Learn how to develop a VR cooking simulator in 8 simple steps.

Why only play a game when you can feel the game? That is exactly what VR helps you to achieve- a 3D experience of the game. With the advancements in technology, AR and VR have changed how we view entertainment, gain education, play games, and more. Cooking simulator games are one of the popular VR games that have created a buzz.

Wish to develop a cooking simulator but don’t know how? This blog will take you through the process of creating a cooking VR game.

What is VR?

Virtual Reality or VR refers to a simulated experience where a person can interact with an artificial environment using electronic devices.

With the help of computer hardware and software, VR is able to provide an immersive experience to the users. Users enter a 3D simulated environment where they can walk, move, use objects, etc. VR is gaining popularity because it brings imagination to life using technology.

GlobeNewswire expects the global VR market to reach USD 84.09 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 44.8% during the forecast period.

Virtual reality is the first step in a grand adventure into the landscape of the imagination.

Frank Biocca

How to build a VR cooking simulator: Step-by-step

Now that you know about VR, let’s discuss the steps to develop an exceptional VR cooking simulator.

1. Project planning team onboarding

To develop a VR simulator game, you first need to onboard a project planning team. The team would consist of the following people:

• A project manager (PM)
• A software architect
• Business analysts (BAs)

This team would be responsible for defining the project scope, collecting the business requirements, and documenting the same. Additionally, it will decide the development approach and technology stack.

In short, this team will plan the entire workflow and structure of the project.

2. Project requirements collection

The next step in cooking VR game development is collecting and documenting the project requirements.

Business analysts (BAs) need to research the market and gather valuable insights. They need to brainstorm and decide on the functional requirements like: 

• The game contents
• Game rules and functioning
• VR headsets/platforms to be used
• Game modes
• Additional features

In addition to the functional requirements, you must decide on the non-functional requirements. That would be the work of the software architect, who would also document the requirements in a technical feasibility document.

3. MVP features selection

Before launching the final VR game, you should create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for the game. An MVP has a few features of the final product; however, it is not a complete product. You must decide which features you wish to include in the MVP and the final product.

Launching an MVP would help you understand what the users want from the final product. Accordingly, you can improve and enhance your game by making the relevant changes.

An ideal way to go about developing a VR simulator game is to launch several iterations of the same. It is possible when you follow the agile methodology to execute the project.

4. VR development tool selection

The next step is to choose an appropriate VR development tool to build the simulator. Make sure to choose a platform that suits your requirements and offers a wide variety of features.

Some popular VR development tools are listed below:

• Unity
• Unreal Engine 4
• Oculus Medium
• 3ds Max
• Blender
• Maya, and many more.

Selecting the VR development tool is crucial, and you should carefully choose the tool. A good development tool speeds up your process, improves your product, and quickly helps you gain market feedback. Remember your graphic requirements, gameplay, audio features, etc., while choosing the development tool.

5. Tech stack selection

If you choose to develop web and mobile apps, you need to select the right technology stack. 

Below is the tech stack you need for the same.

• Cloud computing platform: A cloud computing platform would ease the development of web and mobile apps. AWS is a market leader in cloud computing. Thus, we recommend using the same.
• Front-end development: For front-end development, you can go ahead with either Angular or React. Both of these frameworks are popular.
• Back-end development: For back-end development, we recommend using Node.js. It helps to develop scalable web apps.
• Android development: We recommend using Java or Kotlin for native Android development.
• iOS development: You can use Swift for native iOS development.
• SQL database: If you need a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), you can go ahead with MySQL or PostgreSQL database.
• NoSQL database: If you wish to work with a NoSQL database, you can choose MongoDB or Apache Cassandra.

6. Hiring a development team

Once you are done with project planning and documentation, you must select a good development team. You need to be careful at this stage because an inefficient team might prove to be a disaster for your product. On the other hand, hiring an experienced team of developers guarantees success.

An ideal development team for simulator development consists of:

• VR developers
• UI/UX designers
• Web developers
• Mobile developers
• Testing engineers
• DevOps engineers

You must go ahead with a reputed development company with a track record of quality product delivery. Such companies have experienced and qualified experts to help in the development process.

Make sure you focus on the design aspect equally as the development aspect. UI/UX design is a crucial part of the development process and can change the entire look and feel of the game. 

Here is a brief description of what a UI/UX designer does.

7. Project management

After all the resources and requirements are gathered and the development starts, it’s time to manage the project. You must ensure that the project is managed effectively throughout development.

As discussed earlier, it is ideal to follow the agile methodology for project management as it provides greater flexibility and speed.

8. Launch and marketing

With a great team and effective project management, you would be able to develop an excellent cooking simulator in VR. Then all you have to do is launch the game and market it extensively. The game’s marketing ensures it catches the target audience’s attention and the number of users increases.

Best cooking simulator games in 2022

You can take inspiration to develop a cooking game from these cooking simulator games already existing in the market.

1. Lost Recipes

“Cooking food for ghosts.” Sounds weird? It’s not, at least in this game. In this game, you are a ghost chef in training. You are supposed to cook authentic dishes from Greek, Mayan, and Chinese cultures for ghosts from past and present civilizations. The game also rewards you for cooking the dish accurately.

Game developer	Schell Games
Release year	2022
Game mode	Single-player
Supported platforms	Oculus Quest and Quest 2
Price	USD 14.99

2. Cook-Out

Cook-Out takes you to a forest filled with hungry but friendly creatures in need of sandwiches. Your goal is to make sandwiches in levels with increasing difficulty and prevent the creatures from causing trouble in the restaurant. Although you can play this game alone, features like cooperative gameplay and multiplayer functionality add another layer of fun.

Game developer	Resolution Games
Release year	2020
Game mode	Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op
Supported platforms	Quest, Quest 2, Rift, Rift S
Price	USD 19.99

3. Counter Fight Ichiran

This game is a delight for ramen fans. Counter Fight Ichiran replicates the Ichiran ramen chain from Japan in cyberspace. In the game, you run your own store, fulfill orders by putting your ramen cooking skills to the test, and earn a high score. This game allows you to step into an Ichiran employee’s shoes and experience their routine.

Game developer	Tricol Co., Ltd.
Release year	2021
Game mode	Single-player
Supported platforms	Quest, Quest 2
Price	USD 14.99

4. Planet Pizza

Planet Pizza is an out-of-the-world game, quite literally. This game integrates the user’s love for pizza and the solar system. You need to move around the galaxy in a spaceship and create and deliver the pizza in record time to earn points. Unlike other VR cooking games, Planet Pizza stands out by adding a fun delivery aspect into the mix. The more the time you take to deliver the pizzas, the less the score would be.

Game developer	Refresh Studios
Release year	2018
Game mode	Single-player
Supported platforms	Rift, Rift S
Price	Free

5. Clash of Chefs VR

This game offers a competitive VR gameplay where you compete with live or pre-recorded opponents to see who can finish the order the fastest. The orders come in rapidly, and you need to utilize and display your culinary skills to the fullest to earn more points.

Game developer	Flat Hill Games
Release year	2018
Game mode	Single-player, Multiplayer
Supported platforms	Quest, Quest 2, Rift, Rift S
Price	USD 19.99

What are some other use cases of VR?

VR has many use cases. Some of them are:

• Gaming: VR games are already trendy in the market. With continuous improvements, such games have become more realistic and engaging.
• Entertainment: The entertainment industry can use VR to provide viewers with engaging and interactive visual content.
• Marketing: The marketing industry can use VR to create more appealing and impactful ads. The potential buyers can even try the products virtually before buying.
• Training: VR can be used to train employees in complex professions like healthcare or safety.
• Education: VR can also be used to explain concepts in a better way to the students in universities.

Wrapping up

Cooking simulator development is a tedious and complex process. It integrates several technologies like VR, cloud computing, and more. The market for VR is vast, with games occupying a significant share. Although it is an attractive opportunity to launch a cooking game, the process should be carefully planned and put into effect with a great team.

You can connect with experts at Idea Usher to understand the nitty-gritty of VR game development. Our developers are skilled in 2D and 3D game development, mobile gaming app integration, HTML mobile game development, Android and iOS game development, and more. With years of experience in this field, our experts are known to deliver the best.

Contact us and launch your own cooking simulator game now!

Frequently asked questions

Here are some interesting FAQs about cooking simulator development.

1. I want to make a cooking simulator in VR. Who should I hire?

To create a cooking simulator, you need the following:

• A project planning team
• A development team
• Right VR development tool
• Suitable technology stack

2. Can my cooking simulator game be multiplayer?

Cooking simulator can have different modes like single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay. You can configure your app according to what suits your target audience.

3. Is building a cooking simulator game in VR worth it?

The short answer to this question is ‘Yes’. Developing a VR cooking simulator game is worth the time and effort. VR games are increasingly becoming popular, and more and more people are getting attracted to these games. You can develop your own cooking game by adding USP and features that make the game stand out from the ones already existing in the market.