StrobeMotion Playtest 1
A downloadable pre-alpha playtest for Windows
Providing locomotion in VR is an on-going challenge. There's no solution that pleases everyone: Games that release with teleportation only are swamped with demands for trackpad movement, while games that only offer trackpad movement lose the ~30% of players prone to motion sickness.
I'm working on developing a unique new VR locomotion system that will bridge the gap between trackpad movement and teleportation, which I'm calling StrobeMotion. The goal of StrobeMotion is to provide the most naturalistic motion possible while maintaining a comfortable experience for all players.
And it works! Well... It works for the two people who have tried it, anyway. To get meaningful results, I need a lot more people to try it.
I'm looking for people to playtest a short demo level I've built. All you have to do is traverse the level a couple times using the current pre-alpha prototype of StrobeMotion on a couple different settings, then answer a few questions about your comfort levels in an embedded survey. Easy as pie, and it should only take around 5 minutes.
If you'd like to help, please click the button below to download the playtest level. (This initial test build only supports HTC Vive on Windows. Also, this playtest is not recommended for anyone with health conditions sensitive to flashing images.)
After you finish the playtest, if you have any additional feedback you feel like sharing beyond what the survey covers, of course I'd love to hear it. Feel free to post comments below.
Thanks!
| Status | Prototype |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Author | Hengeworks |
| Tags | Experimental, Virtual Reality (VR) |
| Average session | A few minutes |
| Languages | English |
| Inputs | HTC Vive |
Download
Install instructions
- Requires HTC Vive on Windows (64-bit).
- Requires an Internet connection to submit your survey answers.
- Your HTC Vive headset and controllers must be connected and turned on BEFORE running the playtest.
- Your SteamVR software must NOT be running before running the playtest. (SteamVR Home will hog the connection to the headset.)
- After downloading, extract the zip file to anywhere you like.
- Open the strobemotion-playtest01-win64-build01 folder created, and double-click the strobemotion-playtest01-win64-build01.exe file inside.
- Depending on your security settings, Windows Firewall might ask if you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet. Please allow it.
- Put on your headset and play.
TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON PROBLEMS
- If you see a green laser pointer when moving, or encounter other strange behavior with the controllers, hold the power buttons on both controllers until they turn off, then turn them on again.
- If you continue moving after taking your finger off the touchpad, quickly tap the touchpad. (You don't need to press—just touch and release.)
- Remember: If you experience discomfort or get stuck, you can press the top menu button to skip to the survey.
Comments
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The movement control doesn't seem to work at all for me.
The touchpad detection in this early version only runs when the game first starts. If the controller's not turned on already before the game starts, the touchpad won't work even if you see the controller itself being tracked. If that's the problem, the solution is simply to make sure both controllers are turned on before running the playtest. If that doesn't help, maybe you can describe what you're experiencing in more detail and I'll see what I can come up with.
I completed the tests.
I was perhaps misguided by or misunderstood the instruction that the Valve VR software must be off before starting. I was stuck because stopping the SteamVR shut down the Vive, and starting the Vive started up SteamVR. I tried just double-clicking the test with everything on and it just worked.
Thanks for sticking with it. What you describe used to work for me, but since the upgrade to Steam VR Home I've found it a bit trickier to get it working because Steam VR Home auto-runs, and seems to take priority with the headset over other games. Anyway, glad you were able to get it working.
Did you have any thoughts on the locomotion system itself?