Our first foray into Unity was a simple roller-ball game. We were able to keep up with the C♯ required to apply physics, and even took it a level further by researching materials & textures to make it on-brand for Hanneld/Herrin Corp. We then packaged it and were able to experience/play it via the Vive in 360 VR; totally insane. Here's a somewhat less impressive video of how that looked first person: https://vimeo.com/200871005

Excitingly enough, there's a GitHub-like repository that banks C♯ code that you can apply to your own creations: enter VR Tool Kit. The VR Test went very well:

https://vimeo.com/200729628

We finally got back to Northgate to check out Facebook's Occulus Rift. (After making appointments and trekking out only to have nobody there to offer the demo and then later, having one of our appointments lately cancelled...)

Double not-cool, Facebook!

https://vimeo.com/200780085

Our estimation: In short, the hardware UX is outstanding. Far superior to the HTC Vive. The headset is lighter, more easily adjustable, and more comfortable.

There's a single cable coming from it rather than a bundle of three. The headphones are integrated into the goggles eliminating the awkwardness of dangling earbuds (and the hygienic/ear-hole size differential issues that come with earbuds).

The highlight of the whole experience is the hand controlers. Within seconds, you accept the fitted controllers as real hands – you can touch, point, and grab – all with haptics that immerse you in the experience.

Meanwhile, the HTC Vive controllers feel like cartoon ham hocks:

Lastly, Occulus has the ability to design and experience sound ––there's a microphone and you can speak, be heard, and understood. Let that sink in for a second compared to the one-way street of sound in the Vive. Right?? The jury is out on the game design / interface – there are many studios that are producing works of varied quality (both in polygon count, resolution, and storytelling) and we had limited exposure to multiple applications and no exposure to the onboarding process.

Up next: continuing Unity & C4D tutorials and we have coffee scheduled with two gentlemen from a local VR/AR startup Visual Vocal. Stoked to see the practical application of these emerging technologies.