We Created A Virtual Reality Subtitle System In Unity | Technical Deepdive

Summary

In this technical deep dive, the team behind *Astro Engineers* explores their implementation of a subtitle system for virtual reality gameplay. The system aims to enhance player experience by providing subtitles in world space to avoid screen clutter. Key features include smooth subtitle movement, rotation based on the player's viewpoint, and localization support for diverse languages. The system ensures clear communication of instructions without distracting the player, creating an accessible and immersive experience. The video concludes with a call for feedback from the VR community on improving virtual reality subtitles.

Takeaways

• 😀 The game *Astro Engineers* implemented a subtitle system to enhance player accessibility, especially for those who have difficulty following voiceover instructions in VR.
• 😀 Subtitles were designed to be in world-space rather than screen-space to prevent distractions in virtual reality gameplay.
• 😀 The subtitle system moves and rotates with the player to always remain in view, even as the player shifts their perspective in VR.
• 😀 A forward offset is applied to the subtitle interface to ensure it stays within the player’s field of vision without obstructing gameplay.
• 😀 Limits are set on the x-axis to prevent subtitles from blocking the player's view during gameplay.
• 😀 The subtitle data is serialized, containing the speaker’s name, the subtitle text, and the duration it should be displayed on screen.
• 😀 A localization system allows subtitles to be replaced with keys for different languages, making the game more accessible to players globally.
• 😀 The subtitle system uses a controller to manage the playback of subtitles, ensuring they appear at the right time with the correct duration.
• 😀 The rotation and movement of the subtitle interface are calculated using smooth damp methods and angle interpolation, providing a smooth experience for players.
• 😀 The X rotation of the subtitle interface is clamped between specified limits to avoid erratic or disorienting movements during gameplay.
• 😀 The overall subtitle system implementation was successful, providing a functional and smooth experience, with visuals possibly being refined in future updates.

Q & A

Why were subtitles implemented in the game *Astro Engineers*?

Subtitles were added to help players understand voiceover instructions better, especially since some players found it difficult to follow voiceovers while playing the game.

How do subtitles enhance accessibility in virtual reality (VR) gameplay?

In VR, traditional screen space subtitles can be distracting. By displaying subtitles in world space, they follow the player's view and avoid obstructing gameplay, making it easier for players to read instructions without losing immersion.

What is the purpose of moving and rotating the subtitle interface in world space?

Moving and rotating the subtitle interface ensures that subtitles remain in the player's view, even as they move or rotate, while preventing the subtitles from obstructing the player's gameplay.

What technical method is used to smoothly rotate the subtitle interface to align with the player's view?

The method involves calculating the difference between the current and target rotation angles and applying the 'smooth damp angle' technique, ensuring a smooth transition for the subtitles to match the player's rotation.

How does the system prevent subtitles from blocking the player's view?

The system limits the x-axis of the subtitle's position and applies a forward offset to the interface, ensuring that subtitles don't intrude too much into the player's view during gameplay.

What is the role of the subtitle structure in the system?

The subtitle structure holds all necessary data for displaying subtitles, including the speaker's name, subtitle text, and duration for how long the subtitle should appear. It also supports localization by using keys instead of fixed text.

What feature makes the subtitle system adaptable to multiple languages?

Localization support allows the system to replace static text with keys that the localization system can use to display the appropriate translated text based on the player's language.

How does the subtitle system interact with the player’s camera?

The system continuously updates the subtitle interface's position to stay aligned with the player's camera, adjusting the angle based on the player's movements to maintain an optimal viewing position.

What does the 'clamp angle' method do in the subtitle system?

The 'clamp angle' method is used to restrict the subtitle interface's X rotation to a set range, ensuring that it doesn't rotate too far and remain within a comfortable viewing angle for the player.

What are the three distinct parts of the subtitle system's implementation?

The three main parts of the system are: (1) Moving and rotating the subtitle interface in world space, (2) Serializing subtitle data for localization and playback, and (3) Managing the playing of subtitles, including timing and duration.