For the Evaluation and downloadable demos of the project please visit the project blog:

 

http://unityisland.wordpress.com/

 

 

What and Why

 

With the speed and proficiency in which technology is advancing in this day and age, anything can be done virtually through a simulation; whether trivial tasks in the form of gaming activity, or professional practice for those in risky occupations such as a pilot or a surgeon. With this slow but certain integration of physical activities into virtual practices it poses the question if ultimately technology is moving the norm into virtual space. And if so, is it possible to gain the same experience through this new reality?

 

Virtual Reality is evident in everyday general activities, if in more fundamental and basic forms, for example, watching Television. Designers and developers are highlighting the idea of things happening in another domain, and their device being a link to this domain; a link that is periodically becoming more advanced as time progresses. In the case of the Television, this link started as a simple remote, but with recent developments the hardware has been removed and it can be controlled with voice activation or body movement; the interaction is more personal and intimate. In cinema halls, viewers experience being drawn into the events occurring in these different realities, especially with the addition of 3D glasses. Moreover, those that use online forums adopt a new persona online, which is acknowledged as being the only representation of ‘themselves’, that is known in this virtual space.

 

For those not in a profession that uses Virtual Reality (VR) as a training or learning tool, exposure of VR is mostly due to its increasing involvement in gaming applications. As games become more advanced and realistic it’s only natural that developers would start to incorporate immersive multimedia to increase the gaming experience.

 

I choose to do a project in response to this movement into the virtual space, in order to investigate the depths of this immersion whilst examining the triggers of the suspension of disbelief and the effects it has on the user. This will be a Hybrid project.

 

During my Advanced Graphics and Animation module, I began using Unity. I was able to study its workspace tools and learn about the different lighting and animation techniques, which will aid me in the creation of my virtual world. I choose to use this software for creating my project in order to look at how using the Oculus Rift with Unity in a controlled environment will affect game play.

 

 

 

Aims and Objectives

 

My project is to create an Island in a virtual space, where the user can explore and enjoy the artificial environment in first person. Its main attraction to users will be its realism and aesthetics. My aims are to investigate the effects of virtual reality on users and experiment with the tools I have in order to make the simulation feel more immersive. I hope to achieve this through the use of the Oculus Rift first person controller, and a pre-set up controlled environment, all which will enable me to influence user responses through experiences instigated by the simulation I will create in Unity.

 

(Extract from Report)

 

 

 

Here's a video showcasing some of the features on the Island, (Unity3D freemode-low res)