LOST LOOT Alpha Progress – Islands

Two years have passed since the original version of LOST LOOT was created for the 2013 VR Jam and I am now happy to report that we are officially entering Alpha territory!  I have made steady progress on a number of areas, but lets start with a few screenshots of the current build and the starting island…     These show the new island environment and our protagonist Riley Taylor, who you will learn more about… Continue reading

Oculus and IndieCade VR Jam – Milestone 1 Status

My entry in the Oculus and IndieCade VR Jam is taking shape.  I am creating a casual treasure diving game designed specifically for VR. Here is the official description: “LOST LOOT: A casual exploration game designed for VR and the Oculus Rift.  It combines relaxing gameplay with an interesting environment and a touch of adventure.  Dive for lost treasure!  Search submerged ruins and ancient shipwrecks for gold, jewels, and artifacts.  Watch your air supply and… Continue reading

Rift Ramblings (Part 1)

Well, it has been about two weeks since the Oculus Rift arrived.  I have spent many hours with the device glued to my face, exploring what it feels like to be inside a computer generated world instead of looking at it through a flat window.  The experience can best be described as stunning, with a sense that this is the beginning of a new paradigm for anything involving three dimensional graphics, especially games.  There is… Continue reading

Better looking environments in Unity (Part 1)

After developing a prototype forest scene a while ago, I wanted to somehow improve the terrain textures to look sharper and have more detail.  I have been thoroughly inspired by the environment art of an indie action RPG that is in the works called Grim Dawn.  After some pointers by other Unity developers I recently found a way to get the terrain in Unity to incorporate bump mapping.  I have been pleased with the results… Continue reading