VRChat is a virtual reality social platform where users can create, share, and explore virtual reality spaces. The VRChat SDK allows for rapid development of fully interactive 3D environments that can be experienced with any VR headset (HTC Vive, Oculus Rift+, PlayStation®VR, and more).
The SDK allows for easy access to all of the tools available within the game including building environments, importing custom assets like models or animated characters, adding interactive game objects like teleportation triggers or loot crates, scripting complex gameplay events using blueprints (a node-based visual scripting language), and integrating voice chat.
The user “Owlchemy Labs”, a VR developer from Boston, MA, explains how to easily get started with the SDK. In their article they provide a link at the top of where users can download the SDK for free along with documentation and other resources on how to learn about building VRChat experiences.
What is Vrchat SDK?
The VRChat SDK (Software Development Kit) is a tool that allows developers to create and integrate fully-interactive 3D environments into the VRChat social platform. The SDK makes it easy to design and integrate interactive worlds, avatars, clothing, objects like masks or swords, and more.
How to Get Started with Vrchat SDK?
VRChat provides documentation, tutorials, and an active developer community for anyone wishing to learn more about the development of VRChat experiences. The SDK can be downloaded for free from their website at vrchat.net/developers .
Setting up your Development Environment
Once the SDK has been downloaded and uncompressed, you will see folders for each of their platforms (Windows, Linux, and Mac). There are also folders for documentation and tutorials.
Adding Your First Avatar To The Scene
Once you have opened the project in your preferred development environment, open the file “scene/vrchat_unity_template.unity”. If you are using a Windows computer, this should automatically load into the Unity Editor. Now press play to see your avatar animate!
Adding an Avatar Model
You can also add custom avatar models to the project. This requires importing an FBX file into Unity, which can be done by dragging and dropping an FBX file onto the Unity “Asset” window.
Making A New Camera For Your Scene
If you wish to make a new camera for your scene, look in the folder called “Prefabs” and locate the prefab named “UnityCameras”. This can be dragged onto your scene or into an existing empty Game Object. In the Inspector window change the parameters to suit what you need from a camera and press enter.
Adding Objects and Zones to Your Scene
This is done by creating a new empty Game Object in the scene. If you wish to add an object, you can do so through the Unity menu by going to GameObject > 3D Object > Cube or Sphere (depending on what you want). You can use the scale tool in the top toolbar to resize objects or change their position. Any new objects you wish to add will appear in the Hierarchy “Window” on the left side of the screen.
Basic Scripting With Javascript
You can add a script to any object or avatars you create by clicking “Add Component” in the Inspector window. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will be adding a script to our camera so that it follows our avatar around. To do this click on Add Component> Camera Control> Look at Target then choose your avatar in the Hierarchy window.
How to open vrchat sdk?
VRChat is a free virtual reality social platform where users can create, share, and explore virtual reality spaces. The full SDK for VRChat allows developers to fully immerse themselves in the virtual environment they are creating. Developers can learn about creating a 3D environment with Unity by following tutorial and documentation provided by the developers. For more information, visit them at vrchat.net/developers.