As a Technical Developer collaborating with Chiara Russomanno, owner of Le Stanze Perdute, I played a pivotal role in the development of Left Alive VR, an immersive virtual reality shooter experience designed for 2 to 5 players. In this adrenaline-pumping adventure, participants are tasked with eliminating zombies and solving puzzles within a shared physical and virtual space, where the game world seamlessly aligns with the real environment.

A significant aspect of my contribution was the creation of a co-presence system that enables multiple players to inhabit and interact within a synchronized virtual environment. To achieve this, I developed a custom UDP communication protocol from the ground up, facilitating low-latency data exchange between VR headsets and the central server. This bespoke solution was essential to minimize latency and ensure real-time responsiveness, which is critical for maintaining immersion in fast-paced VR scenarios.

At the time of development, existing SDKs for devices like the Meta Quest did not offer built-in support for shared spatial experiences. To bridge this gap, I engineered a system that allowed multiple headsets to share a common virtual space with precise synchronization. This innovation ensured that all players experienced the same virtual environment in unison, with their movements and actions accurately reflected across all devices.

The Left Alive VR experience challenges players to navigate a zombie-infested setting, requiring teamwork and strategic thinking to survive. Participants must eliminate hordes of zombies, solve intricate puzzles, and strive to climb the leaderboard within a 30-minute session. The game offers two modes: ARCADE, focusing on action-packed gameplay, and ESCAPE, which incorporates puzzle-solving elements for a more cerebral challenge.

This project exemplifies the fusion of cutting-edge technology and interactive entertainment, providing a unique and engaging experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional virtual reality applications.