Cheap VR wearables are not suitable for exergames controlled by running in place . It is difficult to keep VR wearable at place. If it is not possible to run, let us make squats!
Modern smartphones have at least one accelerometer on board. For minimalistic active VR game UI we will use only Y-axis (vertical) acceleration signal.
For other control actions we will use Gaze control. This type of control is emebedded in every AR\VR SDK. WE will use Unity3d with Google VR for Unity SDK package version 1.50. With this minimal recources it is possible to make an active VR game.
Imagine biathlon race with two Cola cans !
Just after you have gazed at start cube , Pepsi can rushes forward with constant speed.
Player controls Coca-Cola can. Before Coca -Cola can will be enabled to move , Player has to shoot down five black targets in random positions over his head. The Player has to turn his head around looking for the target.
Than Player has to make a series of squats as fast as he can in order to chase the Pepsi can and touch finish line first.
Prototype already runs in Unity3d Editor mode.
Now I adjust settings in real mobile phone that runs under Android 6.0
This type of active game is also called DESKERCISE and may be used for instant workout in any office.
First test with my Xiaomi4 under Android6.0 shows that there were no big mistakes in game mechanics.
From outside this exergame looks a little bit strange :
