Designing the Next Generation of VR Sports Games
Role: Founder & Designer | Company: Cutting Edge Content Labs | Timeline: Ongoing | Team: Solo
Problem
Most VR sports games are limited in depth and replayability. They don’t fully utilize VR-native controls or deliver the kind of mastery-driven experience that sustains long-term engagement.
Impact
I am creating a vision for the next generation of VR sports, a game that combines accessible play with deep mastery and long-term engagement. Built and shipped on the Meta Horizon Worlds platform, Paddle Golf League demonstrates how VR-native design can deliver competitive experiences with the potential to grow into a community-driven sport.
Key Outcomes (to date)
Recognized gameplay concept — Paddle Golf featured on The Today Show and highlighted in Horizon Worlds
Systems for player expression — designed and implemented equipment, content pipeline, and shop UI
VR-native interaction design — prototyped toss-and-hit mechanics with scalable depth and mastery
Accelerated development — adopted AI-assisted workflows for scripting and iteration (Cursor, in-world tools)
Next milestone — preparing a closed alpha to test progression, retention, and competitive balance
Vision
Deliver the killer VR sports app by blending:
VR-native mechanics that feel natural
A deep mastery curve for skill expression
Engagement systems that retain players
Esport-level competition potential
Core Mechanic
Origin: toss-and-hit prototype that resonated with players (featured on The Today Show)
Depth: physics-driven variation (overhand, underhand, sidearm, trajectory, surface types, power)
Result: a mechanic that feels approachable but rewards mastery
Systems for Engagement
Seasonal leagues with stat tracking
Cosmetic economy with infinite expandability (paddle, ball, tee, marker)
Systems designed for both casual play and competitive commitment
Execution Approach
Solo founder/designer role: product vision, UX, systems, scripting
Built and shipped directly on the Meta Horizon Worlds platform
Used AI-assisted workflows (Cursor, in-world scripting) to speed iteration
Built, tested, and validated core gameplay loops
Next Milestones
Closed alpha testing for retention, progression, and balance
Content expansion to support live service play
Achieve Top 50 world ranking by play time on the Meta Horizon Worlds platform