Google Cardboard is commonly denoted as an “introductory” virtual reality experience for newcomers. And it makes sense, given that it only entails 360-degree videos, which honestly, are hardly VR to begin with. There’s not much interacting with a typical 360-degree video or specific app outside of a pointed gaze. But even then, your phone likely won’t be able to register where you’re looking at any point—that’s for the higher end mobile VR, like the Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream. Yet, one developer has a solution to make Cardboard a bit more interactive.
a Cardboard game with a DIY, printable controller
Introducing Paperstick VR. Paperstick VR is, as one might expect from its name, a stick of paper. The Paperstick is a typical sheet of A4-sized paper folded precisely into a long triangular prism (more like a remote controller or a Wiimote than a classic gamepad). So far, the Paperstick is only compatible with the specially developed game Poppist VR, an arcade shooter for popping colorful balloons. But that could change in the future.
In Poppist, the player holds the Paperstick precisely in front of their phone’s camera—if your Cardboard doesn’t have a hole where it can be visible, then you’ll need to cut one. The camera then detects a specific marker from the printed out Paperstick, reading it as the in-game object. And presto, you’ve got yourself a workable controller for the Google Cardboard.
You can follow directions to make your own Paperstick here and get its compatible game Poppist VR on Google Play for $1.99. There’s no word on if more games might be compatible in the future.
(via Prosthetic Knowledge)
