This is a set of guidelines we use to both evaluate concepts, and develop experiences, to ensure they take advantage of characteristics that separate virtual reality from other mediums.
Our Goal:
To find ways to best leverage virtual reality, not to replicate or replace reality simply for the technical achievement of doing so but, to enhance teaching, learning, research and understanding of reality.
Our Model:
Immersion Standards
- During immersion the sense of presence should be surrendered to the virtual world.
- During immersion any sense of influence should be surrendered to the virtual world.
- The immersion should favor activity over observation.
Control Standards
- All controls should be intuitive as possible and evolve in complexity.
- All interactions should be purposeful with measurable consequence.
- The controls should favor activity over observation.
Experience Standards
- The experience should reveal a clearly identifiable purpose.
- The experience should implant a clear memory of location and of activity.
- The experience should favor activity over observation.
Our Process:
1.) Determine the goal of the experience
- In one sentence, what should a user walk away with?
2.) Creative Investigation
- Gather information and develop a strategy that achieves the goal and fits the model
3.) Prototype
- Develop parts of the creative beginning with the most critical mechanics
4.) User Testing
- Get feedback on prototype, early and often, from members of the target audience
5.) Polish
- Final graphics, models, UI and lighting etc.
6.) Release
- Help facilitate the release of the completed experience to the target audience
7.) Research
- Help gather data from users for research purposes
Best Practices:
Once reaching the Prototype phase of our process, development will continue in a loop between prototype and user testing phases. No more than 2 weeks of development should occur in the prototype phase with out user testing. We are looking to build partnerships. Short development cycles and continual user testing helps us secure investment with our partners and ensures a quality finished product.
Additional Resources:
Although not specifically targeted to developing VR experiences, this video is an excellent talk about the thought process that goes into creating interactive worlds by Walt Disney Imagineers.
A critical element to elevating immersive experiences beyond just a mechanical exercise will always be to include some sort of narrative component. In this video, Mike Hill describes successful, and nor successful ways of telling stories.
https://vimeo.com/335857004
An excellent article from an industry expert on creating compelling VR interactions.
Delighting Users with Rich Interactions is Key to Making VR Engaging & Effective
A great simple video about the game design process. Game design is the closest comparable industry to immersive experiences, like it or not.
We continually evaluate and revise this document, based on lessons learned from previous work, to ensure we start each new endeavor with a successful path in mind.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.