Substituting Reality - Mixed Reality Course '25 - VU703371
Mixed Reality technology allows for the seamless blending of real and virtual elements, offering endless possibilities to change how we interact with our environment. The first iteration of the master course in Mixed Reality at UIBK took this idea and evolved novel MR experiences around the theme "Substituting Reality," specifically transferring existing physical assets to the virtual world while improving their functionality. Students worked in teams to develop immersive Mixed Reality prototypes in a 4-day hackathon.
These projects allowed students to gain a deep understanding of MR's potential in various fields. The course provided them with an invaluable skill set and experiences in this exciting and rapidly evolving technology.
Klötzlebau
Klötzlebau is a fast-paced interactive mixed reality multiplayer game that blends physical movement with virtual collaboration. Designed for the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3s, the game challenges 2 to 5 players to work together in a shared physical environment where virtual blocks are dispersed throughout the real world. Players must search for, grab, and place these blocks into their corresponding slots onto a virtual construction table, all whilst racing against the clock. The game is a highly engaging team-based challenge that rewards communication, coordination, and spatial awareness. Using real-world movement and virtual precision, Klötzlebau transforms ordinary spaces into competitive playgrounds. Its intuitive interaction system and collaborative design make it accessible and fun for players of all ages. Whether playing in just a pair of two or as a full team, Klötzlebau delivers an energetic and immersive experience that turns simple stacking into an unforgettable mixed reality adventure.
by Sebastian Bergner, Maximilian Gallinat & Manuel Reichegger
Trustfall
Trustfall is a cooperative two-player game designed to explore asymmetric gameplay and communication under pressure. One player wears a VR headset and visually navigates a grid of tiles, while the second player, equipped with a controller, directs all movements without visual input. Together, they must collect four goals and reach the exit before the timer expires. The grid includes event tiles that invert controls, double step sizes, add time, or trigger random teleportation, requiring rapid adaptation and clear, precise teamwork. Trustfall emphasizes trust, real-time decision-making, and negotiation under time constraints, creating a playful yet intense test of cooperation. The game explores how players develop and adjust communication strategies when control and perception are separated, demonstrating the potential of asymmetric mechanics in fostering engagement. Trustfall is designed for the Meta Quest headset family and local multiplayer settings, providing an accessible yet challenging cooperative experience for players seeking a unique teamwork-focused game.
by Leonhard Kohl-Lörting, Martin Berktold, Benedikt Glaser
Capture the Flag
The goal of this project is to use the advanced multiuser features of a mixed reality environment to create a competitive game inspired by capture the flag. Two players compete against each other by solving tasks or playing mini-games to score points. Initially, the first player acts as the game creator, scanning the room and placing the minigames in different positions. Once the second player joins, they can see all the games that have been placed. Three minigames have been implemented in this project: a Tic Tac Toe game, a basketball target game, and a "ClickRight" game, in which the player must memorize and replicate a random order of buttons. Each player's progress is displayed on a scoreboard in the center of the room. Once one player has finished all the minigames, the game ends and announces the winner.
by Christopher Zallinger & Tobias Griesser
Kitchen Countdown
Kitchen Countdown is an interactive mixed reality (MR) multiplayer game that transforms real-world cooking into a fast-paced digital competition. Designed for HMDs like the Meta Quest, the game places multiple players in a shared physical kitchen space where they race to cook the perfect waffles. Each player follows a step-by-step MR recipe, displayed as an interactive 3D interface floating in front of them. The recipe can be manipulated with hand gestures, providing real-time guidance throughout the cooking process. Players compete to complete the dish first, and upon finishing, they press a virtual button to declare victory. The app synchronizes timers, recipe steps, and player progress across devices, creating a dynamic, engaging environment that blends kitchen skills with digital gameplay. Kitchen Countdown offers a unique fusion of physical action and virtual interactivity, making cooking both a competitive and collaborative MR experience.
by Greta Karbon, Hannes Röd & Johannes Schneider
Mixed Reality Knowledge Clash
Mixed Reality knowledge clash is an engaging multiplayer MR experience where two teams compete in a fast-paced trivia game with a twist. Each round starts with one headset player from each team playing a short minigame to gain an individual score. Meanwhile, teammates answer a quiz question via a web interface. Once time is up, the headset players receive a visual summary of their team's answers—but the player who performed worse in the minigame sees a distorted version of the results. Based on this (possibly misleading) input, the headset players must quickly choose the final answer for their team. This creates hilarious moments when perceptions clash, and strategic decisions must be made under pressure. The game continues over multiple rounds, updating team scores after each question. In the end, the team with the most points wins. The experience blends physical interaction, team strategy, and deception—perfect for playful group competition in MR.
by Burger Peter, Prantauer Hannes & Schmid Leopold