Sure, let’s dive right in, shall we?
So, here we are, with this game called Electronauts. I mean, when it first hit the scene, who could’ve guessed it’d stick around as a go-to for how to nail VR interfaces? Just hit me now: it’s been seven years since it launched. Kinda feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago, right? Anyway, you can see the whole lowdown in the video below—or just keep reading my rambling, whichever floats your boat.
Let’s talk music—the game kind! Yeah, this thing’s designed for folks like me who fumble around with instruments but still want to feel like a DJ superstar. It’s on all the major VR headsets. Seriously, check out the review if you have a sec.
Now, if you think the interface is just, well, about the music, you’re missing the real kicker. This design’s got stuff to teach that goes way beyond tapping to a beat. It’s about how they nailed ease-of-use, hierarchy (fancy word, right?), and flexibility.
So, first up, ease-of-use. You’d think, sure, drumsticks for musical vibes. But then you realize, oh, they double as tools for the interface! Pretty slick. Humans are like, wired to use tools—we just are. I read somewhere we kinda see them as part of us after a while. Weird, but true. With Electronauts, those drumsticks let you stretch out to hit buttons more easily, cutting down blunders.
Okay, dig this: You don’t just tap a button. Nope. You poke it with your drumstick and pull the trigger. I mean, it’s clever because, let’s face it, VR lacks the “push” feel of real buttons. There’s no physical “click.” So by intersecting and triggering, precision jumps way up.
Hierarchy time. Now here’s a word that makes me think of ancient Rome, but here we are using it for a game. You need stuff organized, right? So, Electronauts uses these cubes for tools—all about giving each function its cube. Like a little app on your phone. You just drop a cube on a pedestal to dive into its features.
Max it out at three active cubes. Keeps the clutter down. So it’s not like digging through infinite, nested folders. (I hate when my computer does that.)
Anyway—no, forget that—where was I? Yeah, hierarchy, cubes… Oh, right, you can imagine these as mini apps, not overwhelming screens with options in your face.
Wondering about flexibility? Well, stay tuned for that part!