The game is about two players who used to enter the game and play together. However, after losing the game last time, one of the players was caught and trapped in the game forever. Therefore, the other player decided to enter the game again, complete all the tasks this time and save his/her friend from the game world and back to reality.
Screenshots of the background story scene
Tutorial Scene
The way to manipulate the avatars, as well as the rules, will be explained in the tutorial scene. Also, players could practice the shooting function before they enter the game.
Players will first enter the start scene, and then according to the playing platform, it will lead to the respective storytelling part, where the background story and the goal of the game will be explained. After that, it will switch to tutorials and practice scenes, where players can be familiar with shooting functions and the controller operation skills. Finally, the players will enter the game scene and need to complete three main tasks.
The players’ starting positions in the game world are different. The non-VR player is locked in a room at first, while the VR player is on the other side of the maze.
There are different tasks that two players need to collaborate to pass.
VR players and PC players need to pass through the laser area, and both of them should avoid touching the laser. There is a cube that the VR players could grab and use to reflect the laser and help the PC players to go through this area. This stage needs both players to collaborate.
Prototype – Laser Area
In this stage, the route players need to pass is consist of several blocks, and they are not continuous at first, therefore PC players cannot pass through. There are tiny versions of blocks placed at the beginning of the route that can be moved by a VR player, which is linked to the route blocks. VR players need to move the blocks and make it a continuous route that makes the PC player can walk through. This stage also needs collaboration and communication between both players.
I used the PUN2 plugin for Unity to achieve the multiplayer function. When connected to the internet, PUN2 allows players to connect to the central server -Photon Cloud and create virtual rooms. By joining the same virtual room, players in different locations can interact with others in the same virtual space.
PUN2 scripts screenshot
During the game, PUN2 can synchronize data between the local players. When one of the players moves the synchronized object, it will also move in others’ view. PUN2 can synchronize the game objects’ data including position, rotation, and animation.
The video shows the prototype of the multiplayer setup and the gameplay system setup.
There are the prototypes I test with multiplayer functions in VR. Once the player joins the same virtual room, it will generate their avatar and allow the player to interact with other people.
VR Multiplayer Prototype
Players could interact with the same objects in the multiplayer setup.
Multiplayer Interaction Prototype
Here shows the shooting function. Players grab the gun by pressing the grip buttons, and by pressing the triggers, players could shoot. In the prototype, the colour of avatars will change when the player is detected being shot.
Multiplayer Shooting Function Prototype
In this prototype, two players can communicate through the buttons in the virtual environment. When the player presses the button, it will also be displayed in the other player’s viewport. In this way, the player who knows the exact way to go could guide the other player to the right direction.
There are three levels in total. On different levels, players have different goals and communication ways. Player1 and Player2 will in different platforms and play different roles. Players in the virtual reality world are like the people living in the digital world while players who participate in the game on PC are like higher intelligence controlling the game through the screen. The final goal is to find the right way to escape and defeat the enemies by shooting.
At first, player 1 is trapped in a room, they have to find the way out and arm themselves. At the same time, player 2 will have the map and need to guide player 1 which is the way to escape.
