FIT2098 Virtual and Augmented Reality
S1 2025
Assignment 1: AR Hidden World [30%]
BRIEF
This assignment requires you to integrate virtual objects and scenery with the real world using Augmented Reality (AR). Using Unity and Meta. Quest 3 headsets, you will create a ‘hidden world’ that users must discover using a virtual ‘key’ object. The hidden world is a virtual environment that lies hidden behind a physical surface or inside an object in the user’s real environment. Users can peer into this environment to see what’s inside, but first they must open the secret portal (a doorway, crack, hole, gate, etc).
The portal may partially or completely obscure the hidden world, and can only be opened using the secret key (which must not look like a key!), by moving it to a certain position near the portal (there may also be an additional touch interaction before the portal will open). Once the portal has opened, the AR user can see and interact with the hidden world within.
The world does not need to be expansive or painstakingly detailed – instead the aim should be to develop a consistent art style. and integrate the virtual environment convincingly with the real world.
You will be provided with a starting Unity project pre-configured with an MR rig.
This assignment is split into two parts. Part 1 will require you to research and prototype your environment using techniques taught to you in lectures and tutorials. Part 2 will require you to develop your virtual scene, document the process and deploy a build to Windows to record a demonstration video.
Audio can only be sourced from Freesound (https://freesound.org) as long as you reference the creator and sound file in your documentation. Additional resources will be made available on the Moodle site in the assessments resources section.
Please note: any external 3D models and materials downloaded from the internet will be considered as evidence of plagiarism. You may not re-use 3D models or other assets developed in previous assignments as this is self-plagiarism. If you have any questions, please ask the teaching team!
REQUIREMENTS
Part 1: requires you to submit a PDF document detailing your process to research and prototype your world. This will include research into environment design, themes and genre. Researching art styles and determining what art style. you will use. Creating a 2D sketch, layout diagram or physical creation to prototype the world. Creating a 3D blockout in Unity with a grab interaction and occlusion planes.
Part 2: requires you to 3D model and texture assets to build your hidden world and portal. Develop timeline animations to add movement to the scene and control the portal opening. Make use of ambient audio, particle effects, lighting and post-processing to match your world design.
In your documentation, include the research and prototyping performed in part 1 and if applicable, discuss any changes you made. You will also describe the development process and highlight the key approaches you used to create your environment (models, textures, lighting, effects, etc) and how they relate to your chosen theme and world. Include references to any online tutorials you used and reference any audio used in your project.
The final demonstration video will showcase your AR experience. This should demonstrate the appearance of the closed portal, the process of manipulating the key to open the portal, and an inspection of the hidden world. Note you may need to move the headset between different positions and angles to see different parts of the hidden world. This is your folio piece!
DELIVERABLES
Part 1: will require you to submit the following item:
(a) Research and prototyping PDF document
Use images and descriptions in this document to demonstrate what you have learned and how you will apply this when building your world. You are not required to submit the Unity project at this stage or any additional files.
Part 2: will require you to submit the followings items:
(a) Unity Project Folder
You will be provided with a starting Unity project, this will come pre-configured with an MR rig.
(b) Project Build
The executable output of your project build. This is a Windows build which will play through the Meta. Quest headset.
(c) Documentation as a PDF document
Include all research performed in part 1 and any changes made. Also illustrate your working process with screenshots and descriptions of your project and how this creates a cohesive world design.
(d) Demonstration Video
A demonstration video of your AR experience using the Meta. Quest headset showing all implemented features.
Submission is via Moodle. ALL submitted items must be named in a clear and logical way and compressed into a single .zip file, which should be named with the assessment number, and your name. The maximum total file-size for this submission is 500MB.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Your submission will be graded on the following categories, a detailed rubric can be found on Moodle: Part 1: Research and prototyping [10 Marks]
● Environment and genre research (2 marks)
● Art style research (2 marks)
● 2D sketch, layout diagram or physical creation (3 marks)
● 3D blockout in Unity with grab interaction and occlusion planes (3 marks)
Part 2: Project, documentation and demonstration [20 Marks]
● Lighting, effects, and environmental design (4 marks)
● Animated objects and ambient audio (4 marks)
● Integration of virtual objects with real world, good AR practices and interactions (5 marks)
● Accompanying documentation, approaches, methods and changes (5 marks)
● Demonstration video showing all implemented features (2 marks)
LATE PENALTIES
Any submission received after the due date without a prior arranged extension will receive a 5% reduction to their available mark per day late, for a maximum of seven days. Submissions received more than 7 days after the due date without a prior arranged extension will receive a mark of 0 and no feedback will be provided.
PART 1: DUE DATE 11:55PM, Friday Week 4
Ensure that part 1 is submitted to Moodle on time to allow your tutor time to provide feedback for part 2 development. Feedback will be provided during class time, so ensure you turn up to your tutorial.
PART 2: DUE DATE 11:55PM, Friday Week 7
Time will be made available during the weeks 6 and 7 tutorials to test your projects and record your demonstration videos. Ensure you have your assignment project and build ready to deploy for these weeks.