But what is VR? What is VR Game testing? And what does VR testing entail? As a leading QA service provider, iXie takes a deeper look into VR testing essentials to help you effectively test your VR application in this comprehensive guide.  

What is VR? 

VR is an artificial environment built by software. This environment is 100% immersive and supported by several critical physical devices, a computer/ mobile phone/ console, and a headset. VR apps immerse users in a computer-generated ecosystem that simulates the real environment through the use of interactive devices. These devices receive and send information and are worn as headsets, body suits, gloves, or goggles. As a result, they create a more engaging experience.   

What is VR Testing? 

The tech world is constantly evolving. VR applications have made their own space in the global market thanks to their advanced capabilities. Ensuring these applications function as expected and immerse users as they should is crucial. And that’s where VR testing, one of the key Game QA services, comes in handy.  

One of the fundamental aspects of VR testing is usability. This aspect outlines how easily users can use a specific VR app. It’s essential to ensure users can utilize a VR app with ease. This is because VR applications are more complex and truly immerse users in a virtual environment. Therefore, if the developers and QA services do not focus on usability, users will not be able to interact and experience the power of the VR app. But how do you ensure the usability of VR applications? Let’s find out.  

VR Usability Testing with Users 

The only way to test something’s usability is by utilizing it. So, usability tests involve short sessions where potential users engage with the VR application in a specific (test) environment. During these sessions, QA experts observe, record, and measure the course of the users’ interaction.   

In VR usability testing, these session-based tests are crucial. They help the QA services team explore the app’s functionality and usability in the real environment. Usability tests are performed when the application and prototypes are ready. This ensures the test result reflects how the actual users interact with the VR app.  

However, we recommend testers conduct heuristic tests before engaging in usability testing. It enables them to identify and fix many issues before performing usability tests. Therefore, the user gets the best VR app the team could create during usability testing. The usability testing sessions help identify issues that couldn’t be spotted by the QA services team.   

How to Perform VR Usability Testing  

Here’s a quick guide to VR usability testing:  

1. Recruit Participants 

Recruit several members (minimum 5) who will perform usability tests. This is crucial as it helps you gather opinions from different participants. Their profile must match your VR application’s target audience. Also, you must know the VR experience, skills, and interests of the participants. This is essential as participants with varying expertise will give more effective and inclusive usability test results.  

2. Prepare the Test Environment 

Prepare where the participants will engage in the testing process. This includes setting up the technical equipment, including devices and headsets that will be used to generate the VR. Also, ensure you have enough space, as users will likely move around when exploring the VR environment.  

3. Plan Your Test 

Why do you want to perform usability testing? Create a clear goal for the test, including what users will do and how they will do it. Such a plan lays the foundation of the entire exercise. At this stage, you should think of the valuable metrics that will be used to measure the process.  

4. Make it Comfortable for Participants. 

Before starting the testing session, it’s crucial to ensure the testers are comfortable and ready. The expert team should engage with the participants to explain how the session will occur and how to use different devices. Also, the experts should clarify any inconveniences that users may experience. This will help prepare users for the session.  

5. Keep Track of the Participant’s Initial Reaction 

When a VR app is new to the user, they will likely show how easy or hard it is to use it by first impression. The expert team should ask users about their first impression of the new virtual environment. Questions like “What are you seeing or feeling?” are crucial. They help ascertain that the user is comfortable proceeding with the test. If not, terminate the test instantly.  

6. Give Participants the Freedom to Explore the App 

Don’t let the user stick to the plan alone. Give them free time to explore the game on their own without limitations. This will help gather information and evaluate how users respond to the virtual reality environment and its features.  

7. Take Note of the Application Usage 

As the evaluator, you must assess how users interact with the VR application. Record their verbal and nonverbal expressions. Also, ask them to perform specific actions on the applications. Don’t give extra details or help. Instead, monitor how fast or slow they navigate the VR application.  

8. Assess the Sessions and Document Findings 

Once the sessions are complete, document your findings. Your documentation should include but not limited to: 

• The users’ profiles. 
• Users’ experience in the VR environment. 
• Users’ physical symptoms during the testing session. 
• Problems identified and potential solutions. 
• Metric results – use a viable visualization tool like a chart. 

Why Should You Test with Potential Users? 

Using potential users in VR testing is essential. It has several benefits, such as: 

• More testing for the VR application from the eyes of the end user. 
• It helps understand the opinions of the potential end user.  
• Developers and experts can see the physical reactions of potential users.  

Conclusion 

VR testing is crucial in delivering Game QA services. It helps identify issues in the VR application. Usability is an essential aspect of virtual reality testing. It enables expert teams to experience how potential end users interact with the app. Therefore, potential users should be used in usability testing as they give a view of how end users will interact with the game. It helps identify functionality issues and assess the difficulty level of the application. While usability testing may be challenging, following our best practices can help you execute VR usability testing effectively. This ensures your VR app meets the users’ expectations.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

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AR overlays digital information onto the actual world, improving our perception. On the other hand, VR immerses gamers and other users in virtual worlds, taking them away from the real world. AR and VR have significantly enhanced user experiences by providing truly immersive gameplay. 

But how has AR and VR transformed the gaming industry? Let’s find out.

8 Ways AR and VR Have Transformed the Gaming Sector 

Here’s a more comprehensive look at the transformative power of AR and VR in the gaming industry:  

1. Immersive or Life-Like Gameplay 

Initially, players would not relate realistically to their favorite games. Fortunately, this is no longer the case anymore. AR and VR have transformed the gaming experience by enabling players to physically connect and engage with games. For instance, AR and VR games make players feel, smell, and feel the surroundings and even witness object movements.  

This level of immersion enables you to fully experience the digital environment. As a result, you can interact with the game world more intuitively and naturally. Therefore, it brings a stronger sense of presence and heightened emotions within the game.  

2. Improved Gaming Experience 

The goal of every developer is to deliver an irresistible gaming experience. Such experiences encourage players to play the game more, eventually generating higher revenue for the creator, especially if monetized appropriately. So, it’s a win-win situation for both the developer and the player.  

But how do AR and VR enhance the gaming experience? Well, think of a multidimensional game room or place that combines virtual and real worlds. A player can move around, feel, and touch direct characters and objects and shoot bullets and beams at enemies. This makes the gaming experience more engaging and entertaining.  

That’s another advantage of AR and VR in gaming. These technologies can help design real-time games and improve players’ experience to manifolds, thanks to the gamification of real spaces. For instance, AR games such as Pokémon GO have demonstrated how digital creatures can be integrated into the real world, encouraging players to explore their surroundings – something that was impossible with typical games.  

3. Improved Storytelling 

AR and VR can take storytelling to the next level. For instance, in virtual reality, players can actively participate in the game’s narrative, exploring the story from multiple perspectives and angles.  

On the other hand, AR overlays digital components in the real world. This enables players to experience narratives that seamlessly blend with their surroundings.  

4. Educational Benefits 

AR and VR Games offer more than just fun. They can be used for educational purposes, achieving better results than conventional teaching and learning mechanisms. These games stimulate the player’s senses and improve their imagination power. Therefore, they support learning and help players understand concepts better and develop new skills faster.  

Many companies have ventured into AR/VR game development for educational purposes. For instance, AR games can overlay informative visuals onto real-world objects, improving educational experiences. On the other hand, VR simulations can offer realistic training environments for different industries, including military, aviation, and medicine.  

5. Social Interaction 

Gaming has traditionally been a solitary activity. However, AR and VR technologies have transformed it into a social experience. For instance, VR games enable players to meet and interact with others in a shared virtual space. This creates a sense of connection and presence between players, deviating from the traditional way of gaming.  

On the other hand, AR games bring social interactions into the real world. This enables players to compete and collaborate while physically sharing the same space. 

6. Increase in Revenue 

Creators are constantly looking for ways to generate more revenue from their games. AR and VR games have provided a new avenue for developers to earn more from their games. These games are more interactive and engaging. As a result, players play them for a longer period while sharing their experiences with acquaintances and friends.  

By sharing these experiences, they bring more new players to the game. The extended engagement and mouth publicity boost revenues, potentially bringing billions of dollars to the gaming industry.  

7. Evolving Gameplay Mechanics 

AR and VR have significantly transformed gameplay mechanics, introducing new mechanics that capitalize on their unique capabilities. Initially, players could use keyboards and gaming pads to play games.  

However, in AR and VR gaming environments, players can physically move, interact, and use gestures with virtual objects in ways that were initially impossible. As AR and VR technologies advance, they’ll open up possibilities for more innovative gameplay mechanics and challenge game creators to think outside the box.  

8. Inclusivity and Accessibility 

The increasing need to include people with disabilities in every industry has, over time, faced significant challenges in the gaming sector. Initially, games used screens, which hindered accessibility for people with visual impairments.  

However, AR and VR games have made gaming more inclusive and accessible to such communities. For instance, VR games offer new avenues for individuals with limited mobility to engage in physical activities. On the other hand, AR games enhance the gaming experience for people with auditory and visual impairments by providing alternative sensory cues.  

The Future of AR and VR in Gaming 

Initially, AR and VR games had basic capabilities with 3D images and overlaid faces of characters to make games more realistic. However, they have surpassed these limitations in recent times and have integrated the real world into the system.  

As we look into the future, these games will potentially be capable of orienting directions and understanding and working per the player’s psychology. This will improve the gaming experience, enabling players to move and adjust in a real-time environment.  

Final Thoughts 

AR and VR have significantly transformed the gaming industry. They have introduced new capabilities that were initially impossible, enabling players to enjoy a more immersive gaming experience. AR and VR games have the potential to enhance storytelling and social interaction in gaming. As technology advances, AR/VR game development will likely incorporate other advanced solutions like artificial intelligence and machine learning to further personalize gaming experiences taking the gaming sector to the next level.  

The post The Transformational Power of AR and VR in Gaming  appeared first on iXie Gaming.

While there are several aspects of the AR/VR platform that distinguish it from conventional games, let’s delve into the tools that truly imbue life into games and experiences on this platform from the perspectives of both developers and customers.  

Game Engines, Toolkits and Plugins 

Leading game engines such as Unity3D and Unreal Engine offer robust frameworks that empower developers to create captivating VR worlds. These engines provide specialized VR development kits and tools, including Unity’s XR Interaction Toolkit and Unreal’s VR Editor, enabling seamless integration of VR features. Additionally, VR-specific plugins like VRTK (Virtual Reality Toolkit) and SteamVR Plugin for Unity offer pre-built components and functionalities that streamline the development process by providing solutions for complex mechanics, optimizing performance, enabling cross-platform support, and other specialized features. These tools collectively empower developers to harness the potential of VR technology and craft engaging experiences, while ensuring customers are immersed in dynamic virtual environments, without the need to reinvent the wheel for every project. 

Spatial Mapping and Environment Understanding 

AR/VR games require a deep understanding of the physical environment to create realistic interactions. Spatial mapping involves using sensors like depth cameras to scan and create a 3D model of the user’s surroundings. This model allows the game to understand the layout, surfaces, and obstacles present in the real world. In AR games, virtual objects can then be placed accurately within this mapped environment, ensuring that they interact with the physical world in a natural way. This tool is particularly important in creating convincing and immersive experiences. 

Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) 

Somewhat of an identity for AR/VR experiences today, HMDs provide a virtual reality experience by displaying 3D visuals directly to the user’s eyes. These devices often incorporate motion tracking and sensors to detect the user’s movements, enabling them to look around and interact with the virtual environment. HMDs play a pivotal role in creating an immersive experience where players feel like they are truly inside the game world. 

Motion Controllers 

Serving as the body to the brain that is the HMD, Motion controllers are designed to replicate the player’s real-world hand movements in the virtual environment. These controllers are equipped with sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes, enabling precise tracking of hand positions and orientations. Players can use these controllers to interact with objects, manipulate the environment, and perform various in-game actions. This adds a layer of realism and interactivity to AR/VR games that is not present in conventional games. 

Conclusion 

While there are various other tools and hardware involved in the creation of VR/AR games, the above-mentioned tools play a major role in distinguishing the AR/VR platform by enabling players to interact with digital content in ways that were previously impossible in conventional games. The immersion, interactivity, and integration with the real world provide a unique gaming experience that conventional games can’t replicate. 

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Why is AR/VR different? 

To understand AR/VR game development, one needs to understand the fundamentals of AR/VR as a platform. It is common knowledge that a VR headset and a special set of controllers, rather than your traditional controllers used in conventional games, are needed for VR games. But the differences go beyond the hardware requirements when we dwell deeper into the development philosophies of a VR/AR title. Getting the user to interact with the in-game world and UI (User Interface) through physical actions and gestures in the real world would mean a drastic shift from how many of the vital elements are handled while designing the game.  

There are various factors to consider before and during development, depending on the type of game/experience one is trying to build, like the various platforms available and the unique challenges each platform brings to the various tools available and their compatibility with one another, to user experience considerations and market fragmentations. The developer needs to set their roadmap accounting for all these factors and choose what works best for their project. And one of the primary considerations is the game engine and the tools on which the game is built.   

Game Engines, SDKs, and Modeling Software 

Some of the popular game engines used for VR include Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot. These engines offer powerful rendering capabilities, physics simulations, and asset management systems necessary for creating realistic virtual environments. SDKs like ARKit Oculus Integration, and Seam VR provide libraries and tools to integrate the necessary hardware components into the game.

These tools facilitate the integration of features such as tracking, rendering, and input for a seamless user experience. Assets created on modeling software like Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender can be used in conjunction with animation software, such as Autodesk MotionBuilder or Unity’s Timeline to bring these assets to life by adding movement and behavior. Sound design is critical for an immersive gaming experience. Audio tools like FMOD and Wwise help developers create spatial audio, sound effects, and music that enhances the realism and atmosphere of the virtual world. These tools enable precise audio positioning based on the user’s position and movement in the virtual environment. 

While these tools are also used in building traditional 2D and 3D games, there are some challenges unique to creating games in AR/VR.  

The Many Challenges 

AR/VR games demand high-performance hardware to render realistic visuals and maintain smooth interactions. Developers face the challenge of optimizing their games to run smoothly on various devices while minimizing latency. They need to create intuitive interfaces that are accessible in a 3D environment and can be easily operated using different input methods.  

One of the significant challenges in AR/VR game development is mitigating motion sickness, which occurs when users experience a disconnect between their visual and physical sensations. Developers must design games with careful consideration of movement mechanics, comfort modes, and minimizing abrupt camera movements to reduce the risk of motion sickness.  

Various VR/AR platforms vary significantly in terms of hardware capabilities. Different platforms employ distinct input devices, such as motion controllers, hand-tracking systems, or even haptic feedback suits. Developers need to design their games to accommodate these varying input methods and ensure that interactions are intuitive and responsive across all platforms should they choose more than one platform to release their game.  

Adding to that, each platform has differing user bases, and developers need to consider the market potential and audience size of each platform when deciding where to focus their efforts. This choice can impact the visibility, sales, and success of a VR game.  

And finally, platforms continue to evolve, with new hardware iterations and software updates being released. This constant evolution adds complexity to game development as developers need to adapt their games to leverage new features and optimize performance on updated platforms. 

Why AR/VR then? 

All of this may sound a bit overwhelming and even demotivating to someone starting new. But a game development service in general is a challenging prospect, and developing conventional games on various platforms poses its fair share of challenges. VR/AR just adds another layer to it. This is still an emerging market, that is held back by a high cost of entry for the user.  

However, the VR market has seen a steady rise thanks to reduced costs of newer hardware, like the Quest family of devices, and an ever-growing library of games. Titles like Beat Sabre, Superhot VR, and Halflife: Alyx stand as shining examples of an immersive VR experience, while also being financial successes. What is common among these titles is a combination of Intuitive polished gameplay, smooth movement, excellent audio design, and lag-free VR interactions in general.  

These elements combined make a solid VR/AR experience as they cater to the most basic requirements of the platform. Immersion! By incorporating animations with smooth in-game transitions that correspond with real-world actions, both during gameplay and in UI design, and implementing a robust physics system, developers can focus on eradicating hurdles like motion sickness and getting the players as immersed in their world as possible. 

Conclusion: 

Developing VR/AR games comes with a unique set of challenges that vary across different VR/AR platforms. From hardware limitations and user experience considerations to market fragmentation, game developers must navigate these obstacles to create immersive and successful experiences. This is still a growing market that is slowly but steadily finding a footing in the industry with a dedicated user base. And for that alone, there has never been a better time to be a developer for a VR/AR project.  

Planning to deliver engaging and highly immersive games to players worldwide? iXie would be the right choice with massive experience in the gaming industry over the past decade.

The post How to build immersive gaming experiences with AR/VR game development  appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Here are some of the interesting trends to watch in mobile game market –

DID YOU KNOW

Mobile Games Growth

A Newzoo research predicts that the global games market will grow at a CAGR of more than 8.2 percent for the period 2016-2020, with $143.5 billion of revenues in 2020. Half of the total revenues are expected to be generated by mobile devices. Mobile gaming is expected to continue its rapid growth through 2018 and beyond.

Virtual Sports

Esports, where players compete in organized video gaming events or tournaments ending in championships at an international level, is expected to touch about $1.5 billion by 2020, at a projected CAGR of 32 percent, according to Statista. Mobile esports are particularly benefiting from this trend, with gamers opting for iPad and iPhones to gear up for the competition.

Popularity of Esports

An Internet Trends report that esports is so popular that it is giving tough competition to traditional, physical sports. Currently, there is a 50-50 mindshare for the two types of sports amongst millennials, but it is likely that the percentage of those preferring esports will increase in 2018.

Indie Games Take the Cake

While established names in the games industry will continue to be watched for new releases, indie games are expected to give them a run for money due to high levels of creativity and unrestricted imagination. Games such as Indivisible, The Last Night and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night are but the tip of the iceberg.

VR in the Picture

The virtual reality gaming market is expected to grow more than $45.09 billion by 2025. New VR gaming headsets different from the current popular brands, new developments in haptic feedback and cloud-based VR gaming are some of the developments being predicted by experts.

Augmented Reality

Making games more real is yet another emerging trend with the introduction of multi-device physics-based games. AR is expected to play a larger role to make this possible. The AR and role-playing games (RPG) genre, after a dip in 2016, was able to sign up 14 million monthly users in July 2017.

As the complexities increase in mobile gaming, testing to ensure a smooth run despite will become even more critical.

Talk to us to know how iXie gaming can help mobile game developers overcome the challenges posed by the new technology and gaming developments.

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The global augmented reality and virtual reality market is anticipated to witness remarkable CAGR of $150 Billion during 2017 – 2025

Advancing technology has given us so much new tech in a short span of time. One such inroad into development led to the emergence of AR & VR and the gaming industry is too eager to try it on

The mark of Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality game is that it seeks to awe the players by warping their perception of reality. This is done by combining storytelling and imagery with the latest hardware. The storytelling and imagery should totally immerse the players in the experience and the latest hardware is the platform in which you present it.

Since 2015, the likes of Oculus, Microsoft, and Sony have given us Virtual Reality devices that have created brand new opportunities to create these immersive experiences. These devices are reliant on content creators, without which it’s just a piece of expensive hardware. This rapid device-content collaboration has resulted in some standout experiences.

Together, virtual reality and augmented reality are predicted to generate about $150 billion by the year 2020.

An enormous flow of money into these industries is no surprise, despite the fact that there are only few hardware platforms presently available in the market. Thus, we will witness many newer gears to be launched shortly.

At the moment, the QA/Testing is predominantly focused on Mobile apps, analytics, IoT and other digital areas. As the AR/VR will have much to offer in the future, it will be a good move for the QA/Testing providers to build testing competency in Augmented and Virtual Reality applications.

Future Applications and Uses:

A broad range of industries like consumer goods, entertainment, aerospace and defense, commercial, and medical fields are being influenced by advancements in AR and VR.

VR could be ideal for environments that are expensive, dangerous or complex to simulate in other ways. For example, emergency services training. VR is already used by a number of military forces around the world for precisely that purpose. It is currently being used to train medical staff, oil workers and teach students. But the potential audience is much bigger.

In the last year, we have seen consumers getting access to a number of AR/VR hardware and also some exciting software that is providing an exciting experience to the customers.

Between now and 2022; the AR/VR market will definitely grow to current $ 150 Billion. This growth will clearly come from the content.  As with anything, without content, even the most sophisticated hardware is not of much value. It is in this area that the future growth of AR/VR Testing will come from, and the QA/Testing providers need to participate in this growth and grab the opportunity.

Game titles created for VR and AR have taken a huge step forward in 2016. Multiple VR headsets are available in the market, with some mind-blowing titles that are changing the very nature of gaming. VR has gotten off to an exciting start, but it’s AR gaming that has already seen its first mega-hit.

Some of the applications that may come up in AR space are Games, Theme park rides, Web Browsing, Commerce, Consumer Applications, Advertising, Voice calls, and film/TV streaming (both 2d and 3D) etc.

These are the areas which the QA/Testing companies need to capture in the near future.

There is a lot to be developed in AR/VR space: Apart from design and development, sensors, imaging, and processing are few related things that are considered in the development phase. Each of these requires specific expertise, they will, in turn, contribute towards cost escalation. By providing the right expertise at a lower cost the QA/Testing firms can play a critical role in bridging the gaps and improving the ROI.

To perform AR/VR testing, the QA vendors need to understand the lower level requirements of the applications and the UI/UX.

Few of such expertise should be into Art design, Gyro and accelerometer sensor, speech recognition and image processing.

The testing expert should use manual testing for user interface and can further use their existing test automation expertise to test the functionality of the application.

In AR/VR applications, the user can interact with every object in the virtual environment. A further level of challenge will be presented due to various combinations of possible user interactions. The testing team should follow, adopt and master the testing tactics to test the user interactions.

We will discuss in detail about AR/VR Testing in our later blogs. Stay updated by subscribing to our blog.

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