Customer's background

Interform Design is a company that provides exhibition services anywhere in the world.

Task

To develop a VR game for the "Investment Forum 2020" exhibition. The customer needed to provide users with an opportunity to immerse in a virtual hockey field and find themselves on the gate as a goalkeeper. The app should involve users to physical engage with the help of game mode, and add interactive and interesting content to the exhibition.

Solution

Ariseum team created a VR game "Ball Hockey" for Interform Design Company at the "Investment Forum 2020" exhibition. A colorful stadium, filled with spectators and branded in the style provided by the customer, was created from scratch.

In the game, the user had to use two hands. For a deeper dive, the user held a real stick in one hand. To solve the issue, we suggested fixing the Vive Tracker v 2.0 sensor on the stick and use it to integrate real user movements into the virtual environment. An important point in this case was the "synchronization" of sticks movements, for both virtual and real ones. We have also developed a system that distinguishes the right and left hand of the user, so that the game could comfortably by played by both right-handed and left-handed people. The virtual glove has no "physical" analogue and instead the user holds a regular HTC Vive controller.

Since the user was a goalkeeper in the game, the most important points of the gameplay were balls scored and missed by users. We created two tennis guns in the app style, and programmed them so that you could easily adjust the intensity.

All the balls fly on a different trajectory, which shifts a little to the side, so that the process of playing for user challenges the player, so it is not too complicated and not too easy. To spur sport interest of the user we decided to implement table with the results and score in the app, which the user can see throughout the game.

How it works

The user enters the game zone located on the stand. With the help of the stand assistant, the player puts a VR helmet on its head. In one hand, the player takes a stick with the Vive Tracker v 2.0 sensor installed on it, in the other hand it takes the HTC Vive controller.

After that the game starts, the player is invited to have a training session of step-by-step, illustrated instructions, made in the general style of the app. Training introduces the user to the game process. After the user successfully copes with the first step, the instruction automatically transfers to the second step.

After training, the user goes to the game; the scoreboard displays a name, which is randomly assigned to this particular player.

The player sees in front of him 2 tennis guns, which shoot in different directions on different trajectories. Balls are served with a different sequence for each hand. The game lasts 1 minute, for this period of time the same number of balls is shot out of the guns. All balls are reflected on the scoreboard.

After the user passes the game, the scoreboard displays the player’s result.

Equipment

• HTC Vive VR Helmet 
• Motion sensor Vive Tracker v 2.0 
• Server

Result

Hockey with the ball game allows the user to plunge into the hockey stadium and feel like a goalkeeper. It can be presented at exhibitions as an entertainment activity.