In this tutorial, we'll be creating a multiplayer VR game from scratch. Our focus will be to enable real-time interaction between users in a VR environment.
You will learn:
- Basic principles of VR and multiplayer game development
- How to use Unity game engine and Photon Unity Networking (PUN) for multiplayer functionality
- How to manage player interaction in a VR environment
Prerequisites:
- Basic understanding of C# and Unity
- Unity game engine installed on your computer
- A compatible VR headset (such as Oculus Rift or HTC Vive)
First, you need to create a new Unity project. Download and install the PUN 2 package from Unity's Asset Store to enable multiplayer functionality.
Use Unity's inbuilt tools to create your game environment. Here, you can design the game world as per your preference.
You need to create a player object that represents each user in the VR environment. This includes creating a VR camera rig, which will be used to track the player's movements and rotation.
Setting up the networking component involves creating a 'Photon View' for each player object. This allows the game to keep track of each player's position and actions.
Enable interaction between the players by programming the game mechanics. This may include picking up objects, moving around, or interacting with other elements in the VR environment.
// This script will be attached to the Player object
using UnityEngine;
using Valve.VR;
public class Player : MonoBehaviour {
public SteamVR_Behaviour_Pose pose;
public SteamVR_Action_Boolean moveAction;
private float speed = 3.0f;
private float sensitivity = 0.1f;
private float moveValue;
void Update() {
moveValue = moveAction.GetAxis(pose.inputSource);
if (moveValue > 0.2f || moveValue < -0.2f) {
Vector3 direction = Player.instance.hmdTransform.TransformDirection(new Vector3(0, 0, moveValue));
Player.instance.transform.position += speed * Time.deltaTime * Vector3.ProjectOnPlane(direction, Vector3.up);
}
}
}
This script will be attached to the Player object, and uses the SteamVR plugin to track the player's position and movements.
// This script will be attached to the Player object
using UnityEngine;
using Photon.Pun;
public class Player : MonoBehaviourPunCallbacks {
void Start() {
if (photonView.IsMine) {
// The player is the local player
} else {
// The player is another player
}
}
}
The PhotonView
component tracks the player's position and actions across the network.
In this tutorial, we covered the process of creating a multiplayer VR game. We learned how to set up Unity and PUN, create a VR environment, set up players, handle networking, and enable interaction between players.
Next, you can explore more advanced features such as voice chat, more complex game mechanics, and VR-specific interactions.
Remember, the key to learning is practice. So, keep creating and experimenting with different types of games and mechanics. Happy coding!