VR Foosball – Demo Proposal

[miogds]

Fast-paced multiplayer VR sports game blending classic foosball with arcade mechanics, gesture-based control, and over-the-top visual feedback.

Designed as a showcase demo for physics, hybrid input systems, and VR UX innovation.

🚀 High-Level Concept

VR Foosball reimagines traditional table football for VR — replacing rods with dynamic player rows controlled via joystick input or zone-based VR hand tracking. Instead of grabbing a rod, players manipulate rows virtually, shifting between offense and defense fluidly.

The game prioritizes spectacle and responsiveness — think Rocket League meets Foosball — with ball spin, power shots, neon trails, and explosive goal celebrations.

🕹️ Core Gameplay Rules

• Each side controls 4 rows of players: Goalkeeper, Defense, Midfield, Attack.
• Rows slide side-to-side on tracks and can tilt to shoot, generating power based on angle/duration.
• Score by hitting the opponent’s goal — first to the score limit or high score at time expiration wins.
• After each goal → Arena celebration, scoreboard update, center-ball reset with countdown.
• Always two rows controlled simultaneously, adding tactical depth (defense + attack at once).

🧠 Unique VR Control Design

🎮 Controller Mode (Gamepad or VR Controller in Stick Mode)

Input	Function
Left Stick (L/R)	Move left-assigned row laterally
Left Stick (Up/Down)	Tilt → Shot strength
Right Stick (L/R)	Move right-assigned row
Right Stick (Up/Down)	Tilt → Shot strength
R1 / L1 (Couch Mode)	Shift controlled zone up/down the field

Analog shots, not binary kicks — players can perform taps, passes, and curve shots.

✋ VR Hand Tracking Mode (Zone-Based Grip System)

Zone Position (Hand Location)	Controlled Rows
Left Zone	Goalkeeper + Defense
Middle Zone	Defense + Midfield
Right Zone	Midfield + Attack

• Grip + Push/Pull → Move rows forward/backward.
• Grip + Swipe → Trigger shot based on gesture intensity.
• No UI, no selection errors → hands naturally map to rows.

⚽ Field & UI Layout

• Arena: Neon-lit rectangular field with animated goals.
• 4 Rows per team, locked to rails for clear reading.
• Invisible zone partitions dynamically detect control intent.
• UI: Floating scoreboard, goal banners, and particle-rich feedback.

🎭 Feedback & Spectacle

Goal events trigger:

• Arena lighting sweep
• Explosive particle VFX: neon trails, confetti bursts, energy shockwaves
• Bass-heavy goal SFX + spatial crowd audio
• Controller vibration + haptic pulse
• Cinematic slow-motion replay (stretch goal)

🧩 Game Modes

Mode	Description
1v1 Classic	One player controls all four rows
2v2 Co-op	Split control: Attack/Defense per player, online or local VR

🔥 Showcase Feature Targets

• ✅ Hybrid input system: VR hand tracking + controller precision
• ✅ Zone-based interaction model (no menus or manual row selects)
• ✅ Physics-driven ball with spin, rebounds, curve shots
• ✅ Arcade-level celebration effects
• ✅ Modular multiplayer support (1v1, 2v2 offline/online)

🎮 Player Flow Example

Player drifts hands into Middle Zone → Rows shift to Midfield + Defense
Grip + push → Midfield advances
Swipe right → Strike with spin
Ball hits goal → VFX blast + GOAL! sign ignites above field
Scoreboard updates → Countdown for next kick-off

🎯 Inspirations & References

Game	Reference Element
Sports Bar VR (2016)	VR Foosball base concept
Eleven Table Tennis (2016)	Ball physics fidelity
Racket: Nx (2018)	Arcade-style visuals & feedback
Blaston (2020)	Quick duel format with high spectacle
Rocket League (2015)	Over-the-top goal celebration style

🧱 Development Scope (Demo Milestone)

• ✅ Core row movement & tilt mechanic (controller)
• ✅ Zone-detection prototype for VR hands
• ⏳ Base multiplayer sync for 1v1
• 🎨 Placeholder VFX for goals + neon UI
• 🎯 Vertical slice: Best-of-3 match loop with celebration

🏁 Goal of the Demo

Build a vertical slice demonstrating the uniqueness of the zone-based control system and the spectacle-driven foosball combat, positioned as an experimental VR sports title.