Coming 2017: Program Your Own VR Experiences with CoSpaces
You don’t need to code in order to create virtual reality experiences with CoSpaces. But now you can!
From early 2017 on, the easy VR creation tool will include a feature that makes it possible to build interactive VR experiences or even games, using code. Those who don’t want to wait until next year, can already join the Early Access Program.
Virtual reality faces a lack of content. One way to counter this problem is enabling people to create their own experiences – as easily as possible.
CoSpaces currently is one of the most intuitive – if not the easiest – tool available to create virtual reality environments. “It has a very low entry barrier”, says VR influencer Rob Crasco about the platform. “You can just jump right in.” The spaces are built via drag and drop in a browser app and can be explored in the corresponding smartphone app, using mobile VR.
Fast and easy VR creation – not only kids like this idea
Its simplicity has made the platform popular with kids, parents and teachers who want to explore virtual reality from a makers’ perspective. But it has also gained recognition among designers and programmers as a quick prototyping tool for VR – since it is free, extremely easy to use and runs in the browser.
That’s why the German startup behind CoSpaces has decided to enable the scripting API for their platform. With it, the static VR environments you assemble with CoSpaces are brought to life using JavaScript: Objects can, for example, be programmed to move or produce a specific sound when you look at them. This opens a wide range of possibilities from creating a virtual exhibition with responsive info panels up to building a full-fledged VR game.
Create VR environments via drag and drop and bring them to life using JavaScript
The interface for creating VR environments in CoSpaces doesn’t change: Using the browser app, you build inside a predefined 3D environment, add customizable objects from a library via drag and drop and add your own texts, images or sounds. To add animations, interactions or a game logic to the project, Early Access users will be able to write their scripts in the built-in code editor. An ever growing documentation page provides an overview of the API.
From easy finger exercises to complex simulations
Creative programmers can, for example, use CoSpaces to develop games with relatively little effort. A VR game in which you have to shoot zombies that are approaching you from all directions can be written in a couple of dozen lines of code. For those who are into more complex projects: The developers behind CoSpaces have already used it to build a little traffic simulation – including traffic lights and helicopters.
However, you don’t have to be able to program something this complex to have fun with CoSpaces. The platform is all about making virtual reality easy and accessible – also when it comes to scripting.
This is why CoSpaces plans to integrate Blockly in the near future – a visual programming language that is often used to teach coding to kids. Like this, CoSpaces will not only be a great playground to experiment with VR but also with scripting. Is there anything more exciting for a programming newbie than creating their own VR experience? In the end, kids and technology geeks are much alike when it comes to one thing: their enthusiasm for virtual reality.
CoSpaces is currently running an Early Access Program for their scripting API. If you’re interested in trying it out, just unlock it inside your account.
You can find a button saying “Unlock Early Access Scripting” in the account management tab on the dashboard. With the official launch of the feature next year, scripting is going to be part of the paid PRO subscription for CoSpaces.