VR Lab Experience
During the tryout time, I experienced 2 kinds of games, 2 kinds of videos, and 1 kind of interactive environment. However, I forgot to write down the title of each application, so I will try my best to describe the content in the following paragraphs.
The first game I tried is a VR rhythm game, just simply using the handles to hit the coming bricks with the rhythm of the music. However, it is a little bit difficult to get where I should hit that can means I hit the bricks. I tried four times and all died before the music is over. I really like the environment that this game has built, but it’s too hard to play. So I may want to improve the game into a more simple playing method for people to get familiar with.
The second game feels just like a common video game, but instead of controlling the character with a keyboard, now we can use the handles and move our arms to directly control the character, and I can also see my hands as the character’s hands in the VR glasses, which provide a more immersive experience. The interesting point is the sound in the game is also making 360° immersive sound, that is when I turn my head around, the sound is also changed with my head’s position.
The two videos I go through are, one a 360° anime short movie, and another a VR video from youtube. I don’t like anime movies, maybe because it maintains a lot of information (because of the 360°) and I can’t always turn around to see what happened behind them. Also, handles cannot use in this video, which means I’m being sucked into a position to finish the movie, and I also can’t sit down to enjoy it because it has a lot of things happening behind, so I have to turn 180° to watch it, which is not that convenient. But overall, I still enjoy this immersive video, cause it is my first time experiencing such kind of video. As for youtube, it only adds a movie screen to show the video, and the real 360° video is also not as impressive as that short movie, maybe because it just add a 360° version, and didn’t make any sound changes.
The experience I like most is the interactive environment. Basically, it will create a space based on your choice, such as the universe, under the sea, and forest. In this space, you can use the bottom to add things and even change the environment, such as adding a tree to the forest or changing daylight to the moonlight, also you can add a planet in the universe. The sound is also very natural, so I can get the purpose of this application is for you to have a rest, and I really enjoy this kind of natural environment. However, I don’t understand why I cannot remove the flowers (which represent my seat) from the scene. Maybe it is because the author doesn’t want you to really feel like you are in that environment, but I would like to add an option, that is to remove the flowers for half of an hour, and then add it back, so that we can create a more immersive environment and also guarantee the safety.