Spod

Project Description

Solve a sci-fi puzzle box with a friend in VR in the game of Spod. Spod uses an asymmetric experience to connect a person using a VR headset with a person without a headset. Rotate a knob in real life to see elements of a puzzle rotate in VR.

Problem

Virtual reality can be a powerful tool to connect the physical and digital worlds and connect people in different locations. However, many VR experiences today are limited to the digital world. Many multi-user VR experiences place all users into the same digital world and people in the VR headset are cut off from the physical world.

Insights

Cohort 7: Capstone Asset Collection Form - IxD Student Profile Projects (Responses) 100% 10 L5 Play is a very good way to teach new concepts so I decided to frame my world in the context of a game. As players progress through the experience, they learn more about the rules of this world and how to use them to their advantage. A timer instantly creates urgency. Even if a particular task is not very fun, having to complete it in a certain amount of time makes it fun. Technical constraints are an opportunity for creativity and unexpected interactions. Letting technology and mechanics lead the way when creating puzzles can be instructive and inspiration. Play is a very good way to teach new concepts so I decided to frame my world in the context of a game. As players progress through the experience, they learn more about the rules of this world and how to use them to their advantage. A timer instantly creates urgency. Even if a particular task is not very fun, having to complete it in a certain amount of time makes it fun. Technical constraints are an opportunity for creativity and unexpected interactions. Letting technology and mechanics lead the way when creating puzzles can be instructive and inspiration. Turn on screen reader support To enable screen reader support, press Ctrl+Alt+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press Ctrl+slash

Solutions

You and your friend play as a trapped space traveler and voice-controlled AI to work together to escape from a mysterious alien puzzle box. The player wearing a VR headset plays the role of a voice-controlled AI. They have a control board in front of them with various knobs and sensors. When they manipulate the control board, it changes the VR space in real time. The other player is wearing a VR headset and they play the trapped space traveler. They are inside an alien puzzle box. However, they cannot control their environment on their own. Using each of their unique perspectives, both players have to talk to each other to solve the puzzle.