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Virtual reality(VR) is somewhat of a household name nowadays, with Oculus Rift & Playstation VR people can experience Video Games outside of the traditional rectangular screen. Pokémon Go players have experienced Pokémon’s in their real-world environment which in technical term is defined as Augmented Reality(AR). When we combine the above two to create an environment where one can simultaneously experience and interact with digital content immersed into their real world is called as Mixed Reality(MR). These terms VR/AR/MR are mere sub-classes of a broader term called as Extended Reality which is also known as XR.

VR & AR allows man and machine to interact with each other on a whole different level. So, such type of XR development is not similar to the creation of traditional computer games, mobile games or console games. It requires tremendous research and knowledge so as to prioritize the comfort of the user while experiencing such products.

Developers swear by ‘unity’ and call it the best tool for XR development. Many mobile game development companies prefer Unity. One can find a noticeable boost in Unity game development these days. Let’s find out why it is the best tool.

1) Worldwide Reach

Unity can provide support to all the latest platforms like Oculus Rift, Steam VR/Vive, Playstation VR, Microsoft Hololens, Google’s Daydream View, etc. More than 91% of the Hololens applications and AR apps are made with Unity, which shows that we can combine those together for MR in the future, thus proving its usage as an XR tool.

2) Framerate Exposure

A highly optimized stereoscopic rendering pipeline helps an application reach to high framerates effortlessly thus it helps the developer to optimize their content.

3) Rapid Development

Unity also helps in the creation of cross-platform applications, as it takes very less effort for a creation of an app build for a different platform with just a few tweaks. It even allows third-party hardware manufacturer to develop their own plugins and SDKs. Integrating such plugins would reduce the benefits of the vast and highly optimized pipeline, but it would still allow its users to create an immersive VR/AR experience. Some of the plugins already available are ARCore & ARKit, Vuforia, etc.

4) Other Usages

Unity is not just a tool for the creation of Games, it has vast applications in the non-gaming sector like Education, Healthcare & industrial training. It can create vast immersive 3D worlds for the students of various discipline for experiencing something which is not possible via just books and field trips. One can create 3D objects for interactive purposes which is essential for a trainee in the industrial environment so as to prepare him for handling the real object. An experimental term called social VR is currently under development which is commonly known as Facebook Spaces, it allows a user to create his own virtual world with the help of his uploaded photos & 360 videos where the user can invite his friends from anywhere in the world to be a part of that world.

Unity has many inbuilt tools called as ‘Assets’ which help the user for fast and easy development of applications. These assets start from programming modules to media content like arts & sounds. Unity has introduced a new asset called ‘Virtual Room’ which a new type of interactive environment for advertising. This tool allows the advertising companies to insert an interactive ad inside the game’s storyline, where the player has the ability to either enter or experience the advertisement or just carry on with his game story. These ads may be in the form of a room where the player can enter and then explore the various brands and products the advertisement company has to offer. After a couple of minutes, he can exit the room and would be rewarded in some sort with a gift, thus promoting such experiences.

Some real-time usage of Unity is as follows:

1) Google VR SDK

This plugin for unity is used to build applications for Android and iOS. The integration of unity with Google VR makes it a cinch to build Android Applications for Daydream and Cardboard. This plugin also consists of various features like spatialized audio, Daydream Controller support, utilities, and samples. These features help to create a new VR unity project from scratch. It can be made to adapt an existing Unity 3D application to VR, also to make an app that can easily switch in and out of VR mode.

2) Vuforia

It is a market leader in AR/MR space, Vuforia along with Unity helps developers to use augmented reality as a cross-platform SDK for Android, iOS, UWP and digital eyewear. With Unity’s latest version Vuforia come included with the Unity editor, where it can use images and real objects as a target for placing content and tracking in the real world.

Conclusion

Therefore, we can easily conclude that with so many advantages, Unity is absolutely the best choice in the development of XR projects.

Why game UI matters?

Game UI matters for two most important reasons i.e., either for providing an interactive help for users that guides them all through the game or increase sales for the game. Irrespective of what you ought to aim at, you can get it all by just following a few simple principles of design and witnessing the consequences of the changes you made. UI is referred to as the methods (keyboard control, mouse control) and interfaces (inventory, map etc) implemented in the game through which the user interacts with the game. This is the very reason that you must always consult a good mobile game development company to get ultimate drooling results.

The idea behind an interactive game UI is to lead people throughout the game and never let them end up misled or misguided. An ideal game should be interactive and informative enough so that the user does not end up looking for instructions in the menu. The main agenda of the gaming UI is that the gamer finds his way through the game and can easily focus on the game. And simplified navigation is the key to an interactive gaming UI. It has got nothing to do with the type of game or its difficulty level.

The gaming UI is not just for guiding players throughout the game, it is also needed to create an everlasting impression and generate revenue. Take the example of the shop button that allows the user to unlock an advanced version of the game. If it would be unattractive, users are less likely to show interest or even notice the icon. Web designers from varied mobile game development companies know this very well and thus, they use a combination of analytics and graphic design to create an attractive interface. This idea is used to create almost all the major elements like forms, menus, and buttons.

1) Be consistent

When it comes to a successful design, consistency is an essential key factor. It is important to apply the same set of guidelines throughout for your entire interface. Even if you have to make changes at places, do it at critical circumstances only when there’s no choice left.

2) Defining a precise style guide

We give you following reasons for defining and following one precise style guide:

* If all the features look and function similarly, the users will find your UI more intuitive and this will keep them glued to the game.

* It enables you to modularize your assets, reuse the elements and save plenty of time for yourself.

From the beginning of creating your assets, keep in mind what kind of characteristics would you like to share throughout and stick to that.

Precisely, you will need to be consistent with your entire visual and audio cue that your UI provides to the player. This includes positioning, anchoring on the screen, the overall layout, color palette, styles etc. You can also visually plot your style guide. There are plenty of visual style guides that can be taken inspiration from. You can also use it as a reference to understand how to apply the basic concepts of visual design in order to make your UI clear and consistent.

3) Establish visual hierarchy

You can establish a visual hierarchy in your design using variations in size, color and even detailed animation depending upon the prominence of elements. Put on an interesting sound effect and pay attention to details for the icons players will often use or the ones you want them to notice.

4) Position or layout

If all the elements are displayed parallel to one another and are all of the same sizes, it will feel like all of them are of the same priority or prominence. Offset them and put them on a row of their own. That is the key for an ideal positioning in gaming UI.

5) Colour contrast, size, and animation

Use a unique and catchy color for the icon you want the player to notice the most. The same goes for sizing as well. The larger the icon, the more noticeable it tends to be. So, focus on the size and visibility of the icon that matters the most and seeks to be noticed. An animated, glowing spot in your game will grab the player’s attention from a distance and sets that spot apart from the rest. So, if you wish to contrast an element, you can opt for visual animation.

6) Using objective data

Designing interfaces are not at all a cake walk as it might look good but lack functionality or the other way round. The only way to ensure that your design works and whatever further changes you make just optimize your design is analytics. You will have to use A/B testing- the method that web designers and marketers use as well.

7) Use icons prudently

Icons are a critical thing when it comes to displaying it at the right spot. They can be confusing if not exhibited in the right proportion and at the right place. Appropriate labels are a good option when it comes to clarity with the icons. Anyhow, you must ensure that the labels or icons are understood by the user.

Hence, with these simple tips and tricks, we assure that you are all set to make your gaming UI shine.

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Unity Is the Best Tool for XR Development