Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by f0e4c2f7 1517 days ago
I'm learning unreal engine 5 to make vr games. I try to make stuff or find stuff online and then I put it in VR and I can look at it up close, or eventually fight it or team up with it. It's pretty hard but it's just nonstop fun.

VR is a new medium. We're in that stage now where people are sort of putting stuff from the old medium in without much consideration of what new concepts or ideas might be possible. Every UI in every game and application is terrible. Everything has to be reinvented, and can be reimagined in incredibly creative and strange ways.

Fairly often now I'll have an experience in real life and think "Someday, I'm going to put this in VR game."

4 comments

I agree, talent needs to catch up, and new UI concepts are needed (the current VR web browsers feel very awkward). One app that was built very thoughtfully for VR and nailed it imho is Hyper Dash. Making teleporting the preferred form of movement vs. walking was brilliant.
I've never heard of Hyper Dash - I'll check it out!
It's in my todo list to learn either UE5 or Unity for VR. After some light research, I've opted for UE5, but am curious how did you decide to go for UE vs Unity?
Unity seemed easier to use in some ways but I liked Unreal's licensing model better. They also keep throwing in more free assets.
Curious is this a personal project or a company one?
1 man startup.
Have you tried any AR projects? Would like to see some examples of your work if you don’t mind sharing.
Just VR for now. Nothing to share yet but expect a Show HN when I have a trailer or a demo!
Could you share your VR development setup? PC specs, which platforms/devices do you develop for etc...
I'm using a pretty underpowered PC 1000 series graphics card. It chugs. Building for the Quest 2 using UE5, Blender, and a few plugins and templates from the unreal ecosystem.

I also have a huion drawing tablet but I think you could go quite far in blender with just a mouse.

how well does this pay?
Better than it used to be but generally not well.