The Puzzler Project
By: Erick Gonzalez
Intro: What is it?
The Puzzler project is a virtual reality puzzle app where the user enters a dark room with five floating orbs. The orbs will light up in a random order similar to the game Simon where the player must repeat the order.
How to Play
After the player clicks the start button, they will be moved into the dungeon with 5 floating orbs. The orbs will begin to light up one-after-another in a random order. After five orbs have been randomly lit up, the player must repeat the same order by clicking on the orbs to win the game.
If the user fails to repeat the order, the orbs will repeat themselves until the user gets it correct.
Overview
The Puzzler application was built for a Udacity Virtual Reality development course using the Unity engine version 2017.1, along with Google’s GVR to help implement virtualization. The goal during the development was to gain and improve skill on scaling, VR motion, testing, user feedback along with structural criticism, lighting, and familiarization with Unity’s in-depth settings.
Video Clip
Persona
The Persona is a person I had in mind for creating the app. I did not tailor the app for only somebody with the occupation of a science teacher (the Persona below), but more of a general public idea. The whole point of having this persona in mind is to to be a reminder that this application could be shared with anybody, therefore the instructions, lighting, along with interaction must be understandable by anybody. Including a science techer, student, professors etc.
Name: John Smith
Age: 26
Occupation: Science Teacher

Quote: “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”
Description: John is an Earth science teacher for a middle school. What motivates John is learning the about the latest news and ideas, as well as teaching young minds. John sees students and children as the future which is why he wants to play a role and make sure that his future students receive a great education. John has recently learned about VR and has been looking into educational apps to share with his students.
Level with VR: Beginner
Sketches



User Testing Feedback
Starting the game
Q. Whats your first impression when you first star the game?
-“The scenery looks dark and cool. I like the stars above. The words on the starting sign look clear along with the starting button.”
Q. Is there anything that looks or feels uncomfortable?
-“After pressing start, the motion and head turning seems odd.”
[Moved Start canvas in front of the user. It used to about a 40 degree turn to the right to click the start button.]
[Also lowered the speed of the camera moving into the room. User later reported feeling dizzy because it moved too fast.]
Inside the Dungeon
Q. How would you describe your experience inside the room?
- “Objects look pretty cool and realistic. Too dark on the sides. I feel shorts since I can see the floor up close if I look down.”
[Changed the lighting to be brighter. Placed the camera position higher.]
Q. How is your experience with looking at the orbs?
-”They look pretty nice, they sound cool when they light up. When the ones on the side light up, i can hear the sound coming from the sides.
Game play/Interaction
Q. Although there are no written instructions inside the game, after you click start do you feel confident on what to do next? Or do you get a sense of lost and confusion?
-“its pretty clear because of the sounds. After you press start, you have to watch the orbs. After they’re done lighting up, I can click on them.”
Q. How would you describe your experience after you finish the puzzle and exit the room?
- “Pretty happy that I finished it. The sign feels like it’s too close to my face.”
[Moved sign farther away]
Breakdown of Final Piece
Starting up the game
Upon running the app, the user is presented with a welcome and start sign. The user is free to look around and enjoy the scenery and start the game when they choose.


Going Inside the Dungeon
After the user clicks the start button, they will be moved forward into the dungeon and be presented with the five orbs floating in front of them.


Finishing the Game
After the player has won the game by repeating the pattern, they are taken outside and presented with another sign stating that they have won the game. A “restart” button is presented so that the player can restart and play the game again.

Conclusion
I’m very happy with the result of my project, looks, lighting, and sounds (thanks Udacity). I started with some ideas and along the way I changed some stuff up to make it better to my liking. By having someone else test my project and receiving constructional criticism from them, it really helps tailor the game in a way that can be enjoyed by multiple people.
