Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Forest Whisperers
Forest Whisperers
Forest Whisperers
A Virtual Reality Game where the player assumes the role of a concerned Dog Parent, trying to search for their dog in a dense forest by following spatial audio cues.
A Virtual Reality Game where the player assumes the role of a concerned Dog Parent, trying to search for their dog in a dense forest by following spatial audio cues.
1 Week
1 Week
TIMELINE
VR Game
VR Game
PROJECT CATEGORY
Group of 7
Group of 7
AT IIT-JODHPUR
MY CONTRIBUTION: Concept Development; Story writing and Storyboarding; Incorporating Spatial Audio; Usability Testing
Narrative of the Game
As the sun sets and lights up the forest, you start your adventure with your loyal dog, Goldie. While you set up camp, Goldie happily helps gather firewood. But when you get distracted for a moment, Goldie starts chasing a butterfly and disappears into the woods. Now alone in the forest, you listen for Goldie's barks echoing through the trees to help you find him. As it gets dark, you feel more anxious to find Goldie. You need to find him quickly or risk losing him in the dangerous forest. Time is running out as you follow the sounds of his barks, trying to make your way through the dense woods.
Narrative of the Game
As the sun sets and lights up the forest, you start your adventure with your loyal dog, Goldie. While you set up camp, Goldie happily helps gather firewood. But when you get distracted for a moment, Goldie starts chasing a butterfly and disappears into the woods. Now alone in the forest, you listen for Goldie's barks echoing through the trees to help you find him. As it gets dark, you feel more anxious to find Goldie. You need to find him quickly or risk losing him in the dangerous forest. Time is running out as you follow the sounds of his barks, trying to make your way through the dense woods.
Narrative of the Game
As the sun sets and lights up the forest, you start your adventure with your loyal dog, Goldie. While you set up camp, Goldie happily helps gather firewood. But when you get distracted for a moment, Goldie starts chasing a butterfly and disappears into the woods. Now alone in the forest, you listen for Goldie's barks echoing through the trees to help you find him. As it gets dark, you feel more anxious to find Goldie. You need to find him quickly or risk losing him in the dangerous forest. Time is running out as you follow the sounds of his barks, trying to make your way through the dense woods.
Narrative of the Game
As the sun sets and lights up the forest, you start your adventure with your loyal dog, Goldie. While you set up camp, Goldie happily helps gather firewood. But when you get distracted for a moment, Goldie starts chasing a butterfly and disappears into the woods. Now alone in the forest, you listen for Goldie's barks echoing through the trees to help you find him. As it gets dark, you feel more anxious to find Goldie. You need to find him quickly or risk losing him in the dangerous forest. Time is running out as you follow the sounds of his barks, trying to make your way through the dense woods.
Storyboarding
Storyboarding
Camping Trip
Jaden goes for a camping trip with his dog Goldie
Goldie Runs Away
On spotting a beautiful butterfly, Goldie starts to run after it
Jaden's Anxiety
After the setup, Jaden calls Goldie but is unable to find him
Mission Rescue Goldie
Goldie's bark is like a ray of hope! Jaden starts to follow it
Locating Goldie
Following Goldie's barking sound, Jaden walks towards him
Jaden & Goldie Reunited
Jaden is thrilled to have finally found Goldie!
Target Audience
Target Audience
Target Audience
Target Audience
Understanding the Players
Understanding the Players
Understanding the Players
Age Group: 15-25 Years
Age Group: 15-25 Years
Targeting pet owners, adventure enthusiasts, therapeutic gamers, nature lovers, and children
Targeting pet owners, adventure enthusiasts, therapeutic gamers, nature lovers, and children
Targeting pet owners, adventure enthusiasts, therapeutic gamers, nature lovers, and children
Those seeking emotional connection and immersive gameplay
Those seeking emotional connection and immersive gameplay
After talking to more than 10 pet owners, we learned about the worry they feel when they can’t find their pets, even for a short time. We also found that they often depend on their pet's unique voice to recognise them.
After talking to more than 10 pet owners, we learned about the worry they feel when they can’t find their pets, even for a short time. We also found that they often depend on their pet's unique voice to recognise them.
Features
Features
Features
Features
Making the Gameplay Engaging
Making the Gameplay Engaging
We explored various techniques which make a VR game enjoyable and engaging and then tested best fits for our experience.
We explored various techniques which make a VR game enjoyable and engaging and then tested best fits for our experience.
Spatial Audio Navigation
Spatial audio immerses players in a dynamic sound environment, with barks challenging them to locate Goldie. As players get closer, the barks become louder, offering helpful audio cues.
Spatial Audio Navigation
Spatial audio immerses players in a dynamic sound environment, with barks challenging them to locate Goldie. As players get closer, the barks become louder, offering helpful audio cues.
Spatial Audio Navigation
Spatial audio immerses players in a dynamic sound environment, with barks challenging them to locate Goldie. As players get closer, the barks become louder, offering helpful audio cues.
Spatial Audio Navigation
Spatial audio immerses players in a dynamic sound environment, with barks challenging them to locate Goldie. As players get closer, the barks become louder, offering helpful audio cues.
Immersive Exploration
Players navigate the virtual forest using locomotion mechanics to move through dense foliage and obstacles. They can grab objects to uncover clues or clear paths in their search for Goldie.
Immersive Exploration
Players navigate the virtual forest using locomotion mechanics to move through dense foliage and obstacles. They can grab objects to uncover clues or clear paths in their search for Goldie.
Immersive Exploration
Players navigate the virtual forest using locomotion mechanics to move through dense foliage and obstacles. They can grab objects to uncover clues or clear paths in their search for Goldie.
Immersive Exploration
Players navigate the virtual forest using locomotion mechanics to move through dense foliage and obstacles. They can grab objects to uncover clues or clear paths in their search for Goldie.
Progressive Complexity
As players progress, challenges rise with changing audio proximity and environmental factors, testing their ability to locate Goldie amid distractions and enhancing immersion.
Progressive Complexity
As players progress, challenges rise with changing audio proximity and environmental factors, testing their ability to locate Goldie amid distractions and enhancing immersion.
Progressive Complexity
As players progress, challenges rise with changing audio proximity and environmental factors, testing their ability to locate Goldie amid distractions and enhancing immersion.
Progressive Complexity
As players progress, challenges rise with changing audio proximity and environmental factors, testing their ability to locate Goldie amid distractions and enhancing immersion.
Building the Experience
Building the Experience
Building the Experience
Building the Experience
The Prototyping Process
The Prototyping Process
The Prototyping Process
Imported a Dog's model in Blender and added a skeleton to it for animation
Imported a Dog's model in Blender and added a skeleton to it for animation
Developed the forest environment in Unreal Engine using the Procedural Generation plugin, starting with the default VR game template and making modifications as needed.
Developed the forest environment in Unreal Engine using the Procedural Generation plugin, starting with the default VR game template and making modifications as needed.
Added characteristics to the player like walking speed
Added characteristics to the player like walking speed
Introduced and adjusted the Spatial Audio for audio cues
Introduced and adjusted the Spatial Audio for audio cues
Final Game Experience
Final Game Experience
Final Game Experience
Final Game Experience
Player Journey Through the Game
Player Journey Through the Game
The following video depicts how a player goes about the game. The output was built using unreal engine.
The following video depicts how a player goes about the game. The output was built using unreal engine.
Way Forward
Way Forward
Way Forward
Way Forward
Key Learnings & Feedback
Key Learnings & Feedback
Key Learnings & Feedback
The final prototype was tested with 25+ people. More than 50% of them were able to achieve the goal within the first attempt, whereas rest of them took 2-3 tries.
The final prototype was tested with 25+ people. More than 50% of them were able to achieve the goal within the first attempt, whereas rest of them took 2-3 tries.
The final prototype was tested with 25+ people. More than 50% of them were able to achieve the goal within the first attempt, whereas rest of them took 2-3 tries.
Understood the potential of gaming engines like Unreal and explored its building & prototyping features for the first time
Understood the potential of gaming engines like Unreal and explored its building & prototyping features for the first time
Learnt how to introduce and play with spatial audio techniques while incorporating challenges and conflict within it
Learnt how to introduce and play with spatial audio techniques while incorporating challenges and conflict within it
Explored gaming mechanics for making virtual games more fun & engaging as delight is the key to a successful game
Explored gaming mechanics for making virtual games more fun & engaging as delight is the key to a successful game
The duration to achieve the end goal was long, which made the game monotonous at times, hence we increased the walking speed and should also consider adding more exciting moments
The duration to achieve the end goal was long, which made the game monotonous at times, hence we increased the walking speed and should also consider adding more exciting moments
Visual cues must be added in addition to spatial audio for player's validation as they move towards the target
Visual cues must be added in addition to spatial audio for player's validation as they move towards the target
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Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
Let's Connect
Know more about me & my work
Looking forward to contributing to the next transformational experience!
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2024. All Rights Reserved
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2024. All Rights Reserved
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2024. All Rights Reserved
I design digital, physical and phygital experiences.
© Copyright Abhishek Manraj 2024. All Rights Reserved