Deploying VR/AR Games to Devices

Tutorial 5 of 5

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will walk you through the final stages of VR/AR game development: testing and deploying your game. You will learn how to debug your game, test it on various devices, and publish it on the appropriate platforms. By the end of this guide, you will be able to successfully deploy your own VR/AR games.

Prerequisites:
Knowledge of Unity game engine, basic understanding of C# Programming, and understanding of VR/AR devices.

Step-by-Step Guide

Before deploying, it's crucial to debug and test your game on different devices.

Debugging your Game

Debugging is the process of detecting and removing existing and potential errors (also called 'bugs') in a software code that can cause it to behave unexpectedly or crash. Use Unity's Console window for this purpose.

Example:

void Update () {
    if (Input.GetKeyDown (KeyCode.Space)) {
        Debug.Log ("Space key was pressed.");
    }
}

In this example, when the space key is pressed, a message saying "Space key was pressed." will be logged in the Console window.

Testing on Various Devices

Before deploying, test your game on the devices you wish to support. Each device (like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, etc.) has its own set of specifications and requirements, so it's important to test on each.

This might involve adjusting camera settings, control schemes, or graphical settings for different devices.

#if UNITY_IOS
    // Code for iOS devices
#elif UNITY_ANDROID
    // Code for Android devices
#endif

Publishing your Game

Once you've tested your game, you're ready to publish. Each platform (SteamVR, Oculus Store, etc.) has its own process for publication, so be sure to read their specific guidelines.

Code Examples

void Start () {
    if (Application.platform == RuntimePlatform.Android) {
        Debug.Log ("Running on Android");
    } else if (Application.platform == RuntimePlatform.IPhonePlayer) {
        Debug.Log ("Running on iOS");
    } else {
        Debug.Log ("Running on another platform");
    }
}

This code checks the platform the game is running on and logs a message accordingly. This can be useful for platform-specific code.

Summary

In this tutorial, we covered the basics of debugging and testing VR/AR games, as well as how to publish them.

To continue learning, consider exploring more advanced topics like optimizing your game for different platforms, implementing in-app purchases, or building multiplayer functionality.

Practice Exercises

  1. Beginner: Debug a simple program where pressing a key changes the color of a GameObject.
  2. Intermediate: Write a script that adjusts a game's graphical settings depending on the device it's running on.
  3. Advanced: Research the publication process for a platform of your choice and write a summary of the steps involved.

Remember, practice is key in mastering any skill, so keep experimenting and building. Happy coding!