by Jon Brouchoud | Apr 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
Most of what we have been exploring with Virtual Cities initiative, starting with Virtual Dubuque, has been about how 3D city replicas can be used to understand cities in a deeply immersive way – rather than the abstract experience of Google Earth, or the photos from Street View, we wanted to make the virtual city experience more accessible, customizable, data-rich environments that convey a more holistic understanding of what it’s like to actually be in the city.
![Oculus Rift Sketch Installation (free download)]()
by Jon Brouchoud | Apr 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
I’ve been experimenting with a wide variety of design concepts for Oculus Rift environments, and wanted to share one of my test builds. You can download it here.
![Oculus Rift Sketch Installation (free download)]()
by Jon Brouchoud | Apr 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
Oculus Rift completely changes the game. The very instant I stepped inside of our Revit model, I realized just how different the ‘in-world’ experience was from the drawings we were producing! It was a night and day difference.
by Jon Brouchoud | Apr 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Second Life is a killer app for Oculus VR. Now, before you skip ahead to post a comment about how SL has been overrun by furries and 14 year olds, take a moment to scroll through these screenshots, and watch some of the machinima below.
by Jon Brouchoud | Apr 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
I wish I had more time to write out a more extensive review of the Rift, but here are my first impressions:
You absolutely feel as if you are transported to another place, to the point where it’s almost scary.
by Jon Brouchoud | Mar 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Virtual Dubuque.
by Jon Brouchoud | Feb 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
Let’s quibble over semantics, shall we? Take a look at these two pictures: Which one would you identify as architecture?
![Oculus Rift Sketch Installation (free download)]()
by Jon Brouchoud | Feb 9, 2013 | Uncategorized
Architecture in video games matters, and there is a right way and a wrong way to approach it. Games are chock full of buildings, but there is a tremendous deficit of ‘Architecture.’ Here are some thoughts on the importance and potential of architecture in game design and virtual worlds.
![Oculus Rift Sketch Installation (free download)]()
by Jon Brouchoud | Feb 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
“WOW!” Seems to be an almost universal reaction to a first experience trying on the new Oculus Rift VR headset. Seeing a players first experience with Rift is always interesting to see, as the player gradually becomes immersed, suspending their disbelief, and becoming part of the virtual environment.
![Oculus Rift Sketch Installation (free download)]()
by Jon Brouchoud | Jan 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
I love being a freelancer. I’ve been lucky enough to get away with it off for 9 out of the past 10 years, and wouldn’t have it any other way. However, it hasn’t always been easy – especially the first few years. There were so many hard earned lessons and missed opportunities that could easily have been avoided had I known better at the time. That’s what this post is all about.
