With new technology comes new games. Students at DigiPen Institute of Technology are developing more game projects for virtual reality (VR) platforms than ever before. We spoke with the undergraduates on Team Dark Shot, who are working on a game they call Dark Shot VR for the HTC Vive, to hear their story and share their experience as DigiPen students developing a VR game.
In Dark Shot VR, the player assumes the role of an archer in a simulated target range. Aggressive holograms march toward the player from projected buildings, and the player, using the two HTC Vive controllers, must knock arrows and fire them toward the waves of enemies.
Chris Fields, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) degree and is Team Dark Shot’s tech lead and game programmer, came up with the original concept for the game. Fields says he was inspired by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, particularly the scene where Katniss Everdeen hones her bow-and-arrow skills by combatting enemy holograms in an archery simulator.
Watch our video interview with Team Dark Shot to learn about the team’s development process and check out preliminary gameplay footage of Dark Shot VR.
Special thanks to all of the members of Team Dark Shot for sharing their stories.
Josh Painter: Producer, game director, and lead designer pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Game Design (BSCSGD) degree.
Chris Fields: Tech lead and game programmer pursuing a BSCS degree.
Sam Montanari: Artificial intelligence programmer pursuing a BSCS degree.
Brenna Anderson: Artist pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation (BFA) degree.
Mariah Owens: Artist pursuing a BFA degree.
Chikara Honda: Artist pursuing a BFA degree.
Cassie Helwick: Artist pursuing a BFA degree.
John Gunnar Headley: Designer, programmer, and assistant producer pursuing a BSCSGD degree.
Jerry Nacier: UI/UX and level designer pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design degree.