Skydance Interactive, a game studio under Skydance Med, launched their first VR game "Archangel" in 2017. This mech shooting game combines storytelling and FPS gameplay, immersing players in the experience. In the latest multiplayer version of the game, "Archangel: Hellfire," the development team used a new approach for pre-visualization and prototype design.
For "Archangel: Hellfire," the design team utilized Oculus Medium to develop mechanical prototypes directly in VR. Incorporating this VR-native program into their workflow shortened development time and helped artists achieve a higher level of creative expression.
Previously, concept artist Momo Koshu had to use traditional 2D modeling tools based on polygons for various design iterations. While effective, this method was slow, lacked tactile feedback, a sense of scale, and full immersion, all of which are crucial for creating engaging VR experiences.
By importing Medium models directly into their engine early in the development process, the team enabled easy collaboration between designers and engineers for aspects such as mechanical design. According to producer Mark Domowicz, the Medium models made the team feel like they were in the game, allowing them to experience the end user's perspective. This gave them confidence that it would benefit their game.
In a recent Developer Spotlight video by Oculus, Skydance Interactive showcased how they used Medium to simplify the game development process. Oculus has also released videos demonstrating how the team integrated this tool.