AltspaceVR is a leading platform for live mixed reality experiences that offers a user-friendly solution for artists, creators, brands, and businesses to host virtual events. The platform’s ability to connect people from all over the world in real-time with expressive avatars, engaging eye contact, spatial sound, and immersive virtual environments creates a sense of presence that makes users feel like they’re together even when oceans apart. AltspaceVR sits at the intersection of experience, content, and community, making it a premier place for live concerts, conferences, comedy shows, festivals, tech talks, team meetings, remote collaboration, and more.
One of the key features of AltspaceVR is its ability to allow large groups of individuals to be co-present in a single space. The FrontRow technology provides audience-scaling into the thousands, making it an ideal platform for large-scale events.
AltspaceVR is a virtual reality platform that allows users to connect and interact with each other in a shared, immersive environment. The platform can be accessed using VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality, as well as through a 2D mode on desktop and Mac.
Users on AltspaceVR can engage in a variety of activities, such as socializing with friends, attending live events, playing games, and even working together on projects. The platform features a variety of customizable avatars, as well as a wide range of virtual environments to explore.
There are two ways to build in AltspaceVR depending on your skill level and familiarity.
World Editor Tool
AltspaceVR provides a built-in world editor panel that allows users to create and customize their own virtual spaces within the platform. This feature provides an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to add objects, remove, move and do so in real-time with other people present in the room.
This method relies on content creators to supply templates and kits to users, thus allowing them to customise their own spaces.
You can also access the AltspaceVR groups to find new kits and templates shared by other creators. You can also join private groups if you have been added by the creator to them, but they will require your Altspace username.
https://account.altvr.com/groups/all
Unity3D
Users of AltspaceVR can freely upload their own objects and create custom scenes on the platform using Unity3D, a popular game development engine. One way to do this is through the use of “kits,” which are collections of pre-built objects and assets that can be used to quickly create a scene. These kits can be downloaded from the AltspaceVR website and imported into Unity3D for use in creating custom scenes.
Once a scene is created in Unity3D, it can be uploaded to AltspaceVR through the Altspace Unity Uploader tool. This tool is a Unity3D plugin that allows users to export their scenes to the AltspaceVR platform with just a few clicks. The tool also allows users to set various properties of the scene, such as lighting and physics, before uploading.
Users can also create template scenes in Unity3D and use them as a starting point for their own creations. These templates can include pre-built environments, objects and implement further interactions using the MRE SDK.
AltspaceVR does not allow custom Unity scripts to be uploaded with custom scenes or objects. This means that users will need to be mindful not to use any objects or assets that contain scripts in their scenes or kits, as they will be rejected by the Altspace Unity Uploader tool during the uploading process. To include interactive elements in their scenes, users can use pre-built objects that do not contain scripts or use the MRE (Mixed Reality Extension) SDK.
Current Unity3D version supported by AltspaceVR & Downloads
Unity 2020.3.18 / Auto Installer URL for Unity Hub: unityhub://2020.3.18f1/a7d1c678663c
Pros of AltspaceVR for world building
- Free to do straight away, no applying for access as long as you have opted your world into the early access program and worlds beta. This can be toggled through your settings on AltVR.com or in your settings from within the app.
- Easy to use uploader tool and allows multiple scenes to be managed from within the same project unlike VRChat, which recommends a new Unity project for each world.
- Supports PCVR and Android (Oculus Quest) devices.
- You can upload a separate more detailed version of your world for PCVR users if you choose
- Unlike on VRChat there is no 100MB limit for Quest worlds.
Cons of AltspaceVR for world building
- No internal scripting is supported for Udon or related SDK’s other than the growing-outdated MRE SDK system.
- Uses the URP (Universal Render Pipeline) so older assets need to have their materials upgraded or re-made. This also breaks custom shaders from SRP going into URP so this can cause setbacks if you are expecting a Unity asset pack from 2018 to work.