Shooter-type games are not new in virtual reality. Typically, these games use standard VR input devices – motion controllers. Controllers allow players to control the game, pick up and use various tools, and interact with the environment. However, standard input devices lack the feel of holding a real object in hand.
Gunplay VR was an attempt to connect a real gun with virtual reality. This required a replica of the desired gun, an accurate 3D digital model of the gun, a single Vive Tracker sensor, and some electronics. The current implementation uses an SR-13 gun replica, in which the airgun mechanism was removed and replaced with electronic components. A button was installed under the trigger, so that when the trigger is pressed, the gun “fires.” A magnet is installed in the gun’s magazine, and a magnetic field sensor on the gun detects when it is loaded. Both electronic components send their signals to the Vive Tracker attached to the gun, which is integrated into the VR system.
The result of the project is a fun and highly immersive VR demo game. Users feel the real gun in their hands and its weight, but only the virtual gun actually fires.
