Building The World: Pandora’s Forest (Part 5)

 

This will be the last blog about the making of Pandora’s Forest, where I will show some comments from the pre-testing I did on my own and with my wife, before testing the prototype to other users. I will also mention my plan for the project after this prototype.

In the next blog, I will dive into the user testing and what I gathered based on their reactions and testimonials.


Figure 1

Source Unity, Inventory UI bottom right in VR Scene, Screen Shot from my PC 2023


In the previous blog I mentioned grabbing and holding the mushroom but not what the user will do after grabbing the mushroom. So, I added the functionality of having an inventory system where the participant can collect the mushrooms and see how many mushrooms they have collected. I learned this technique from the game development tutorials with Ketra Games. (Video) 1 I placed the user interface on the bottom right corner, so it doesn’t distract the participants when they are walking, and this user interface disappears when you lower down your head. (Figure 1) That means if the participant wants to see the number, they just need to slightly put their head up.

After pre-testing the prototype with my wife to get quick feedback, she mentioned the controls were quite confusing as she is not familiar with the movement. She has some VR experience such as VR roller coaster and Beat Saber which include a few buttons, but not the thumb stick for the movement. I imagined the other participants that had no actual experience with such technology would find it even harder to understand.


Figure 2

Source Unity, Training Level, Screen Shot from my PC 2023


For that reason, I added a training area that should give the participants the chance to learn how to navigate the Virtual World. (Figure 2) When they land in the VR, they are greeted in Pandora’s Forest with the main menu from where they choose to start the experience. After selecting the start, they will be transported to the training area where I created these training manuals around the space with clear visual instructions to help the participant to use VR controllers. I used a free GUI vector file to compose the user interface. (Source 11) I got the Oculus Controller image from the Meta website. (Source 12) I also added some buttons to turn the user interface on and off if they feel distracted by it. (Video) 2 I also created the wall using the free vector to add some texture like in a spaceship training room. (Source 10) By doing so, I am hoping to give them an opportunity to train how to use the controllers while exploring this contained, simulated area.

 I added the music from to go along with the start menu to give a mystical and enchanted feeling. (Source 1) I also added the music in the training area to create an exciting, thrilling ambience for the participants. (Source 2) Then when the participants enter the training area, they will be greeted with an AI voice to give a brief explanation of the mission which can also be read from the user interface window. (Source 3)


Figure 3

Source Unity, Mission Box User Interface, Screen Shot from my PC 2023


After the training, the participants can now enter Pandora’s Forest. The first thing they will see is the mission box. This will show them what are the things they need to do while they’re in Pandora’s Forest. (Figure 3) I also added XR Ray Interactor in this stage so the participants can close the UI if they want to. But I made it become invisible when not in use, so it doesn’t distract them. (Video) 5


Figure 4

Source Unity, Tooltip, Screen Shot from my PC 2023


I also learned how to set up tooltips for giving hints for first steps. (Video) 3 I am hoping this will help to ease the understanding of what to do. (Figure 4) I also added user interface windows with information about the plants throughout the forest so they can get to know Pandora’s Forest living organisms.

I added background music and sound effects to give a more exciting and yet mystical adventure. (Source 4,5,6,8,9) When they enter the place where the Tree of Souls is, the music will change to more enchanting music that creates the awe experience for the user. (Source 7) I learned this sound effect technique from the tutorials by Ryan Murray. (Video) 4 By doing these music effects we can stimulate different moods of the participants, the same technique that is used in cinema format to create an emotional connection between the participants and the virtual world. 


Figure 5

Source Unity, Interactivity with the Bamboo and Spiky Reclinata, Screen Shot from my PC 2023


During their exploration in the forest the participant will encounter bamboos that are blocking their way. This is another interactivity that I added, where the participants can chop the bamboo by using another plant from the forest. (Figure 5) This is an interactive activity that will keep the participant engaged and feel more connected with the virtual world. (Video) 6


 

Figure 6

Source Unity, Tree of Souls Screen Shot from my PC 2023


In the final stage of the forest, the participants will be greeted by the Tree of Souls. (Figure 6) Since this is reimagined iconic Tree of Souls from the film Avatar, it can emphasize the feeling of experiencing the Alien World of Avatar. When I first placed the tree and tested it, I was in awe, and it made me remember the first time I saw the film. I hope it will be the same for the other participants.

I will continue to improve this project after the testing. I would like to add more interactivity, alien plants, including animals, improve the inventory system, add more sound effects, new missions, water stage and floating islands in the next prototype.









Here is the link for my Video Recording:

https://media.ed.ac.uk/media/Third%20Recording%20-%20Final%20Project%202023/1_fnjc8apg

 

 

 

 

Software’s:

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Unity

Blender

Visual Studio

PowerPoint

Wacom

 

 

 

List of Illustrations:

Figure 1: Unity, Inventory UI bottom right in VR Scene, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

Figure 2: Unity, Training Level, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

Figure 3: Unity, Mission Box User Interface, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

Figure 4: Unity, Tooltip, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

Figure 5: Unity, Interactivity with Bamboo and Spiky Reclinata, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

Figure 6: Unity, Tree of Souls, Screen Shot from my PC 2023

 

 

 

 

 

List of Sources:

1.       Motion Array: Amazon Souls by Katcamusic, Royalty Free Music.  (https://motionarray.com/royalty-free-music/amazon-souls-1427813/?q=mystical)

2.       Motion Array: Positive days by Motion Array Originals: Classic, Royalty Free Music. (https://motionarray.com/royalty-free-music/positive-days-10094/?q=game)

3.       Veed: AI Training Voiceover, veed.io. Free AI tool for voiceover.

(https://www.veed.io )

4.       Motion Array: Night Forest by SuburbanSavant, Sound Effects. (https://motionarray.com/sound-effects/night-forest-1176623/?q=forest,night )

5.       Motion Array: Night Crickets and Insects by Tuttkile, Sound Effects. (https://motionarray.com/sound-effects/night-crickets-and-insects-1122596/?q=night%20crickets%20and%20insects&search_header=1)

6.       Motion Array: Pandora by Katcamusic, Royalty Free Music. (https://motionarray.com/royalty-free-music/pandora-1173196/?q=avatar )

7.       Motion Array: Flying Beyond the Sky by Katcamusic, Royalty Free Music. (https://motionarray.com/royalty-free-music/flying-beyond-the-sky-963288/?q=flying%20beyond%20the%20sky&search_header=1 )

8.       Motion Array: Moderate Forest Winds by Elementals, Sound Effects. (https://motionarray.com/royalty-free-music/flying-beyond-the-sky-963288/?q=flying%20beyond%20the%20sky&search_header=1 )

9.       Motion Array: Autumn Wind Blows in a Calm Forest by Beison, Sound Effects. (https://motionarray.com/sound-effects/autumn-wind-blows-in-a-calm-forest-1237942/?q=Beison%20Autumn%20Wind&search_header=1 )

10.   Freepik: Metal Sliding Doors in Spaceship hallway, vectorpocket. (https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/metal-sliding-doors-spaceship-hallway_6198211.htm#query=texturescifilab&position=3&from_view=search&track=ais )

11.   Freepik: Free vector technology interface design elements, rawpixel.com. (https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/technology-interface-design-elements_15226742.htm#query=technology%20interface&position=29&from_view=search&track=ais )

12.   Meta: Meta Quest 2 Controller. (https://www.meta.com/quest/accessories/quest-2-controllers/)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

  1. Video – Ketra Games (2022) How to Collect Items. YouTube. 25January. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfUCEwKmcjc&list=UULP_t8wVOpvTIxQvmDiEgbniQ&index=16 (Accessed:14 June 2023)
  2. Video – ThirteeNov Coding Tutorials (2018) How to hide and show an object in Unity 3D. YouTube. 21 December. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkVNtlr6tjI&t=31s  (Accessed:4 July 2023)
  3. Video – Valem Tutorials (2023) How to make a tooltip for VR. YouTube. 18 June. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyoswWxj_6o (Accessed:8 July 2023)
  4. Video – Ryan Murray (2022) Unity – Code Audio to Play When Entering an Area. YouTube. 12 May. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2qiWGcLku0  (Accessed: 10 July 2023)
  5. Video – Fist Full of Shrimp (2022) Unity VR Game Basics - Part 5 – XR Ray Interactor in 10 minutes. YouTube. 22 March. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2qiWGcLku0  (Accessed: 5 July 2023)
  6. Video – Valem Tutorials (2023) How to Slice in VR - Unity XR Tutorials. YouTube. 23 April. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQzW6ZJFQ94&t=351s (Accessed: 10 June 2023)



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