A lean SDK manager for cross-platform VR/AR applications.
GDC 2018 (March 19-23, San Francisco)—Parkerhill Reality Labs is making public its plans for the BridgeXR Pro Toolkit for Unity, a lean SDK manager for developing cross-platform VR and AR applications. For more information, sign up here.
BridgeXR is for developers implementing virtual reality and/or augmented reality applications using the Unity 3D game engine. BridgeXR manages multiple VR and AR SDKs in a thin device-independent layer within the Unity editor while leveraging the best of breed software from leading VR and AR vendors.
“BridgeXR is designed to stay out of your way, permitting you direct access to performant vendor-supplied toolkits while keeping your project device-independent,” says Jonathan Linowes, president of Parkerhill. “With BridgeXR, you can avoid the industry’s API fragmentation that can disrupt your development.”
Using BridgeXR, you define platform bridges in the Unity Editor. A bridge is a platform-object mapping in your project providing dynamic in-editor serialization and runtime instantiation. Types of bridges include scene loader, player rigs, prefabs, input gestures, and plug-ins.
Developers continue to use the world-class optimized toolkits from leading tech giants. Rather than try to replace them, BridgeXR builds on top of the high-level tools you know and trust, including SteamVR Interaction System, Google Daydream Elements, Oculus SDK, Windows Mixed Reality Toolkit, Google ARCore, and Apple ARKit. There is even a VRTK bridge for transitioning apps away from that toolkit.
With BridgeXR, you are encouraged to use Unity’s latest features and best practices, including in-editor developer tools, Unity events, scriptable objects, playables, timelines, and asset bundles.
BridgeXR also includes a reaction semantics framework using Unity Events. Translate device input events into your application’s semantic events. Assemble reusable reaction collections, including audio reactions, particle effects, timeline sequences, and animations.
Parkerhill is taking inquiries to participate in the BridgeXR private beta release. Preference will be given to collaborative contract clients interested in hiring the studio’s development services that build upon Parkerhill’s technology and Unity 3D. For more information, visit http://www.parkerhill.com/brid
Visit them at GDC 2018 and PAX East:
- GDC 2018— booth #PL4311 (GDC Play, North Hall)— March 21-23, San Francisco
- PAX East— booth #21009— April 5-8, Boston
Also, check out their games:
- Power Solitaire VR – lively, immersive, competitive, social, and a ton of fun! On Daydream, SteamVR, Oculus. http://www.parkerhill.
com/power-solitaire-vr/ - Chess Or Die – single-player VR/AR educational chess game immerse in an engaging time travel story. Release 2H’2018
About Parkerhill Reality Labs
Parkerhill Reality Labs is an immersive media development company with expertise in Unity 3D VR and AR. Parkerhill has a history of creating high-quality games and non-gaming applications, authoring bestselling books for developers, and managing client VR and AR projects from design, prototype, development through release. Website