To get the most out of this book

Before getting started with the projects outlined in this book, you will need a few things. The first is a Mac or PC computer that meets the Unity 3D system requirements. Visit https://unity3d.com/unity/system-requirements to confirm that your computer can run the software.

This book uses the free version of the Unity 3D game engine. If you are not familiar with the engine, visit https://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/topics/interface-essentials for an introduction on the interface and basic game objects. The engine is constantly under development for improvements and feature releases. New patches are announced monthly, and major version releases appear two to three times a year. With this ever-changing nature, readers should install the latest version of Unity and visit https://unity3d.com/unity/roadmap to review any updates to the VR toolset.

Although a computer is required to develop each project, a VR headset is still needed to fully test the environments. We designed these tutorials for the Google Cardboard (Project: Trappist-1 Solar System), Samsung Gear VR (Project: Image Gallery), and Oculus Rift (Project: Zombie Shooter, Carnival Midway). However, the concepts are universal and with minor adjustments, the projects can be adapted to other devices as well.

Each hardware platform requires a Software Development Kit (SDK) or custom Unity package to facilitate communication between Unity and the VR device. Instructions for installation can be found at the beginning of each project. It is also important to check for software compatibility with your installed version of Unity. This can be done at the download site or in the VR Device section of Unity at https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/VRDevices.html.