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Voices of VR

#1551: Breaking Down the Game Design of New Conducting-Inspired, Hand-Tracked, Rhythm Game “Symphoni”

Mar 29, 2025
Ingram Mao, the game director for Symphoni and co-founder of Tech Toys Studio, brings a unique perspective from his background in interior design and architecture to the world of VR gaming. He shares insights about the innovative mechanics that blend conducting a symphony with hand-tracked rhythm gaming. The discussion highlights the challenges and creative processes involved in developing immersive gameplay, the inspiration drawn from orchestral music, and the evolution of the game from mixed reality to fully immersive VR, promising an engaging player experience.
58:45

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Symphoni innovatively combines hand-tracking mechanics and rhythm gameplay to create a unique experience of conducting an orchestra.
  • The iterative design process involved extensive playtesting, ensuring player feedback shaped gameplay mechanics and enhanced user engagement.

Deep dives

The Concept of Symphony: Immersive Gameplay Inspired by Conducting

Symphony is an innovative rhythm game designed to immerse players in the experience of conducting an orchestra while engaging in hand-tracking mechanics. The game seamlessly blends mixed and virtual reality, allowing players to begin their journey in a mixed reality space and transition into immersive VR as they perform well. This layered approach not only enhances player engagement but also serves as a reward mechanism, providing a sense of achievement as they master the game's rhythm-based interactions. The design emphasizes the importance of player movement and interaction within a spherical space, where gestures and hand positions play a vital role in creating a unique and interactive gameplay experience.

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