Kendo VR

Kendo VR is an immersive virtual reality experience centered around kendo, a Japanese martial art. It features exercises called suburi, meaning “empty cut,” with a reactive scoreboard that offers written feedback to help users improve technique.

Though playable on standard desktop Oculus and SteamVR platforms, the ideal experience is achieved by attaching a Vive Tracker to an actual shinai (bamboo practice sword). This allows players to perform the exercises with true-to-life weighting and balance, developing important muscle memory as they practice. During play, users select the kind of suburi they want to practice, and they receive feedback scores and reactive advice for improvement after each empty cut.

Roles: Designer, Developer

Software: Unreal Engine 4, Blender, Photoshop

Timeline: February 2021 — December 2022

I was the primary developer on this project. I was responsible for designing and implementing a system for analyzing the form of player swings and critiquing technique, implementing inverse kinematics for the arm visualizations, ensuring cross-platform compatibility, beautifying the scene, overseeing play-testing, recording and acting on user feedback, modifying 3D models and materials, etc.

I also documented UX characteristics, technical limitations, and idiomatic approaches to solving problems unique to VR platforms.