Virtual University Library Project - part 5

To kick off 2018, I'm happy and excited to announce that I can show you a new demo video about my project, this time around in an actual VR environment. The developer of the Unreal Engine 4 software, Epic Games saw much potential in the virtual library and was kind enough to sponsore me with an Oculus Rift VR kit, including a Headset, Sensors, Touch controllers, and a Xbox controller. I'm very thankful for Epic Games and Oculus for the awesome gift; it is an immense help because now I'm able to improve every aspect of my project by trying it out and seeing how it works in "real life." And I'm thankful for Allegorithmic too, who provided me with Substance software for one year.

My work is coming along nicely, and I've learned quite a lot. By the looks of things, I'm proud to say that it will most likely be finished this summer. The conversion for the Virtual Reality environment is ready, so users can now interact with virtual objects, for example, tablelamps, balls, a mug, and, of course, books. I assume I'm over the hardest part of my project, so in the next semester, I'll spare time for perfecting the details of this virtual library, no matter how busy I am.

I'm planning to make the finished product available to everyone free of charge. For now, I'd like to invite you to take look at the new demo video presenting the virtual library in an actual VR environment, using a VR kit.

More pictures of my project:

Virtual University Library Project - part 4

Earlier blog posts about the project:

Virtual University Library Project - part 1

Virtual University Library Project - part 2

Virtual University Library Project - part 3

Recently, I've made a new and better demo video, which I would like to show to you. I think it's time for me to take a little break until I'm refreshed enough to continue working on my project.

First of all, here is the video, enjoy it:

Although the virtual environment needs some improvement, for example, around the textures and models, I assume this product is far better than the earlier one, especially because now I've managed to include a counter, stairs, a painting and fences. Moreover, I've learnt to make materials in Unreal Engine 4 in a very short time, so now you can see a green surface on top of the tables instead of the previous temporary golden material.

This is a list of what I would like to achieve in the near future:
- Include more objects and improve some of the existing ones
- Paint textures with the Substance software
- Fix the lighting and the reflections
- Create a night scene with stars, the Moon and switched on lamps
- Make statues (the hardest part of project, in my opinion)
- Create books

In addition, I hope I'll be able to buy an Oculus Rift VR kit, a new laptop, a photoscanner machine and some new software, as well. I assume the scanner machine would make my work easier because it would be essential to make realistic and complex statues for the ceremonial hall.

Nevertheless, the working prototype was finished earlier than I would have thought, so my estimation so far is that I will finish my project in 2017, if things are going well.

Footnote:
3D graphics and Virtual Reality are popular now and better and better technologies are developed around the world. Unreal Engine 4 is one of the best and most highly developed technologies. Even though it was originally created for video games, it is now suitable for education, architecture, medicine, the media, and so on. I hope that my spectacular project will help the ELTE University Library, as well as other libraries in the whole world to improve their perception along with that of computer graphics.

Virtual University Library Project - part 3

Previous posts on this topic:

Virtual University Library Project - part 1

Virtual University Library Project - part 2


Recently, I have been working a lot on my project. My intention was to port the models to Unreal Engine 4 so the project could step into the next phase. Finally, I have finished working on the prototype. If I had VR glasses I would try them on to take a look around the library.

The virtual environment is very simple; it lacks a lot of objects, for example, fences, counter, stairs, paintings, frescos, texturing, and so on. I am going to build new elements step by step and replace the old things with new and better ones. I will use Substance Painter and Substance Designer, which are perfect software for creating realistic textures for video games.

Below, you can see the first test of my project; it didn't have any building elements, but the healthy, fresh and open air:

This is the second test with simple building elements:

This is the link of the video containing brief information about my project.

I think there are still a lot of tasks ahead of me, which will take a lot of time because I don't want to do a sloppy work. But Unreal Engine 4 is an amazing software; it makes the whole process a lot easier, and essentially, it makes my life better.

The future of video games – part 2

This is the sequel to my previous post about the future of video games, where I wrote about story-driven or interactive movie games that can overcome linear ones. You can read the first part here.

Yes, it's a video game, not a real-life photo
Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/SM5em