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Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 1, 2019. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Escape games in a real environment have long been part of the entertainment standard. However, the whole thing in a virtual digital environment is something new; puzzle adventure games with storytelling for multiplayer mode are just as rare. a maximum of four participants equipped with an HTC Vive headset and controllers, headphones and a backpack with XMG Walker backpack computers can play “Huxley” together. Players have to solve the tasks of a mission within a set time frame using teamwork and creativity, just like in a classic escape room game.
For “Huxley”, the Berlin escape room provider Exit VR teamed up with the developer studio Trotzkind and founded EXIT Adventures with the explicit purpose of setting up a VR escape room in Berlin.
Exit VR realised its first VR escape game with a team of 20 people, consisting of concept artists, developers and animators who worked on the project at different times.
The basic idea for “Huxley” was born in October 2016, and the subsequent conceptualisation phase lasted two months. During this time, the team produced concept drawings for the look of the game world and parts of the level design. Two storyboard artists also illustrated the entire plot. The team developed analogue prototypes for the puzzles in advance so that they could be tested with players as early as possible. While these prototypes were being realised digitally, the artists were already working on the programming and design.
Lots of VR experience on a large test area
There were no role models for the game development process, as “Huxley” is the first game of its kind. However, this was not too much of a problem because the development team already had a lot of experience in the VR sector, which meant that many stumbling blocks could be avoided in advance. The space problem, on the other hand, was complicated, because not only did the developers’ workstations have to be accommodated, but there also had to be plenty of free space for playing areas so that the tests could run. Initially, the game was designed for up to three participants, each of whom had their own area measuring three by five metres. Exit VR found the space it needed in the former GDR bunker complex, where Exit also offers its escape games.
The story and puzzles were finalised before the team began production, and only individual aspects of the puzzles were adjusted during the process. The artists designed many of the 3D assets and other components with ZBrush because they looked more organic that way. The software was also used for a damp stone wall. Other 3D elements were created using Blender, as many of the artists involved favoured the open source programme and were happiest with it. Blender also has the advantage that many things can be done at the same time, which saves a lot of time. Models that were created using photogrammetry, such as a Berlin church, were not suitable for further processing in the game due to their high polygon count. But they were very useful as models for designing the levels. Materials, looks and textures were created with Substance Painter and Substance Designer.
Unity was the engine of choice at the time because it had significantly more options than other game engines and a simple user interface for VR applications. Its simplicity and ease of programming, as well as the wealth of knowledge that many developers have about the engine, also make Unity a potent engine for Exit VR in the future. However, as Unreal has caught up in terms of features, the second “Huxley” part will be realised with this engine.
Test runs and adjustments
Compared to regular games, it is all the more important in VR games to pay attention to a coherent level and game design and to adapt to the behaviour of “real” people. Although the players have an avatar, they move through the room with their real body, only see where their gaze actually falls, move at their normal walking speed and can only interact with objects that are within their actual reach. In order to create a pleasant gaming experience for all types of customers, many runs with test groups and subsequent adjustments were necessary.
A very elaborate asset in this regard was the paint mixing machine in the third game level: Players have to mix and fill a paint liquid in a specific colour using a series of levers. The asset was complex due to the large amount of functionality hidden in the machine. At the same time, however, it had to remain easy to understand and operate for all players. This requirement entailed numerous test runs with changes to the puzzle. This testing process was the most time-consuming during development, but one that paid off, as the team gained many valuable insights into people’s gaming behaviour: For example, it became clear early on that the entire game had to be operated with just a single button on the controller, otherwise the complexity of the controls would overwhelm the players. In this phase, Exit Adventures did a lot of polishing work, the length of which was not planned, but which at the same time provided a lot of insights so that “Huxley” could be customised more to the needs of the players. The team will also apply these findings in future games.
To avoid the well-known VR problem of motion sickness, it was important that the movements in virtual space corresponded to those in reality. Rollercoaster rides and the like were therefore avoided. In order to create the greatest possible immersive experience, the freedom of movement of the players was crucial. At the time, only the HTC Vive headset offered this option.
Let’s go on the VR mission!
The team worked on the VR game for around eight months in total. In May 2017, “Huxley” was ready to play at Exit VR and, as with other escape rooms, “Huxley” also requires a game master. The backend software is available to them to control the game. Before the start, the game master prepares the customers for the experience and gives them a briefing on technology, safety and story. During gameplay, players can move freely through the levels, some of which are very large, and the game master can adapt the level design to the size of the group. At several points in the storyline, the path forks and so do the puzzles – the group is then free to split up or work together. The game master accompanies the players in the background and can help with tips on the puzzles. Theoretically, he also has every opportunity to intervene in the game, for example by switching individual puzzles as completed or sending the players to new levels manually. However, this is only used in exceptional cases. Huxley” can now be played not only in Exit Adventures’ Berlin showroom, but in more than 15 locations in and outside Europe. Certain hardware requirements, the use of certain third-party software and hardware as well as the size of the playing area are contractually stipulated so that the same gaming fun is offered in all locations. Since its release, the game has won various other awards in addition to the animago, including the German Computer Game Award in the “Best Innovation” category.
About Exit VR Live Adventure
Exit Adventures is a company from Germany. It develops location-based VR and AR games for escape rooms and entertainment venue operators. The team is currently working on a “Huxley” prequel entitled “Huxley 2 – The Adventure Begins”
