Trail World VR: an evaluation of the experience
Application name and platform
Trail World VR, downloaded from the App Store on my iPhone 10, used with my Google Cardboard viewer.
Description
The experience is a ‘walk’ though a floating world of trails. in the first few moments you are prompted to look at the viewer logos to load the message or experience that it represents, then it prompts you to look at your feet as a way to start and stop walking. Once you’re familiar with these controls you can stroll long the trail following a small dog. the music is calming and the sound effects are nice. The first bit of trail is a straight single file trail that meets a gondola ride to the next island or section. Once here you have a bit more choice on where you go. I stopped by the first campsite, saw a person dressed in red reading on a bench, lit the camp fire, and saw some flying fish.
The game is a nice and calm experience so far, simply walking around and exploring the cute little experiences around (there’s an outhouse that is moving off in the distance, once you walk up to it and activate it, the outhouse rockets into the air with some bathroom noises and falls back to the ground, it was funny, and a bit unexpected).
Audience
This application is made for anyone who wants a nice XR experience. Its utilizes a simple interface and is not fast paced. This game achieves being a slow moving walk around and a fun experience. All the user needs is a viewer of some type, like a Google Cardboard, and the ability to move their head around and utilize the 3DOF motions.
Strengths and Improvements
The application uses good controls, although the walking controls are a bit awkward. I wonder if instead of looking down to start and stop walking, if pressing the control button would be better, but I’m not sure if every viewer utilizes that capability.
edit: SLAM Tracking is not used in this app — 3DOF do not need such sophisticated tracking methods.
