Welcome to the fourth and final devlog for NaturEd, a virtual reality nature education experience.

For the fourth week of development, NaturEd expanded the map, added more mini-activities, and added more educational components, including new bushes and plants. For expanding the map, we added bodies of water, including a river. We created a path for the user to walk along, with clear directions on what different abilities the user has.

Regarding the mini-activities to drive engagement and teach key camping skills, we added a polaroid to take photos of the different animals in the environment. Once the user snaps a photo of an animal, an entry is added to their journal, containing information about the specific type of animal the user found in the scene.

To encourage the user to complete more tasks, we added more book achievement pages and a corresponding sound effect. For example, when the user fills their canteen and drinks from their canteen, a book page containing various bits of camping advice and important information is generated in the journal.

In addition to these new features, we added more sound effects to create a realistic environment for the user. We also added rain, and additional animal animations for when the user gets close to the sleeping doe.

NaturEd is unlike any other camping simulation VR game. NaturEd focuses on the educational aspect of VR, while other camping simulations are more survival based. To improve on the educational aspect, we added more journal pages to teach the user about more plants and animals. By giving hints to complete tasks, we encourage the user to interact with the environment, and teach them valuable information about being in the wilderness.

NaturEd has always put an emphasis on sustainability and being environmentally friendly. Whether it's encouraging the user to throw out trash in their environment, or having the user utilize canteens, NaturEd shows the users that it is important to value the environment.

In addition to maintaining a clean environment, NaturEd has a positive social impact by creating an easy way for individuals and students to learn essential camping skills. Users can put themselves in this environment, without having to be near a park or a zoo. We added to our social impact by adding additional features to our animals, and increasing our amount of educational content.

Our simulation must be in virtual reality. We want our users to be able to be fully immersed in their surroundings. Especially with the changes we have made to our map this week, we create a 3D environment for users to feel as if they were in the forest. The realistic environment, the bodies of water, and every possible noise effect for every interaction, creates a realistic experience for the user.

Regarding our pricing plans: We have a simple subscription-based plan to entice users, starting at $5 a month, which includes five different unique maps. We have three premium plans which include simulations of national parks and Michigan state parks, ranging from $50-$200. We offer custom sponsored environment packages, for example our clients may want a rainforest simulation, a camp may want a camp counselor training simulation, or a company wants a company-themed nature simulation for a team bonding experience. In addition to the sponsored environment option, we offer a sponsored gear option. This may include camping gear companies wanting their brand in our simulations, or outdoor clothing companies wanting their merchandise in our simulations.

Overall, we are pleased with the progress made during the final week of development!

Welcome to the third devlog for NaturEd, a VR nature education game.

For the third week of development, NaturEd focused on adding more interaction features. Right from the get-go, helper information teaches users the basics of the controls and the custom inventory system (newly added). This is especially impactful for first time VR users, an unforeseen aspect discovered through playtesting with our interviewees.

The inventory is a toggle system that brings all important tools (achievement book, compass, and lighter) floating in front of the user for them to grab. Toggling it off, it sends all the objects to their respective previous positions.

We have transitioned away from line tracing as a whole because it is unappealing and takes away from the survival focus of NaturEd. Interactions are triggered solely upon physical interaction with an emphasis on reality.

Lastly, a couple of animals and a basket have been added. There are meandering deer, sleeping does, cawing crows that fly away if examined too closely, foxes, and wolves. The basket can be used to store picked items such as berries.

Huge strides have been made in relation to the achievements book, for it is the primary differentiating factor of NaturEd. Buttons exist for flipping pages, and there are clickable bookmarks that open to different sections. There are now separate pages for encouraging users to discover an interaction and the achievement for once they complete the task. The aesthetics of it are—dare we say—immaculate thanks to the esteemed Callie Hastie. This combined with the inventory system and the control introduction make NaturEd the most accessible, mechanically simple survival VR experience to ever be created.

The content of the achievement book has evolved to both encourage interaction discovery as well as real-world transferable skills. The hint page encourages users to complete tasks that discover interactions such as picking different berries. Once the task is completed, an achievement page is revealed in the appropriate section. This will elaborate on for example how to identify the plant and its uses. This is especially important because in-game hints like highlighting disappear after discovery, thus a higher level of botanical knowledge is needed to identify the correct plants.

Virtual reality allows our users to interact with a simulated natural environment without the risk for new learners. Making a camping experience in VR allows for more users to have the ability to experience outdoor tactics. First, VR makes the experience more realistic and engaging, being able to see and interact with specific plants and animals is very effective for learning. Second, VR allows for a safer experience for beginners. Students and new campers can learn how to build a fire, find berries, and track animals without prior experience. Third, VR allows for a more flexible approach to education. Schools can purchase our product and it provides a rich and engaging experience with only the need of the internet and VR technology.

Our product is distinct from other products because we have an emphasis on education, while other wilderness games focus on survival. It's important that our product uses VR because users need to be able to work directly with their environment, while avoiding the dangers or the need to live near national parks.

We have updated our pricing plans. We have a simple subscription-based plan to entice users, starting at $5 a month, which includes five different unique maps. We have three premium plans which include simulations of national parks and Michigan state parks, ranging from $50-$200. We still offer custom sponsored environment packages, for example our clients may want a rainforest simulation, a camp may want a camp counselor training simulation, or a company wants a company-themed nature simulation for a team bonding experience. In addition to the sponsored environment option, we offer a sponsored gear option. This may include camping gear companies wanting their brand in our simulations, or outdoor clothing companies wanting their merchandise in our simulations.

Overall, we are pleased with the progress made during this third week of development and look forward to continuing to create more interactions and storylines for the last week!

Welcome to the second devlog for NaturEd, a VR nature education game.

During the second week of development, the NaturEd team focused on adding several new features to the game. The campfire system was improved with realistic fire physics, wood that burns and blackens over time (before disappearing), and campfire sounds. The result is a more immersive and interactive experience for players as they are able to create and tend to their own virtual campfire.

Additionally, we added a screen space outline shader to bring the player's attention to plants which they are able to interact with. This outline disappears after interacting with the plant, helping players to easily identify which plants they have already investigated. The addition of realistic hand models also greatly improved immersion in the environment, allowing players to feel more connected to the world around them. These hands have procedural gripping animations such that the fingers close around the object rather than into a generic fist, which results in better feeling controls.

We also added dynamic walking sounds, where if the player walks or teleports a short distance, a single step sound plays, and if they teleport further away, multiple step sounds play. These step sounds are randomly chosen from a pool and have randomized pitches to further diversify the sound effects. Finally, we added the journal, which allows players to track their progress in the environment. This includes the status of their plant identifications, as well as several achievements they can complete.

Our product is distinct from other education methods and distinct from other camping VR simulations. It is distinct from other educational methods because it incorporates VR, it is more of an active learning experience, and it includes 3D visuals for different plants you cannot eat and interactions you can make in the woods. It is distinct from other camping simulations because of the educational feature. The other VR camping products emphasize the survival aspect of camping. With our journal instead of a health bar, we emphasize learning about different elements in nature, and allow users to learn essential camping skills, like building a fire, in a low stress environment.

The majority of our social impact includes the educational aspect of our product. We have expanded on it for this milestone by adding a journal, which keeps track of the new plants discovered and encourages the educational aspect of our product. We also promote keeping society clean, but adding a feature to pick up and put away litter. The goal is to increase interest in environmental protection and conservation efforts. Finally, camping is an experience that is not available to everyone, so our product makes the experience more accessible and reduces the barrier to learning about outdoor activities.

The addition of several features helped push forward our XR Emphasis this week, these include the realistic hands and the ability to pick berries directly off of a bush. The realistic hands which wrap around objects they grab immerse the player as it feels like you are grabbing something with your own hands. Being able to reach into a bush and pull out a berry also adds to the XR Emphasis. These are both aspects that cannot be reasonably replicated in traditional media formats.

We have various packages to choose from for users to purchase, as well as a free starter package for a small taste of our simulation. You can view our packages under “Pricing.” Our first package costs $50 and is our National Parks Starter Package, which includes various National Park simulations, including well known Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks. Our second option is the Michigan State Parks Package. This package is targeted towards residents of Michigan, but open for anyone to purchase for $75. Finally, our third package includes 63 national park simulations, for the price of $200. Another source of revenue is through our sponsored environments. Individual companies can contact us to create a personalized environment, and the pricing depends on the scope of the project and the timeline.

Overall, we are pleased with the progress made during this second week of development and look forward to continuing to build upon these foundational elements in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for next week's update!

Welcome to the first devlog for NaturEd, a VR nature education game. In this update, we'll be covering the progress made in five different categories: technical sophistication, novelty, social impact, XR emphasis, and financial sustainability.

During this first week, the development team has focused on building out the foundational elements of the game. We have created a realistic nature scene, complete with detailed plants and trees, and various types of terrain. The team has also spent significant time perfecting the lighting to ensure that the environment looks as realistic as possible. We have implemented a day/night cycle, which adds an extra layer of immersion to the game. Additionally, we have added a fire starting mechanic, which requires players to collect and gather materials to start a fire. We have also implemented a compass mechanic, which helps players navigate through the environment. Finally, we have created an interactive feature that allows players to learn about different plants and their characteristics.

There were no VR experiences directly focused on nature education during our research. Several survival horror VR games require players to use their surroundings to survive. These experiences do not educate the user as to what they should be doing to survive in the wild. The realistic nature scene, interactive plant features, and survival mechanics all contribute to an engaging learning experience.

Through NaturEd, we hope to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the natural world. By providing players with immersive and educational experiences, we aim to inspire them to become more involved in environmental conservation efforts. Additionally, we hope to provide vital natural survival skills for kids who may not spend much time outdoors, or want to learn about how to survive without having to spend the money to travel to and use a campsite.

NaturEd is designed specifically for VR, and we are taking full advantage of the technology to create a truly immersive experience. The realistic nature scene, day/night cycle, and interactive features all contribute to an environment that is unlike anything that can be replicated in 2D.

As this is the first week of development, we are still exploring potential revenue streams. However, we believe that the unique combination of educational content and immersive VR technology has the potential to attract a wide audience and generate revenue through partnerships, sponsorships, and in-game purchases. We think that we can broker deals with educational institutions, government organizations (park services, national forests, etc.), and direct to consumer content. With this combination of revenue streams we believe that we can form a very financially sustainable company.

Overall, we are pleased with the progress made during this first week of development and look forward to continuing to build upon these foundational elements in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for next week's update!