UNITY VR // FALL 2023
A short VR experience through the eyes of a burdened individual who must repair children's toys in order to move past their childhood trauma.
My Role
Interaction Developer, Interface Developer, and Narrative Writer
Project Length
5 Weeks
Team
Alexis Lee, Grace Tan, Monica De Mesa, Michael Su
Deliverables
Playthrough Video, Team Website, and Unity Executable File
Navigating Deadlines
Despite originally having a 13 week deadline, we were given only 5 weeks to complete this project as the result of a strike. Below is a timeline showcasing what tasks I completed throughout the 5 weeks.
WEEK 1
Ideation
WEEK 2
Add player movement
Add pickup/throw interactions
WEEK 3
Add worldspace UI
Playtests
WEEK 4
Add raycasting from player controller
WEEK 5
Create scene transitions
Bug fixing
Prior to fixing broken toys
After fixing broken toys
Environment Design
The pillow fort was designed to create a pleasant atmosphere for the player while serving as a narrative element to convey the theme of overcoming trauma. Initially, the environment appears greyscale. As the player restores broken toys from their childhood, colour gradually returns to their surroundings, symbolizing the character’s healing.
Player Interactions
I created the VR interaction allowing the player to walk using the controller joysticks by setting up an appropriate VR camera and editing the controller bindings. I also added interaction scripts in C#, allowing players to pick up and throw items in the VR space.
The game opens with a screen displaying half of a poem about childhood trauma.
Hints displayed in-game
UI Interactions
During playtests, we discovered some users were struggling to interact with objects in the game and understand the controls. Using the text-interface I developed for the games opening screen, we added in-game text to teach the player the controls at the start of the game.
While showcasing this project, players expressed their appreciation for the game environment. When allowed to explore fully, they successfully identified the broken toys and reassembled them by connecting the two halves. However, a number of players reported confusion regarding the intended conclusion of the experience, citing a lack of direction to indicate that they were meant to exit the blanket fort.
Key Learnings
Unity VR, World-building, Time Management
Despite facing challenges of tight deadlines and unforeseen obstacles, I am incredibly proud of the VR experience our team managed to create. Being that this was a first introduction to creating a VR game, I believe the project accomplished its goal of creating an immersive space for players to explore and engage with. Future iterations of the project would include a more thoughtful ending, and more clear direction for how the player is supposed to end the experience.
Like What You See?
Check out some of my other projects.
Timber
VIDEO GAME TRAILER // UNREAL ENGINE 5
Trailer for puzzle-platform video game Timber where players can experience first-hand the disastrous effect of what a world without trees might look like.
A Cloud Holding A Knife
ANIMATED SHORT FILM // AFTER EFFECTS
A young blind adult is having a hard time sustaining a relationship because all his girlfriends die.