BUILDING A BETTER (VIRTUAL) WORLD

Written by Chan Grant

November 10, 2020

One of the most dynamic and effective yet simple things that a game developer can do to create a sense of immersion within a game, is to make a suitable environment for the player. Whether it be the sprawling fields of an adventure or the dark, tight corridors of an abandoned building in a horror game, a strong environment can set the mood and gives the player a sense of what to expect. That said, one of the best ways to craft an environment that a player wants to play in is to give them the tools to shape the environment to their liking! Easy enough in theory, but the question is how to implement this kind of system in virtual reality (VR)?

Landscaping, as defined by us, is the addition or removal of an object
from the environment.

Landscaping and terraforming are some of the big experiments that we are undertaking at Amebous Labs. Landscaping, as defined by us, is the addition or removal of an object from the environment. This describes placing objects such as decorations or plants and the removal of unwanted items. Terraforming is the modification of the environment itself. This describes actions such as raising or lowering the ground or adding pools of water. Due to our focus on VR gaming, many standard conventions in “2D” play are not necessarily applicable. After weeks of discussion, debate, and deliberation, we have produced two approaches to the problem.

The first is a top-down “doll diorama” style. With this method, users would be able to view their environment from above. They would move and rotate the world around to get the best vantage point to raise and lower areas properly. Players would also be able to place objects and rotate objects in this mode. This style comes with the advantage that it is easy to visualize, hence easy to understand, and gives the user a high level of control. However, the problem with this technique is that it doesn’t fit well with games focused on events on the ground. This idea is suitable for god games, where you are a creator manipulating things, not when you are trying to have a more realistic perspective.

Doll diorama style

The second method is the on-the-ground “surveyor” style. In this scenario, users would use a tool to move up and down the environment and place objects on the ground. This method allows users to see a preview of their changes before implementing them, giving more control. It also provides a more realistic perspective, but it does sacrifice some of the benefits of seeing the whole area. Even with a preview, it may be difficult for the user to visualize their environment and effectively extend their changes.

Surveryor style

We are still experimenting with these ideas and hope to have more information on the effectiveness of the methods described.