Band Together

Inspiration

Band Together started with a clear internal goal: we needed the perfect project to welcome our talented new team members—Fee, Johanna, Mona, and Lina—and let them get their hands dirty with XR development immediately. Inspired by the mechanics of "MoveFast!", we wanted to build something from scratch that evolved that concept into a more accessible direction. We noticed a gap in the XR market for games you can play while confined to a seat—like on a plane or train—without elbowing your neighbor.

What it does

Band Together is a single-player, casual rhythm game designed for the traveler. Instead of sweeping arm movements, it utilizes a precision "MicroGesture" system. Players groove to tracks like "Maniamaster" and "Enjoy the Silence" by simply sliding their thumb over their index finger or tapping to the beat. It transforms the high-energy rhythm genre into a subtle, seated experience that requires zero roomscale, making it the perfect travel companion.

How we built it

We built the game from the ground up, focusing heavily on hand-tracking fidelity. We implemented a system that detects minute finger interactions—slides (left, right, up, down) and taps—and maps them to lane-based rhythm cues. The aesthetic was designed with a high-contrast Neon/Synthwave look to ensure visual clarity even on smaller mobile XR screens.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was "MicroGesture" reliability. Tracking a thumb sliding across an index finger is much harder than tracking a punching motion. We had to refine the detection algorithms to differentiate between a "resting" hand and an intentional "swipe." We also had to solve for environmental factors, adding specific calibration steps for lighting and hand contrast to ensure the game works in varied environments.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are most proud of how Fee, Johanna, Mona, and Lina integrated into the workflow, taking ownership of this project and bringing it to life. Tech-wise, achieving a satisfying "game feel" using only millimeters of finger movement is a huge win. The result is a game that feels responsive and looks distinct, with a polished UI that guides the user effortlessly from calibration to high-score chasing.

What we learned

We learned that "less is more" in XR. You don't always need roomscale movement to create immersion; sometimes, a focused, tactile interaction like a finger tap can be just as engaging if the music and feedback are right. We also deepened our understanding of the limitations and capabilities of optical hand tracking in "noisy" lighting environments.

What's next for Band Together

We plan to expand the tracklist with more diverse genres and increase the complexity of the gesture combos. We are also looking into "Passthrough" backgrounds so travelers can stay aware of their surroundings while jamming out. The ultimate goal is to make Band Together the default game for anyone sitting in a departure lounge. And of course - The more the better! Lets make this a multiplayer experience! Oh and dont forget the UGC aspect. Our Beat Mapper allows crafting your own beats for your favorite songs!

Built With

• meta
• unity