InMind VR (2015)

About the Game

InMind VR is an immersive scientific adventure game with arcade-style gameplay, specifically developed for virtual reality on the Oculus platform. This initial demo provides players with the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the human brain, identifying and addressing neurons responsible for mental disorders. The experience allows users to dive into a microscopic world, witnessing the intricate and complex structures of the mind firsthand.

The game presents a vision of the near future, where humanity stands at the threshold of a new era defined by groundbreaking medical and scientific innovations. Leveraging nanotechnology, a prototype surgical bathyscaphe enables operators to shrink to a micro scale and navigate through the human body with precision. This experimental project by Nival was designed to explore the potential of virtual reality as implemented through the Oculus Rift, combining educational and entertainment elements in a compact and engaging experience.

Gameplay Features

• Explore the human brain at a microscopic level, entering a detailed and scientifically inspired microworld.
• Target and pacify neurons that are causing disorders, preventing the spread of abnormal synaptic activity to surrounding neurons.
• Replay levels to improve scores and enhance mastery over the brain's inner workings.
• Experience a comfortable and accessible VR session, designed to minimize motion discomfort while maximizing immersion.
• Compatible with Windows VR systems, as well as Mac and Linux platforms, providing a broad accessibility range.

Controls

• Esc: Exit the game
• Space: Recenter the VR camera
• H: Disable the VR headset view
• M: Turn off VR-to-screen mirroring

Tips and Known Issues

• The Oculus Rift is not supported on Linux or Mac versions of the game.
• DirectX 9 is not compatible with the Oculus Rift DK2 hardware.
• Windows users with AMD Mobility Radeon HD series GPUs may experience a black screen with DK2. The development team is actively collaborating with Unity3D to resolve this.
• On Linux, particularly Kubuntu 14.04, the application may occasionally crash immediately after launch. Efforts are ongoing to fix these issues with Unity3D support.

Additional Information

InMind VR represents a unique intersection of scientific exploration and virtual reality technology. The game’s primary objective is educational, encouraging players to understand neurological functions while engaging in a controlled, interactive environment. The VR experience allows users to perceive neural activity and its consequences in a hands-on manner, making abstract neurological processes tangible and understandable. The game continues to serve as a testbed for VR capabilities, demonstrating both the educational potential and technical challenges of immersive brain simulations.