Dots and Boxes VR

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  2x2 cube puzzle

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  apple puzzle

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Inspiration

I was inspired to create a VR and specifically a 3D version of the game "Dots and Boxes" a few years ago, when considering simple puzzle games to introduce to the public. As a child in the 90s, I played "Dots and Boxes" on my family's first computer, which we received from close family friends who were programmers. This experience partly inspired me to pursue this path. It's inspiring to bring such a classic game to today's players. While the game may seem simple, it involves strategic elements that become more appreciable as players gain experience. The game is suitable for players aged 9 to 99.

What it does

In this game, similar to the original, players compete against the computer to draw a single horizontal or vertical line between two adjacent dots. Completing the fourth side of a 1x1 box earns one point and an additional turn. In this version, the puzzles feature various shapes, built from triangles, boxes and more. The goal remains the same: be the player who closes the last line of the shape to own it and increase your score. The winner is the player who secures the most shapes on the board.

How we built it

Initially, I developed the game for mobile platforms, and the transition to XR was relatively smooth. I built the game in Unity3D using C# and 3D shapes from a website called "Poly Pizza." It took around two years to build the core game mechanics. The XR component was developed over the last year, culminating in last month's hackathon.

Challenges we ran into

One of the challenges was designing the tutorial/onboarding experience, which we wanted to be both engaging and easy to understand for novice players. The challenge was creating a tutorial that was simple yet effective in teaching the game mechanics. As a turn-based game, I opted to start with the smallest puzzle. However, taking turns can be time-consuming, so we sought ways to shorten the tutorial while making it clearer through animations, UI pulsing lines, and hints. We ensured that the player always wins the tutorial, encouraging them to continue playing.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud to have implemented the Passthrough SDK and developed a solid tutorial. The UI, which is now closer to the player as opposed to being in the background, also stands out. Another major achievement was consolidating the game into a single scene, as opposed to the mobile version, which required transitioning between different scenes.

What we learned

I learned about transitioning the game to XR and about working with Meta XR SDKs. Collaborating with consulting members of this project provided substantial learning and benefited from their contributions and experience.

What's next for Dots and Boxes VR

I hope "Dots and Boxes VR" continues to evolve into a full game. I am looking forward to expanding our team and reaching as wide an audience as possible. This game challenges players to think strategically and develop their skills. I plan to implement a full multiplayer mode for 2-4 players to make the game more engaging (it is currently only against the computer). I also aim to deploy this game in XR and mobile (iOS, Android) markets.

Built With

• audio
• c#
• firebase
• meta
• mixpanel
• passthrough
• unity