When I put on the Rift and play a game, I want it to feel good. I want to be able to stay plugged in for hours and hours and become lost in another world – to explore, have adventures, do things not possible in the real world. That is the general expectation of the average consumer and at the same time the ultimate dream of any VR enthusiast. So what happens when we have… Continue reading
The DK2 compatible version of Lost Loot is here! The 0.4.3 runtime is required and it is built with the 0.4.3.1 version of the sdk. The build is a DX11 build and should run fine using direct mode. If you do run it in extended mode, I recommend forcing it to DX9. I have still experienced problems using DX11 in extended mode. There are details in the instructions on how to force it… Continue reading
The initial pre-release is still essentially the VR Jam game I created, although cleaned up and improved significantly. The gameplay is also still simple with only a few basic exploration and treasure hunting mechanics. My plan right now is to continue improving and enhancing the foundation of the game. I also intend to rework the terrain with new shaders, revise the art pack used for the island, and put in a procedural sky system with… Continue reading
I have been busy fixing bugs the last few weeks and now have the first pre-alpha version of LOST LOOT ready to go. This version is more or less the same as the VR Jam game however it has been cleaned up, enhanced, and optimized to provide a much nicer experience. I hope you like it! The trailer… Some screenshots… Please try it out and give me feedback. It is… Continue reading
It has been a while since the last update on Lost Loot. I have been hard at work on the game during the little spare time I have available lately and I wanted to show off some of the underwater effects that have been added and discuss some of the progress that has been made. I made a video so you can see the current version in action. I started off with some changes to… Continue reading
Well, it is that time again… There has been much happening in the VR world. I guess we are now calling it the second coming of VR with all the new technology showcased at CES and of course the huge Valve announcements at Steam Dev Days. Now for a little recap… Oculus showed off the Crystal Cove Prototype at CES which has a camera based positional tracking system and a low persistence display. I won’t… Continue reading
One of the major issues with Lost Loot was that when you are on the surface of the ocean your body did not rise and fall with the waves properly and as a result you could often see under the water without the underwater system turning on. This regularly broke the immersion and additionally there was no way to have anything floating on the water either, such as barrels, crates, or even the little red… Continue reading
It is finally done! The last week of the jam was torture and I spent many late nights and two days with no sleep up until the final submission late Sunday. It has taken some time to recover and that is why this update is a week late. Here is a video of some random gameplay from the final version of LOST LOOT. It is rather long, but as a reward you get to find… Continue reading
So we have reached the end of week two. Things have been a little crazy – I am getting rather exhausted and turning nocturnal. The game is coming along, but still not anywhere near complete. I was able to complete the basic gameplay of diving for and recovering loot. This is my official milestone 2 progress video for LOST LOOT, which is just some gameplay segments diving for loot! Current gameplay involves parachuting… Continue reading
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
Hi I’m Michael! I have been working with Unity and dabbling in XR for ages. I started this blog back in the Oculus DK1 era which now seems like an eon ago.
I am passionate about building immersive worlds and want to create them, explore them, and tell stories through them. I am currently developing a VR sandbox called Zotbox that is inspired by Minecraft as a platform to do exactly that!
If you need help with a project I also do freelance work. Feel free to contact me and we can chat about what you are working on and see if it's a fit.
Follow me on Bluesky for updates on everything including Zotbox and it's first mini-game Lost Loot!
 | Michael Schenck on LOST LOOT Alpha Progress… |
 | CHris on LOST LOOT Alpha Progress… |
 | Kevin Gulling on Wave Height for Unity’s… |
 | cirovenpao.science on VR Just Got Real |
 | Adam on Wave Height for Unity’s… |
