All Mode
This past week, I have been describing the huge abundance of virtual reality headsets that have hit the market in the last year. Instead of being a good thing for the virtual reality industry, this overabundance has created a somewhat confusing market that consumers struggle to navigate. As a result, first-time buyers must choose their virtual reality platform wisely. For the most part, buying a virtual reality headset means you are also buying into a specific software platform.
Therefore today, I will begin a discussion about the dominate virtual reality software platforms. I will talk about compatibility, positives and negatives, and more! This guide will be useful not only for consumers but also for new virtual reality developers who are just getting their start and want to break into the field and join the VR fray.
Game Engines for VR
If you want to make your own virtual reality interactive content, the main two platforms that you should look into both start with a letter U. I am referring to Unity and the Unreal Engine. There are a few more big players as well, but for the most part, when developing for VR, this is where everyone goes. Both of these game engines have been around for ages. Designed initially for video games, both game engines have been taken up by various professions for architectural modeling, interactive surgical training, educational experiences, and, of course, a huge variety of virtual reality simulations.
Image credit: Epic
Unreal Engine
Personally, I favor the Unreal Engine. It has been around since the early days of 3D FPS gaming. The developer, Epic Games, has been working on the Unreal Engine for so long and it shows. This high-quality and ultra-robust game engine is free. However, Epic takes a small cut if you sell content produced with it.
The Unreal Engine is top of the line when it comes to technical awesomeness. It is one of the top engines for graphically intensive PC and console games. The graphics technology that Epic has been achieving every year at E3 keeps getting better and better. I am not kidding. Currently, the Unreal Engine can produce graphics on the level that many Hollywood studios would be jealous of.
Compatibility
Unreal Engine game produced by Konami. Image credit Konami
In terms of VR, the Unreal Engine excels. It is compatible with the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift, GearVR and also Google Daydream and Google Cardboard. Virtual reality support works via built-in plugins. It has been just recently that Epic has amassed this virtually complete list of supported headsets. As a side note, because Epic did not create a Google Cardboard plug-in, the Google Daydream plug-in can be used for creating Google Cardboard experiences. It works just fine.
Ease of Use
As for ease of use, the Unreal Engine does have a steep learning curve. That said, there are volumes of help guides and videos available that can help anyone get over almost any issue. Furthermore, the Unreal Engine ranks as one of the most well-supported engines because of its dynamic and well stocked online Marketplace. By downloading the Unreal Engine, you will get access to this marketplace of content that can help you make your own custom VR experience. Most of the content available in the Marketplace is not free, however, there is enough free content for wanna-be developers to get their start.
Unreal Engine Marketplace. Image credit: Epic
Very rightly said!! The graphics handling for games using Unreal Engine is just exemplary
I need to learn how to use this asap
yes bro me too.. even the detailing is better then GTA in my opinion, can’t wait to try this.