Blog Post #12: VR Game Design in Unity

I enjoyed learning Unity and did a lot of experimenting. I also inadvertently downloaded Unity on the wrong computer and later realized I should have used my more powerful computer. When I installed Unity on the second computer, it installed a slightly newer editor. Then when I tried to import my project, it made me download the exact editor version I had originally created the project in. It was a bit of a pain, but I got it working.

At that point my project consisted of a terrain object and a first-person controller from the assets package we installed in class. Next, I installed the "Terrain Tools" package in Unity so I could customize the terrain. I left the terrain width, length, and height at 1000 m x 1000 m x 600 m, which was the default, because I wanted a fairly large terrain to develop.

I used a soft round brush with brush strength of 0.05 and brush size of 30 to build up the terrain with hills and valleys. I built mountains around the perimeter of the terrain. After building the mountain ranges, I used the Smooth Height tool to smooth them out a bit. I covered the terrain with grass and was then ready to visit the asset store to find items to add to the terrain.

I had to import a lot of assets from the asset store to find ones that were compatible with my project because not all of them were compatible with the Universal Render Pipeline (URP). However, I found a really great Terrain Sample Assets package and a Rocks and Vegetation package. I used the Add Trees tool to add Bushes, Ferns, and Heather that I could then brush onto the Terrain. I added rocks individually around the terrain, as well as larger trees. The shrubbery (Bushes, Ferns, and Heather) are animated and appear to sway in the wind.

Best of all I found a dinosaur package that had Apatosaurus, Parasaurus, Stegosaurus, T-Res, Triceratops, and Velociraptor dinosaurs! I wanted to make my world into a dinosaur world all along, so I was very happy to find this package. I put some of the bigger dinosaurs around the perimeter so that you could see them in the distance when you look up at the mountains. And I put many dinosaurs around the center of the terrain where the character would begin play.

Next, I found an audio file of dinosaurs roaring. I imported that into my project and set it to play when the game starts and continue playing on a loop throughout the game.

The game doesn't have a goal or score, but is more of an experiential journey. The character navigates through the terrain as if taking a hike around the countryside and seeing colorful greenery and flowers amid the rocks and mountains, with dinosaurs wandering throughout.

For the "VR Headset," I used a pair of safety goggles combined with my Dreem sleep tracker headgear...

Here are some still shots from my terrain, showing the Mountains, Grass, Rocks, Trees, Bushes, Ferns, Heather, and various species of Dinosaurs...

Basic Layout of the Scene

Dinosaurs, Rock Formations, and Heather

Dinosaurs, Heather, Ferns, Rocks, and Mountains

A Flowering Tree, Shrubbery, Dinosaurs, Rocks, and Mountains

Close-up of a Rock Formation

More Dinosaurs, Shrubs, and Hills

Aerial View of Animated Shrubbery Swaying in the Wind

And here is a video of my Mom navigating her character around the terrain, looking at the dinosaurs and shrubbery and rocks and mountains. I had to keep the video short because Blogger has a 100 MB file size limit, but it captures the sound in the background and the basic game play.

I think I may have turned my Mom into a gamer because after I finished shooting the video, she continued navigating her character through my terrain looking at all the different assets I had built into the terrain until I finally had to take my computer back to finish the assignment!

Finally, I think having roaring dinosaurs in my game should be worth some extra credit, don't you?!? 😉 I enjoyed making this Dino World and look forward to continuing to build in Unity.

Asset Store Links:

PBR Animated Dinosaurs: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/characters/animals/pbr-animated-dinosaurs-256019

Terrain Sample Asset Pack: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/landscapes/terrain-sample-asset-pack-145808

Rocks and Vegetation Pack URP: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/rocks-and-vegetation-pack-urp-243519

Audio File of Dinosaur Roaring Sounds:

https://freesound.org/people/jamesrodavidson/sounds/192364/

Blog Post #11: Fabricating for a Function, Part 3

The 3D printing process was a bit challenging. I uploaded the STL file to FSU's 3DPrinterOS site and configured it using the settings we were given in class. Despite my careful design of the table-top towel rack to try to keep it within the constraints of the print bed size, I still got a warning that it exceeded the print bed size. I ended up having to scale it to only 85% of the original size.

Another challenge was that even though I used the exact settings that were recommended, the print job was estimated to take just over 6 hours, and I was aware there is a 5 hour per day printing limit. I called the Innovation Hub and spoke with Mason who confirmed all the settings I had used were the recommended ones. He adjusted my allotment to allow for the printing time. I also coordinated with him to make sure I selected a printer that didn't currently have any jobs on the queue so that he could start the job printing for the day before leaving, in hopes that it will be ready for me to pick up in the morning.

Later the next day...

The print job finished without incident and my table-top towel rack was ready for me to pick up today. Here is a picture of it on Mom's sink... 

And here are pictures of my table-top towel rack with hand towels and washcloths on it...

It is definitely small, but it does the job it is intended to do and avoids having to drape hand towels over the edge of the sink like we were doing before (see below), so it solves the problem it is intended to solve...

I had to record my demo video twice because I didn't realize there was a 100 MB upload limit on Blogger. Here is my first video demonstrating the fabricated object doing the job it was intended to do...

And here is a video of my Mom seeing it for the first time. A happy client means my project was successful! 😊

Blog Post #10: Fabricating for a Function, Part 2

Here are the designs for my table top towel rack. I am making it shorter than originally envisioned to make sure I stay within the limitations of the print beds of the printers at the Hub. If necessary I can scale them down further when I configure the print job. 

First I created a circle for the base with a diameter of 120 mm and a height of 20 mm. I added a small lip at the top of the base (visible in the second screenshot below which shows a close-up). This is so glasses, watches, and jewelry can be placed on it while bathing, without sliding off the base. I also filleted as many edges as I could do on the lip. Then I created a vertical post with a height of 150 mm and a diameter of 20 mm. I also filleted the joint between the base and post to make it smoother. 

I originally planned an S-shaped bar at the top, but decided to make crossbars instead. Each bar is 240 mm long with a diameter of 12 mm. I added sphere knobs at the ends of each bar with a diameter of 20 mm.

One of the challenging aspects was finding all of the edges of the lip to fillet them. Also, there didn't appear to be a tool where I could easily create the S-shape with geometric precision which contributed to me brainstorming for other design ideas that would be more feasible. However, I am happy with the design I eventually evolved to, and I look forward to seeing it printed. 

Here is a rendered picture of what it will look like, although I can't guarantee what color it will actually be printed in.

Blog Post #9: Fabricating for a Function, Part 1

Unfortunately, I recently broke my Mom's towel rack on the wall...

So my project will be to fabricate a table-top rack that can go on the counter next to her sink and hold a hand towel and a washcloth or two. Here is my video explaining my project...

Blog Post #8: 3D Modeling with Fusion 360

Object #1: Tutorial Object

I'm not gonna lie -- I found Fusion 360 to be more confusing than TinkerCAD or FreeCAD. I had to attend both lectures and re-watch the videos to really get all the details of how to do each object. I find that if I'm even a little behind, it's impossible to work on catching up while also following the demonstration going on at the same time. For example, I had already taken screenshots and put the first two objects in this blog before attending class the second time and realizing we needed to use Capture Screen (so I redid all the screen captures).  Even the rendering was confusing, as I missed the slider with the "Excellent" and "Final" at first, but picked up that detail in the second lecture. I eventually figured it all out through repetition and trial and error. Here is my tutorial object...

Object #2: Lampshade

Here are two views of my lampshade (from the top and the bottom) ...

Object #3: Flask

Object #4: Bowler Hat

Journal Entry #7: 3D Modeling FreeCAD Basics

Object #1: Basic Part Design Tutorial

Object #2: Cord Holder

[Will upload picture shortly... Please check back!]

Object #3: Locking Parts

[will upload picture shortly... Please check back!]

Journal Entry #6: 3D Modeling with TinkerCAD

Object #1: PVC Pipe

My first attempt at the PVC Pipe wasn't hollowed out enough, so I recreated it and got it right on the second try... 

Object #2: Hollow Plastic Pink Egg

The hollow plastic pink egg was pretty easy...

Object #3: Floppy Disk (i.e., "Save Icon" 😜)

The floppy disk was a bit more complicated than the first two objects, but I was able to figure it all out...

Object #4: Evil Spoon from Hell (i.e., "Devil's Spawn Spoon")

It speaks for itself...

Object #5: Flask

The flask was very challenging. However, after many attempts and lots of modifying and correcting, I believe I was able to get the basic idea of the flask...

Object #6: Bowler Hat

The bowler hat was challenging, but I was able to get it all figured out. I was able to get it hollowed out and get the curvature of the brim. I took three screenshots to thoroughly demonstrate both the hollowness and the curvature...

Object #7: Aviator Glasses

The aviator glasses were challenging. I didn't have too much trouble making the lenses and shaping them or setting them to transparent. I also didn't have too much trouble making the frames around the lenses or the brow bar or nose bridge. The nose pads were not difficult. The hardest part was making the temples in such a way that they curve over the ears. I achieved this using multiple shapes and would have liked it to have bended a little smoother, but I was able to get the basic shape. I believe these look like aviator glasses...