The
Colosseum
The
Colosseum
The
Colosseum
[VR]
[VR]
[PROTOTYPE]
[PROTOTYPE]
Design & Development
Design & Development
Dive into ancient Rome with this immersive VR journey. Marrying historical accuracy with cutting-edge technology, explore the iconic Colosseum's grandeur and the thrilling world of gladiators like never before.
Dive into ancient Rome with this immersive VR journey. Marrying historical accuracy with cutting-edge technology, explore the iconic Colosseum's grandeur and the thrilling world of gladiators like never before.
Dive into ancient Rome with this immersive VR journey. Marrying historical accuracy with cutting-edge technology, explore the iconic Colosseum's grandeur and the thrilling world of gladiators like never before.
Unveiling My Design Journey
Unveiling My Design Journey
Understanding the Problem
Understanding the Problem
The Colosseum, a symbol of ancient Roman grandeur, has always been a subject of wonder for many. The challenge? How to encapsulate its monumental history and architectural splendor into a cohesive VR experience that's both informative and immersive. The primary objective was to transport users back in time, allowing them to not just view but experience the Colosseum in its prime.
The Colosseum, a symbol of ancient Roman grandeur, has always been a subject of wonder for many. The challenge? How to encapsulate its monumental history and architectural splendor into a cohesive VR experience that's both informative and immersive. The primary objective was to transport users back in time, allowing them to not just view but experience the Colosseum in its prime.
Research & Discovery
Research & Discovery
Historical data, artistic interpretations of the Colosseum, the types of gladiators, and the weapons they wielded laid the foundational knowledge. This extensive research ensured the VR experience would resonate with authenticity.
Historical data, artistic interpretations of the Colosseum, the types of gladiators, and the weapons they wielded laid the foundational knowledge. This extensive research ensured the VR experience would resonate with authenticity.
Breaking Down the Thought Process
Breaking Down the Thought Process
Mixed Reality Cards for Ideation
Mixed Reality Cards for Ideation
In the initial planning and ideation phase, mixed reality cards played a pivotal role. Instead of being a part of the final product, these cards served as a tangible brainstorming tool. They guided the scope, helped define user interactions, and became instrumental in shaping the project's direction. This innovative approach ensured that the planning process was both systematic and creative, providing a clear roadmap for the project's development.
In the initial planning and ideation phase, mixed reality cards played a pivotal role. Instead of being a part of the final product, these cards served as a tangible brainstorming tool. They guided the scope, helped define user interactions, and became instrumental in shaping the project's direction. This innovative approach ensured that the planning process was both systematic and creative, providing a clear roadmap for the project's development.
User-Centric Design & Interaction
User-Centric Design & Interaction
With the structure provided by the mixed reality cards, user personas were crafted. This ensured the VR experience was designed with the end-user in mind.
With the structure provided by the mixed reality cards, user personas were crafted. This ensured the VR experience was designed with the end-user in mind.
Execution & Development
Execution & Development
Asset Development
Asset Development
A cornerstone of the project was ensuring a realistic and engaging environment. To achieve this, I collected and optimized 3D assets, including a life-sized model of the Colosseum and historically accurate weaponry like the gladius and scutum.
A cornerstone of the project was ensuring a realistic and engaging environment. To achieve this, I collected and optimized 3D assets, including a life-sized model of the Colosseum and historically accurate weaponry like the gladius and scutum.
Unity Project Execution
Unity Project Execution
The VR experience was structured into three distinct scenes, each serving a unique purpose:
The VR experience was structured into three distinct scenes, each serving a unique purpose:
01.
Welcome Scene
Users were introduced to the Colosseum's historical context and given movement instructions, setting the stage for the immersive journey ahead.
02.
Compendium Scene
03.
Gladiator Fight Scene
01.
Welcome Scene
Users were introduced to the Colosseum's historical context and given movement instructions, setting the stage for the immersive journey ahead.
02.
Compendium Scene
03.
Gladiator Fight Scene
01.
Welcome Scene
Users were introduced to the Colosseum's historical context and given movement instructions, setting the stage for the immersive journey ahead.
02.
Compendium Scene
03.
Gladiator Fight Scene
Wizard of Oz Technique
Wizard of Oz Technique
To enhance the development process and provide a more interactive experience during the prototype stage, I adopted the "Wizard of Oz" technique. This allowed me to simulate certain interactive elements, notably the Compendium menu and gladiator dummies, ensuring users had a more enriched experience even during the development phase.
To enhance the development process and provide a more interactive experience during the prototype stage, I adopted the "Wizard of Oz" technique. This allowed me to simulate certain interactive elements, notably the Compendium menu and gladiator dummies, ensuring users had a more enriched experience even during the development phase.
Testing & Refining
Testing & Refining
Testing Approach
Testing Approach
The system’s usability was directly evaluated using a qualitative approach. This hands-on method facilitated the gathering of invaluable user feedback, pivotal in refining the VR experience. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by VR, I was proactive in managing potential risks, such as motion sickness and ensuring users remained within real-world boundaries.
The system’s usability was directly evaluated using a qualitative approach. This hands-on method facilitated the gathering of invaluable user feedback, pivotal in refining the VR experience. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by VR, I was proactive in managing potential risks, such as motion sickness and ensuring users remained within real-world boundaries.
Issues & Solutions
Issues & Solutions
Usability testing was instrumental in highlighting areas of improvement:
Usability testing was instrumental in highlighting areas of improvement:
Teleportation Cancellation
Teleportation Cancellation
Identified issues with teleportation mechanics, specifically that users couldn't cancel the teleport function once activated. To address this, a cancellation feature was added and settings were adjusted, resulting in a smoother user movement experience.
Identified issues with teleportation mechanics, specifically that users couldn't cancel the teleport function once activated. To address this, a cancellation feature was added and settings were adjusted, resulting in a smoother user movement experience.
Movement Mechanics
Movement Mechanics
The initial locomotion controls designed for navigating the virtual world led to motion sickness in users. Due to this, the feature was entirely removed. Adjustments were made to ensure that users experienced more intuitive and natural movement within the VR environment.
The initial locomotion controls designed for navigating the virtual world led to motion sickness in users. Due to this, the feature was entirely removed. Adjustments were made to ensure that users experienced more intuitive and natural movement within the VR environment.
User Progress Awareness
User Progress Awareness
Modifications were made to better inform users of their progress and journey within the experience.
Modifications were made to better inform users of their progress and journey within the experience.
Text Legibility
Text Legibility
Feedback indicated some text elements weren't easily readable. Design adjustments ensured clearer and more legible text presentations.
Feedback indicated some text elements weren't easily readable. Design adjustments ensured clearer and more legible text presentations.
Through rigorous development, innovative techniques, and iterative testing, "The Colosseum" VR project was not just about recreating a historical marvel but about ensuring users had an engaging, intuitive, and immersive journey through ancient Rome.
Through rigorous development, innovative techniques, and iterative testing, "The Colosseum" VR project was not just about recreating a historical marvel but about ensuring users had an engaging, intuitive, and immersive journey through ancient Rome.
Outcomes & Reflection
Outcomes & Reflection
The end product was a historically accurate VR representation of the Colosseum, which garnered positive feedback for its immersive quality and ease of navigation. However, the journey wasn't without its hurdles. Some initial ideas were shelved, while others evolved. The project taught me the value of adaptability, the importance of user feedback, and the need for relentless iteration.
Looking back, there's always room for improvement. Perhaps more interactive elements could be integrated, or deeper historical narratives could be explored. But each project shapes you, and "The Colosseum" has been a significant milestone in my design journey.
The end product was a historically accurate VR representation of the Colosseum, which garnered positive feedback for its immersive quality and ease of navigation. However, the journey wasn't without its hurdles. Some initial ideas were shelved, while others evolved. The project taught me the value of adaptability, the importance of user feedback, and the need for relentless iteration.
Looking back, there's always room for improvement. Perhaps more interactive elements could be integrated, or deeper historical narratives could be explored. But each project shapes you, and "The Colosseum" has been a significant milestone in my design journey.