual Reality) : Reveal Trailer [US]