The work process for this was relatively simple. One of the focal points of the project that took major priority over the others was the time reversal function.
Time reversal was relatively difficult to implement, because you’re not necessarily reversing time, you’re just replaying it. Time always moves forward, and so to create the illusion that time is playing backward, each object had to record its own position on every game update. Each object then keeps track of a global variable called IsReplay. IsReplay is true when the user holds the X button on the VR controller. When IsReplay is true, the objects change their transform behavior, and they start translating and rotating in reverse.
Another feature of time reversal is the feature of rewatching everything that had happened up to the current point in time. If the user holds the A button on the controller, the scene is reset to the beginning of time in the VR space. The entire sequence of events, the things that happened in forward time and the things that happened in reverse time, are repeated.
In both of these sequences, replaying and rewatching, the user is free to move around the scene, therefore, this piece becomes interactive and immersive. You are living outside the boundary of time.
To further develop this project, I would have added sound. Sound is difficult to add when time is being reversed. I’d need to keep track of where and when audio playback is stopped and started, as well as make sure that reversed files are played correctly.
Another way to develop the project was to add more interaction and elements to the scene to make it more interesting and engaging. I sought to do a minimal look for the aesthetic effect but I think I could have added more content.
I did not seek help from Shengyang and so he was not involved in this project.