Pall Mall Game

A VR game recreating the traditional lawn game of Pall Mall was developed to provide users with an immersive experience. Originating in 17th-century England and similar to croquet and golf, the game is played on a grass court where players use wooden mallets to strike balls through wickets in a specific order. This VR version captures the essence of Pall Mall while integrating modern technology to enhance gameplay.

 

The project was initiated by setting up a Unity environment with the Oculus Integration package. The virtual court was designed to resemble a traditional Pall Mall field, taking inspiration from the game scene in the Netflix show *Bridgerton*, specifically Wortham Park, the location where the scene was shot. The controllers were mapped to simulate holding a mallet, providing haptic feedback when players swung the mallet and hit the ball. The physical sensation of gameplay was further enhanced by importing a 3D model of a golf club to serve as the mallet, and Unity’s physics engine was used to create realistic ball movement and interaction with obstacles.

 

The game incorporates a scoring system, tracking the number of strokes required to complete the course, allowing for replayability and competitive scoring. Throughout development, Unity’s Rigidbody component was utilized to ensure realistic ball behavior, with colliders placed on wickets and the final peg to detect ball interactions.

 

The project’s development was marked by several key milestones, from creating the initial game environment to testing gameplay in VR. A significant challenge was achieving accurate collision detection between the ball and the wickets, which required refinement and testing. Additionally, a file corruption setback delayed progress, but collaboration in a hands-on environment at the Hive improved workflow, leading to adjustments in the size and feel of the game objects.

 

Testing in VR provided invaluable feedback, allowing for improvements in gameplay mechanics, object sizing, and environmental design. The final product offers an intuitive and interactive experience that closely mirrors the traditional Pall Mall game while utilizing VR technology to make the gameplay experience engaging and tactile.