Gem Quest XR

Transform your house into a gem-hunting adventure with your tiny mining buddy, where taps and touches reveal hidden treasures!

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Inspiration

Gem Quest XR is inspired by the thrill of discovery and the joy of interactive play. The aim was to create a game that not only entertains but also connects players with their environment in a novel way. The idea was to bring a digital companion to life in the player’s own space, making every interaction personal and unique.

What it does

In Gem Quest XR, players team up with a lively little mining buddy to explore and uncover hidden gems in their own space. Using hand gestures and taps, players can direct their companion to dig, and gather treasure, as well as using gathered blocks to construct platforms and structures. The game transforms the player’s room into a dynamic gem-hunting terrain, where every surface becomes part of the adventure.

To keep players engaged and returning, they can discover the fruits of their industrious miner's efforts collected during their absence. This element adds a delightful surprise, encouraging regular revisits to the game.

How we built it

Gem Quest XR harnesses the advanced XR capabilities of Pico's Unity Integration SDK. It integrates Video Seethrough and Space Calibration from the Sense Pack for realistic occlusion, shadow casting and collisions with the environment and hand tracking from the Interaction Pack for natural, intuitive controls. The development process focused on harmonizing these technologies to deliver an immersive and user-friendly gaming experience.

Challenges we ran into

A key challenge was balancing interactive gameplay with the physical constraints of varying spaces. A large variety of different interactions were prototyped, before deciding on the final implementation. Additionally, refining the hand tracking so that actions were recognized reliably and accurately was a complex challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I feel as though Gem Quest XR has successfully brought to life a simple yet deeply engaging gaming experience. This project demonstrates the potential of XR technology, blending elements like hand tracking, space calibration, and dynamic NPC interaction into a cohesive and immersive experience.

What sets this game apart is its ability to bridge the gap between virtual gaming and the physicality of playing with toys. The interaction with the mining buddy feels quite real and personal, creating a unique bond between the player and the game character. This aspect not only enhances the gameplay but also brings a novel dimension to XR gaming.

By merging various XR features in an intuitive and accessible way, I feel that Gem Quest XR not only entertains but also introduces players to a new kind of interactive experience, appealing to both seasoned gamers and newcomers to the world of XR.

What we learned

The project highlights the significance of user-centered design in XR gaming. Valuable insights were gained in spatial calibration, the intricacies of hand tracking, and creating a game companion to increase player engagement.

What's next for Gem Quest XR

The future vision for Gem Quest XR includes new ways to interact with the NPC companion, enriching the game with a wider variety of items and construction options. Additionally, adding more tasks for both the player and their companion, enhancing the gameplay experience. There are also some thoughts about adding additional NPCs, to bring more variety to the game's interactive world.

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