Shore Defender: A VR Edutainment Game Aiming to Raise Public Awareness on Ocean Conservation and Plastic Recycling

Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems, particularly from beach litter, is a significant threat to ocean conservation and sustainability. This paper presents Shore Defender, a collaborative virtual reality (VR) experience designed to increase public awareness about beach trashing, plastic pollution, and recycling. The game features two asymmetrical roles: one user collects and sorts trash on a virtual beach, while the other processes it in a disposing facility. To enhance the immersive experience, Shore Defender introduces an innovative interaction technique, XR ProMotion, which modifies the traditional scaled-world grab method for extended reaching and engaging gameplay. Through collaborative gameplay, users witness the environmental impact of proper waste management, with significant visual improvements in the virtual environment as they complete the game. By promoting teamwork and environmental stewardship in an engaging virtual setting, Shore Defender aims to inspire real-world action toward ocean conservation.