
      <p class="mb-6 text-base opacity-90">This week marked the beginning of our Global Horizons University VR project, with a focus on establishing the foundational elements of our Lunar Exploration Laboratory environment. Our goal is to create an immersive learning experience that teaches adaptation in unfamiliar physical conditions through a realistic lunar simulation.</p>
      
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Lunar Environment Setup</h3>
          <p class="mb-4 text-sm opacity-80">We made significant progress on building our lunar environment, focusing on creating an authentic representation of the moon's surface:</p>
          <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-1 text-sm opacity-80 pl-4">
            <li><strong>Moon Surface Map:</strong> Configured detailed lunar surface texturing and materials to match actual lunar regolith properties.</li>
            <li><strong>Moon Surrounding Map:</strong> Created the surrounding environment including accurate starfields and an Earth view.</li>
            <li><strong>Moon Heightmap:</strong> Implemented a realistic heightmap for accurate terrain rendering and collision.</li>
          </ul>
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Physics Implementation</h3>
          <p class="mb-4 text-sm opacity-80">One of the most critical aspects of our lunar simulation is accurate physics modeling:</p>
          <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-1 text-sm opacity-80 pl-4">
            <li><strong>Lunar Gravity World Setting:</strong> Successfully configured the global physics system to simulate lunar gravity (~1/6 Earth gravity).</li>
            <li><strong>Locomotion System:</strong> Implemented joystick-based walking, replacing teleportation for immersion.</li>
            <li><strong>Movement Mechanics Planning:</strong> Began design for novel "Spiderman-like" traversal mechanics suited for low gravity.</li>
            <li><strong>Simulated Astronaut Hopping:</strong> Introduced head movement simulation for realistic low-G walking.</li>
          </ul>
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Technical Platform</h3>
          <p class="text-sm opacity-80">Selected Unreal Engine 5.3.2, leveraging Nanite and Lumen for detailed visuals while maintaining VR performance.</p>
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      <div class="card bg-base-200 shadow-sm border border-base-300">
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Next Steps</h3>
          <p class="text-sm opacity-80">Future work includes interactive equipment, refining VR interaction systems, and developing initial learning scenarios.</p>
        </div>
      </div>
    

Core Tech

Unique Features

Community Effect

VR Immersion

Project Viability

Week 0 focused on establishing the core technical foundation for our Global Horizons University VR project, with significant progress on the Lunar Exploration Laboratory environment and physics implementation.

Project Kickoff: Lunar Environment Development


      <p class="mb-6 text-base opacity-90">We're excited to share our latest progress on ForestVR, our immersive forest fire response training platform. This milestone represents a significant step forward in bringing realistic emergency response training to virtual reality.</p>
      
      <div class="card bg-base-200 shadow-sm border border-base-300 mb-4">
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Core Systems Implementation</h3>
          <p class="mb-4 text-sm opacity-80">Our team has successfully implemented several foundational systems that form the backbone of the ForestVR experience:</p>
          <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-1 text-sm opacity-80 pl-4">
            <li><strong>Realistic Fire Propagation System:</strong> Developed a physically accurate fire simulation responsive to terrain, weather, and vegetation.</li>
            <li><strong>Forest Environment Optimization:</strong> Implemented LOD systems and asset optimization for smooth performance in dense forest environments.</li>
            <li><strong>Interactive Equipment:</strong> Enabled realistic handling and effects for fire extinguishers, optimizing CO2 VFX.</li>
            <li><strong>Basic NPC Implementation:</strong> Added interactable NPCs, setting the stage for team-based training.</li>
            <li><strong>Player Mobility Systems:</strong> Implemented running (with stamina), crouching, and terrain navigation for enhanced embodiment.</li>
            <li><strong>Wet Cloth Feature:</strong> Added usable wet cloths for smoke protection, increasing scenario realism.</li>
          </ul>
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      <div class="card bg-base-200 shadow-sm border border-base-300 mb-4">
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Educational Design Progress</h3>
          <p class="mb-4 text-sm opacity-80">Advanced the educational framework of ForestVR:</p>
          <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-1 text-sm opacity-80 pl-4">
            <li><strong>In-Game Tutorial System:</strong> Created an intuitive tutorial guiding users through equipment, protocols, and procedures based on playtest feedback.</li>
          </ul>
        </div>
      </div>
      
      <div class="card bg-base-200 shadow-sm border border-base-300 mb-4">
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Conversational AI Enhancement</h3>
          <p class="mb-4 text-sm opacity-80">Achieved a significant breakthrough in NPC interaction:</p>
          <ul class="list-disc list-inside space-y-1 text-sm opacity-80 pl-4">
            <li><strong>LLM Plugin Development:</strong> Created specialized plugins for natural, context-aware NPC conversations during emergencies.</li>
            <li><strong>Free Pre-compiled Release:</strong> Committed to releasing plugins freely to benefit the wider emergency training development community.</li>
            <li><strong>Context-Aware Responses:</strong> NPCs now understand situational context, improving training realism and effectiveness.</li>
          </ul>
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      </div>
      
      <div class="card bg-base-200 shadow-sm border border-base-300">
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          <h3 class="card-title text-lg border-b border-base-300 pb-2 mb-3">Next Steps</h3>
          <p class="text-sm opacity-80">Future focus includes enhancing NPC communication, expanding evacuation scenarios, implementing feedback systems, optimizing for standalone VR, and adding more equipment.</p>
        </div>
      </div>
    

We've made significant progress on our core fire simulation systems, interactive equipment, and player mobility. This update covers our implemented features, performance optimizations, and next steps.

ForestVR: Milestone 2 Development Update

Focused on core gameplay mechanics: enhanced fire propagation, implemented smoke effects with GPS navigation, refined fire extinguisher mechanics, and added a comprehensive health system with UI feedback.

Week 2 Gameplay Mechanics & Core Systems

Achieved our gold release milestone with the completed HandphoneComponent for natural voice interaction, enhanced forest environments with realistic animal behaviors, and an intelligent AI tutorial system for the mountain terrain environment.

Development Log

Project Kickoff: Lunar Environment Development

ForestVR: Milestone 2 Development Update

Week 2 Gameplay Mechanics & Core Systems

ForestVR Gold Release: Reflection on VR-Powered Emergency Response Training