# Setting up a VR-ready File & Templates ## HTC Vive - SteamVR: Unreal Engine Template File {% hint style="danger" %} Unreal Engine is a Real-Time Rendering Engine. Meshes or objects with excessively high poly-counts require far more processing power to render. The use of needlessly high-poly meshes can often result in poor VR experiences. [Read more about VR asset preparation here.](https://medium.com/@Hales/keeping-it-canny-asset-preparation-for-virtual-reality-659d46001976) {% endhint %} This covers the basic setup using the pre-made Virtual Reality template file provided by Unreal Engine. It comes in with various additions that just need to be deleted. It allows for standing VR, motion controller-enabled VR and gamepad VR. ### Project Creation 1. Open Epic Games Launcher 2. Navigate to your preferred version of Unreal Engine and open it 3. Click `[New Project]` in the upper tab menu. 4. Under the `[Blueprint]` tab, select the `[Virtual Reality Template]` 5. Under the project options, set the device to *Mobile/Tablet. Desktop/Console* may be used but VR experiences are generally resource intensive, if the intended experience is not dynamically intensive it would be okay. 6. Set the quality to *Scalable 2D/3D. Maximum* may be used if the intended experience is not dynamically intensive. 7. You may choose to import it with or without *Starter Content.* 8. *Create the Project.* Unreal Engine will now create your project. ### SteamVR SteamVR will automatically open upon launching Unreal Engine. If it does not, open it through Steam or the system. ### VR-ready Level The VR-template comes with two VR-ready maps. 1. In the *Content Browser,* navigate to `[VirtualRealityBP > Maps].` 2. Choose the level template you wish to use: * HMDLocomotion relies on the use of a gamepad (not included with MSD VR kits) * HMDMotionController has built in functionality with the Vive Controllers 3. Save a copy of this level to work from, `[File > Save Current As]` and save it to the root. 4. Delete all unneeded content from the *World Outliner***.** A standard base pictured below. 5. In the *Details* panel of `[VRPawn]`, ensure *Auto Possess Player* is set to **Player 0**. Also ensure that *Auto Possess AI* is set to **disabled.** This ensures that upon running the experience, the player's VR HMD will register automatically and not anything else. ![Figure 3.0 - VR-Ready Maps](/files/-LYy4l7ULz4JwEpZEqzk) ### Unreal Engine Resources Unreal Engine builtin resources can be accessed through the *Content Browser.* Under `[View Options > Show Engine Content]` and through the *Sources Panel.* ### Debugging, Testing and Playing Use \[VR Preview] under \[Play] to simulate the experience in VR ## NExT LAB VR-ready Template {% hint style="danger" %} Templates are not compatible with all versions of Unreal Engine. This specific template is compatible for UE 4.22+ {% endhint %} Download Link: This section covers using templates in general, along with a Virtual Reality template provided by the NExT Lab. It comes with basic environments set up with some basic assets included and a first person camera ### Using Templates 1. Navigate to the Templates folder of your preferred Unreal Engine version in the the Program Files. E.g: `C:\Program Files\Unreal Engine[Version]\Templates` 2. Unzip and copy the downloaded template to this `Templates` folder ### Project Creation 1. Open Epic Games Launcher 2. Navigate to your preferred version of Unreal Engine and open it 3. Click `[New Project]` in the upper tab menu. 4. Under the `[Blueprint]` tab, select the newly imported template. 5. Under the project options, set the device to *Mobile/Tablet.* 6. Set the quality to *Scalable 2D/3D.* 7. The template already has built in *Mobile* *Starter Content.* 8. *Create the Project.* Unreal Engine will now create your project. ### SteamVR Foreword: SteamVR will automatically open upon launching Unreal Engine, if it does not open it through Steam or the system. ### Using the Template The *World Outliner* already has set up folders and default content: * 00\_SkyEnvironment includes a `[BP_Sky_Sphere]`, this is linked to the `[DirectionalLight]` in the same folder. You can rotate the `[DirectionalLight]` and toggle \[Refresh Material] in `[BP_Sky_Sphere's]` *Details* to set the sun location. * The \[EnvironmentSphere] can be changed by finding the attached \[m\_Environment] material and replacing the diffuse and alpha textures. *Content Browser: Environment.* * The 01\_Player in the *World Outliner* includes a working VR-MotionController and a FirstPersonController. To use one or the other, find the setting `Auto Possess Player` in the *Details* panel. Set the one you wish to use to `[0]` and the other to `[Disabled]`. *Content Browser: Player.* * 03\_Foliage contains some trees already, more can be found in the *Content Browser: Vegetation: Meshes.* * Only the basic ones have been set up. * The grass can be accessed through the foliage tool. * 04\_Effects includes atmospherics and visual effects. These can be adjusted in their respective *Details* panel. * In Wind, the `[WindDirectioinalSource1]` controls the wind direction. This affects the Particles. *Content Browser: Particles.* * The sound file of *\[AmbientSound]* can be replaced. * Fog and PostProcessing can be adjusted in their *Details.* --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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