VR Game Jam - My Entry so far
by NiN-NiN · in General Discussion · 08/04/2013 (6:13 pm) · 24 replies
Hi All
I wanted to enter a Game Jam for VR to get more exposure for T3D as a lot of people are just using Unity currently and I think T3D for VR is a great tool.
I am still learning T3D so it will be a learning experience but so far this is how far I've gotten.
It's all been done with the Sketch Tool (I don't have time or the skill currently to make some 3D models or purchase them at the moment for the jam so this will have to do)
I am making a game that is loosely based on MC Escher's famous Relativity drawing.
I was trying to have the world rotate but that proved to be quite difficult when asked (At least for me and it mostly involved modifying the source)
I instead am using teleporters and have build the whole level as a cube and I copy the cube and then rotate it so one of the sides would be using the correct gravity and make the player transport into that cube with the world turned around.
It is pretty trippy walking around and seeing upside down stairs then going through the portal and seeing you are walking on the wall and seeing the world changed I was actually getting quite confused with it trying to keep track of where I am going and what teleport is going to what.
I am hoping to have it as a game where you must collect 5 objects from each level and then you move to a new level all with different illusions and gravity to get back into the real world.
I still have a lot to learn and need to apply more materials and tweak a few of the sketches but over all it's quite a compelling experience actually and hopefully it will do well in the Jam and promote T3D :)
Plus T3D is doing well with all these sketches which there are quite a lot of them
I wanted to enter a Game Jam for VR to get more exposure for T3D as a lot of people are just using Unity currently and I think T3D for VR is a great tool.
I am still learning T3D so it will be a learning experience but so far this is how far I've gotten.
It's all been done with the Sketch Tool (I don't have time or the skill currently to make some 3D models or purchase them at the moment for the jam so this will have to do)
I am making a game that is loosely based on MC Escher's famous Relativity drawing.
I was trying to have the world rotate but that proved to be quite difficult when asked (At least for me and it mostly involved modifying the source)
I instead am using teleporters and have build the whole level as a cube and I copy the cube and then rotate it so one of the sides would be using the correct gravity and make the player transport into that cube with the world turned around.
It is pretty trippy walking around and seeing upside down stairs then going through the portal and seeing you are walking on the wall and seeing the world changed I was actually getting quite confused with it trying to keep track of where I am going and what teleport is going to what.
I am hoping to have it as a game where you must collect 5 objects from each level and then you move to a new level all with different illusions and gravity to get back into the real world.
I still have a lot to learn and need to apply more materials and tweak a few of the sketches but over all it's quite a compelling experience actually and hopefully it will do well in the Jam and promote T3D :)
Plus T3D is doing well with all these sketches which there are quite a lot of them
#2
Yeah I thought the solution to the gravity rotation was a good alternative but was worried it wouldn't be able to be done as I have had T3D crash on me when making duplicates from the original level to rotate but it's worked out well so far.
I know the sketch tool wasn't exactly meant to be used in this way but it's doing a great job so far.
Even just playing the game on the screen without the rift and rotating was quite a trip :) it should add to the puzzle feeling as it's quite easy to get lost i had to make the ground grey as I was getting confused on which way I had rotated and which was was originally up and down.
I may even make the floor the same colour as the walls in the final game to really make people confused :)
08/04/2013 (6:45 pm)
Thanks :) Yeah I thought the solution to the gravity rotation was a good alternative but was worried it wouldn't be able to be done as I have had T3D crash on me when making duplicates from the original level to rotate but it's worked out well so far.
I know the sketch tool wasn't exactly meant to be used in this way but it's doing a great job so far.
Even just playing the game on the screen without the rift and rotating was quite a trip :) it should add to the puzzle feeling as it's quite easy to get lost i had to make the ground grey as I was getting confused on which way I had rotated and which was was originally up and down.
I may even make the floor the same colour as the walls in the final game to really make people confused :)
#3
08/04/2013 (6:51 pm)
You do not have to leave them in the ugly orange, you can switch the material of the shapes very easy, just change it in the properties panel, you can change it to any material you have installed
#4
08/04/2013 (6:54 pm)
It won't stay as orange it is just for making the whole level first then I will apply new materials for all the objects I haven't gotten to that yet it's mostly just getting the game level and design first then it's the tweaks and materials next :) 
#5
I kind of want to donate you some effort getting Player wall-walking working ;). If you're interested in that approach, send me an email (it's in my profile).
08/04/2013 (9:47 pm)
Nice work! Kudos for working around the difficult stuff - that's a great attitude to have. Getting things done. Are you making use of the prefabs feature? That might make it easy to manage having several copies of your environment - just prefab the entire thing, and when you update the main one, all the other instances update as well.I kind of want to donate you some effort getting Player wall-walking working ;). If you're interested in that approach, send me an email (it's in my profile).
#6
I'm not actually using prefab feature but I really should I totally forgot about that thank you I should be able to back track to be able to use it. I'll check it out tonight and make sure it doesn't cause issues (I don't see how)
Thank you for that I will probably have to wait till the Game Jam is over as i've got limited time to spend even working on this so sadly I won't be able to get much done but once that's over I'll message you and we can see what's what :) Thank you for the offer
08/04/2013 (10:53 pm)
Thanks Daniel :)I'm not actually using prefab feature but I really should I totally forgot about that thank you I should be able to back track to be able to use it. I'll check it out tonight and make sure it doesn't cause issues (I don't see how)
Thank you for that I will probably have to wait till the Game Jam is over as i've got limited time to spend even working on this so sadly I won't be able to get much done but once that's over I'll message you and we can see what's what :) Thank you for the offer
#7
The secret to flipping gravity ;)
Each cube is in a zone for performance so the rest of the cubes aren't rendered. (I know the cubes aren't the best and I could of done it way better and I would redo it but I don't have time cause of the game jam plus no one would see them they only see the interior.
The starting world
Flipped world
08/05/2013 (6:38 am)
Ok i've done some more work and i'm now using prefabs (Seriously a life saver thanks Daniel) and i had to change around the colours to make it easier to make sure what way is up and where the teleports need to go.The secret to flipping gravity ;)
Each cube is in a zone for performance so the rest of the cubes aren't rendered. (I know the cubes aren't the best and I could of done it way better and I would redo it but I don't have time cause of the game jam plus no one would see them they only see the interior.
The starting world
Flipped world
#8
Are you adding stairways about the walls too?
08/06/2013 (2:46 am)
Niiice. Is it me or are they all on a bit of a slant, besides being flipped about right angles? That's seriously great. Reminds me of the maps in Tribes that had massive crashed spaceships at crazy angles - you were jetpacking through these oblique doorways in the ceiling and windows at 45 degrees, and it was excellent.Are you adding stairways about the walls too?
#9
Are you adding stairways about the walls too?
Some might look like they are slanted but it's only when your close to the walls but even if it's slanted it does add to the whole VR experience
I never got to try tribes i seem to have missed the boat on that sadly but that sounds pretty cool with jetpacking around spaceships crashed at different angles :)
I do hope to have another level which will deal with the gravity in physical zones that should be fun too.
I have some stairways around on the walls but i probably will add a few more but for now this should be enough for at least one level now hopefully i can add some collecting of objects into the game play to move to the next level.
Also here's a quick video of it in action sorry about the choppy video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3md6IgRPw8
08/06/2013 (3:44 am)
Niiice. Is it me or are they all on a bit of a slant, besides being flipped about right angles? That's seriously great. Reminds me of the maps in Tribes that had massive crashed spaceships at crazy angles - you were jetpacking through these oblique doorways in the ceiling and windows at 45 degrees, and it was excellent.Are you adding stairways about the walls too?
Some might look like they are slanted but it's only when your close to the walls but even if it's slanted it does add to the whole VR experience
I never got to try tribes i seem to have missed the boat on that sadly but that sounds pretty cool with jetpacking around spaceships crashed at different angles :)
I do hope to have another level which will deal with the gravity in physical zones that should be fun too.
I have some stairways around on the walls but i probably will add a few more but for now this should be enough for at least one level now hopefully i can add some collecting of objects into the game play to move to the next level.
Also here's a quick video of it in action sorry about the choppy video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3md6IgRPw8
#10
08/06/2013 (1:19 pm)
What game jam are you in? I need to find something like that to stretch and motivate myself.
#11
http://www.oculusvr.com/vrjam/
You really do need a rift to make sure scale and everything is correct but you can still make something and submit it.
Just use the Rift template
http://mit.garagegames.com/Rift-Template-3-0.zip
and you're good to go :)
08/06/2013 (5:04 pm)
I'm in the Slow Jam for Virtual Reality http://www.oculusvr.com/vrjam/
You really do need a rift to make sure scale and everything is correct but you can still make something and submit it.
Just use the Rift template
http://mit.garagegames.com/Rift-Template-3-0.zip
and you're good to go :)
#12
08/06/2013 (5:21 pm)
Oh cool. That is too short of a time frame for me. I can't wait to see how well you do! We are pooling for you! I will make sure to pay closer attention to your posts so I can help you out faster. Just let us know if you need anything. As far as I am concerned you can be the GG rep for us!
#13
I believe I did find a resource on coin collecting so I am going to try to integrate that as the game mechanic so you can move onto the next level once you collect enough keys to open the door ;)
Also I haven't seen david post on here but he's also doing the jam too
https://developer.oculusvr.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=3368
It sounds very interesting so far :)
08/06/2013 (5:27 pm)
Thanks for that I really appreciate it :)I believe I did find a resource on coin collecting so I am going to try to integrate that as the game mechanic so you can move onto the next level once you collect enough keys to open the door ;)
Also I haven't seen david post on here but he's also doing the jam too
https://developer.oculusvr.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=3368
It sounds very interesting so far :)
#14
I'm getting good with the sketch tool just a shame it doesn't have more features like being able to make a pole instead of a cube but I think the solutions to the pillars worked out well :)
This looks pretty trippy in the rift i have it moving but you get such a 3d depth with it.
And using a physical zone you can float above the temple and see the ground.
08/10/2013 (8:40 am)
Just did a few more thingsI'm getting good with the sketch tool just a shame it doesn't have more features like being able to make a pole instead of a cube but I think the solutions to the pillars worked out well :)
This looks pretty trippy in the rift i have it moving but you get such a 3d depth with it.
And using a physical zone you can float above the temple and see the ground.
#15
08/14/2013 (3:50 pm)
Haha nice. What's this part for?
#16
I know it's not the best looking thing but it's not too bad seeming it's all done the sketch tool (Minus the boulders made to be round weird looking clouds)
I still need to make a few levels and also need to work out how i'm going to have a boss battle at the end.
I basically have till next friday to finish it so hopefully it can be done in time :) there's lots to be done and I haven't had much time at all to work on it sadly :(
08/14/2013 (4:03 pm)
It's what is basically the main hub there are 3 levels you have to help a greek goddess regain her power and pickup items like her feathers etc hence the coin collection tutorial :)I know it's not the best looking thing but it's not too bad seeming it's all done the sketch tool (Minus the boulders made to be round weird looking clouds)
I still need to make a few levels and also need to work out how i'm going to have a boss battle at the end.
I basically have till next friday to finish it so hopefully it can be done in time :) there's lots to be done and I haven't had much time at all to work on it sadly :(
#18
I don't think I will win sadly I was hoping to grab one of the other 20 spots it's a small prize but id be happy to actually win something but I don't think I will make it after seeing the other entries but you gotta be in it to win it :)
I did have a quick vid i made when i was still working on the level to give you an idea.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3md6IgRPw8
I will release it here once it's all over as it can be played without the oculus rift thanks to the rift template :)
08/14/2013 (4:19 pm)
Thanks for the encouragement :) I don't think I will win sadly I was hoping to grab one of the other 20 spots it's a small prize but id be happy to actually win something but I don't think I will make it after seeing the other entries but you gotta be in it to win it :)
I did have a quick vid i made when i was still working on the level to give you an idea.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3md6IgRPw8
I will release it here once it's all over as it can be played without the oculus rift thanks to the rift template :)
#19
08/16/2013 (8:33 pm)
New Vid as It's part of the rules so it has a better idea on what ive done so far.
#20
Your use of materials in the rotating room makes it more believable. The video creates a sense of wonder at the beginning. Awesome work!
08/17/2013 (12:44 am)
Nice!Your use of materials in the rotating room makes it more believable. The video creates a sense of wonder at the beginning. Awesome work!
Torque Owner Lukas Joergensen
WinterLeaf Entertainment
Also nice doing everything in the sketch tool! Afterall, I guess thats what it for, sketching out your game ^^