Gaming app powered by Unity and windows mixed reality
HoloDefense is the latest Augmented Reality gaming app Softeq has been working on to explore Microsoft’s new AR platform – Microsoft HoloLens. It’s a Tower Defense strategy in space settings. The player’s goal as the air defense commander is to protect a plasma factory from enemy spaceships appearing from portals.
How Augmented Reality Works in HoloDefense
Tech Stack: Unity and Windows Mixed Reality
Microsoft declares Unity as “the fastest path to build a mixed reality app”. The Softeq Unity developers leveraged multiple engine tools to create an immersive AR experience in HoloDefense. NVIDIA PhysX engine is responsible for lifelike game physics — enemy spaceships, when damaged, fall on the floor or table. 3D models were animated in Unity Animator.
JSON CONFIG FOR REAL-TIME BALANCING
The game logic is configured by 96 game settings (such as main base health, tower gun radius, enemy speed or portal’s build range). The config file is stored on the cloud, in JSON format. It allows game designers to balance the game settings in real time, without recreating the build.
SOUND EFFECTS
The sounds are stereo and attached to the virtual objects — it makes HoloDefense game more immersive. If the missile explodes behind you — you will hear it from behind, as in a real battle. You’re walking away from the holographic sound source — and the volume is fading. It feels natural.
GRAPHICS
The Softeq game artists created models of a plasma factory, several types of turrets, enemy spaceships, and portals. All the models are: