ASTRON - Big Bang VR
One theory about the Big Bang suggests that it wasn’t a single explosive event that instantly created the galaxies, but rather a slower, more gradual unfolding of the universe.
This VR project is part of the ASTRON Escape Room 'De Oerknal' in Exloo, located within the Open Science Hub. It allows visitors to journey through the different stages of cosmic development, from the Big Bang to the formation of our planet, Earth.
Due to the limitations of mobile VR headsets, I had to come up with creative solutions to portray the Big Bang and other objects in space.
The experience is developed using Unity and runs on a Pico 3 headset. I worked on every aspect of it, from concept to execution.
One of the major challenges was finding a way to visualize these complex effects within the limitations of a mobile VR headset.
I addressed the challenge by combining Unity’s VFX graph with the older Shuriken system to balance GPU and CPU workloads.
VR developers will be familiar with the common issue of billboard rotation when tilting the head, which can be resolved by using VFX graph with a dedicated node that solves the billboard rotation in VR.
As a creator, nothing is more rewarding than hearing a ‘wow’ during testing and seeing users genuinely amazed by what they’re experiencing.
This VR project is part of the ASTRON Escape Room 'De Oerknal' in Exloo, located within the Open Science Hub. It allows visitors to journey through the different stages of cosmic development, from the Big Bang to the formation of our planet, Earth.
Due to the limitations of mobile VR headsets, I had to come up with creative solutions to portray the Big Bang and other objects in space.
The experience is developed using Unity and runs on a Pico 3 headset. I worked on every aspect of it, from concept to execution.
One of the major challenges was finding a way to visualize these complex effects within the limitations of a mobile VR headset.
I addressed the challenge by combining Unity’s VFX graph with the older Shuriken system to balance GPU and CPU workloads.
VR developers will be familiar with the common issue of billboard rotation when tilting the head, which can be resolved by using VFX graph with a dedicated node that solves the billboard rotation in VR.
As a creator, nothing is more rewarding than hearing a ‘wow’ during testing and seeing users genuinely amazed by what they’re experiencing.
developed for Pico 3, 2023-2025.
@ Umbra Studio