Lost in Echoes

Unlocking a new dimension of interaction with Pico, players can engage through sound, haptic, gestures and touch, rendering the game accessible to a broader audience especially the visually impaired.

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Inspiration

The sheer enjoyment of PICO shouldn't be limited to a select few. PICO is a great product that provide immersive experience to the users, but it's disheartening that not everyone, especially the visually impaired, can partake in its excitement. Driven by a passion for inclusivity and a desire to share the fun with all, I embarked on a mission to create an accessible game for pico .My inspiration comes from the belief that every individual, regardless of their abilities, should have the opportunity to experience the immersive and intuitive PICO has to offer. With this goal in mind, I conceived a game that not only entertains but also ensures that everyone can join in the excitement.

Game Overview

"Lost in Echoes" is an immersive and accessible VR game designed for the Pico platform. The game offers a unique gameplay experience that leverages sound-based navigation, haptic feedback, gestures, and voiceovers to engage players. The primary goal is to provide a challenging, story-driven adventure while making the game accessible to a broad audience, including visually impaired players.

Story and Narrative

The game begins in a dark, mysterious place where you wake up with no memory. A dying man nearby warns you about dangerous creatures and gives you special equipment to survive. This equipment is a sound-based radar that uses beep sound to help you find items and escape.

As the game progress, you recover your lost memories and discover that you were part of a time-travel experiment. The person who died at the start is your partner. Your equipment was scattered when creatures attacked during the experiment, and you both ended up in a dark, unfamiliar dimension.

Now, with your memories back, your goal is to escape this place and go back in time to save your friends.

Gameplay Mechanism

The sound-based radar in your left hand beeps to help you find things. Move your hand around to follow the beeping, which gets louder when you're close. Once you're at the item, the radar tells you what it is, like a weapon, health pack, armor, or lost memory..

Your right hand changes and uses items. The radar explains what each item is and how to use it.

The place is like a maze with strange creatures. You can hear them making weird sounds. You can either avoid them or fight with your weapons. It's better to run away. When the player reaches a dead corner or wall, the radar will tell you, and sometimes the sound of the wind helps you find the right path.

User Interface

The user interface (UI) is completely dark and devoid of visible menus. Players can interact with menus and inventory through haptic feedback and voice commands.

Audio Design

High-quality sound effects to convey the game's ambiance, interactions, and environmental cues. Immersive and atmospheric music that complements the game's setting and tone. Narration for character dialogues, story progression, and menu navigation. Voiceovers are accessible and cater to visually impaired players. There is audio cues for navigation, item detection, and combat encounters.

Accessibility Features

  • Sound-Based Radar System. Sound cues, Voiceover descriptions and voice command.
  • Haptic & Gesture. Intensity for tactile interaction.
  • Voiceovers and Narration. Comprehensive voiceovers for dialogues, story elements, and menu navigation.

Gameplay Demo

link Demo Link.

In this gameplay demo, player move around, listening to the wind's direction to avoid dead ends. When he approach an item, a voice-based radar starts beeping more frequently as they get closer. Upon reaching the item, he discover it's a quantum energy gun. Nearby, strange alien sounds catch his attention, leading player to cautiously approach and fight with the alien creatures. Players must rely on sound cues to determine the aliens' positions and shoot accurately, as blind firing can quickly lead to a game over

Target Audience

  • Gamers interested in immersive VR experiences.
  • Players with visual impairments.
  • Ages 8 and up.

What's Next

The next steps is to involve assembling a skilled Pico development team to start bringing the game to life. With my team in place, it's time to move from the design stage to the development stage. Begin by creating a prototype or small playable demo to refine core gameplay mechanics and accessibility features. Concurrently, conduct market surveys to gather invaluable user feedback, especially from those with visual impairments, which will inform iterative improvements. Participation in game dev events and conventions to help increase game's recognition and connect with potential partners. Seek for the investors to secure the necessary funds for development, highlighting the game's unique and inclusive design. Establish clear development milestones, focusing on accessibility testing, quality assurance, and post-launch support. Engage with the gaming community to ensure game continues to evolve and thrive post-release. With these steps, this game can not only become a reality but also provide an immersive experience to a diverse audience.

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