Biome Profiles

The AquaticBiomeProfile is a ScriptableObject that stores all configuration for an ocean environment. It defines wave behavior, surface appearance, lighting, and atmospheric settings in a single reusable asset.

Overview

A biome profile contains:

• Wave Config - Wind speed, choppiness, wave pattern size, simulation timing
• Surface Material - The shader material for the ocean surface
• Solar Config - Sun intensity, color, and rotation
• Atmosphere Config - Fog color and density
• Skybox Material - The skybox shader material
• Wind Direction - Global wind yaw angle

By creating multiple profiles, you can define different ocean conditions (calm, stormy, tropical) and switch between them at runtime.

An AquaticBiomeProfile with all sections expanded

Creating a Profile

1. In the Project window, right-click in your desired folder
2. Select Create > Oceanic > Environment Profile
3. Name the asset descriptively (e.g., Profile_CalmSea, Profile_Storm)

// Profiles can also be created via code (editor only)
#if UNITY_EDITOR
var profile = ScriptableObject.CreateInstance<AquaticBiomeProfile>();
UnityEditor.AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(profile, "Assets/Profiles/MyProfile.asset");
#endif

Profile Sections

Wave Config

Controls the FFT wave simulation. See Wave Settings for detailed parameter descriptions.

Parameter	Range	Description
Wind Speed	0 - 64	Wave height and speed driver (m/s)
Wind Alignment	0 - 1	How strongly waves follow wind direction
Choppiness	0 - 1	Sharpness of wave peaks
Small Wave Suppression	0 - 1	Removes high-frequency detail
Wave Pattern Size	16 - 256	Tiling size in meters
Wave Inertia	0+	Gravity constant (default 9.81)
Simulation Loop Duration	1+	Seconds before animation loops
Time Scale	0 - 2	Simulation speed multiplier

Surface Material

The material assigned here is used by the ocean shader. This should be a material using the Custom/FFTOceanURP_VR shader or a compatible variant.

The profile reads certain properties from this material (such as smoothness) to inform the simulation. Ensure the material is properly configured before assigning it.

Solar Config

Controls the scene's directional light settings.

Parameter	Description
Intensity	Brightness of the sun (default 2.0)
Filter	Color tint applied to sunlight
Rotation	Euler angles for sun direction (X = elevation, Y = azimuth)

These values are applied to RenderSettings.sun when the profile is active.

Atmosphere Config

Controls Unity's fog settings.

Parameter	Description
Fog Color	The color of distance fog
Density	Exponential fog density (default 0.01)

Skybox Material

The skybox material to use with this profile. VROcean includes two skybox shaders:

• Custom/S_CloudySky_Day - Daytime sky with procedural clouds
• Custom/S_StarNightSky_Night - Night sky with stars and moon

Assign a material using one of these shaders, or use your own skybox.

Wind Direction

Parameter	Range	Description
Wind Yaw	0 - 360	Wind direction in degrees (0 = North, 90 = East, 180 = South, 270 = West)

This value is combined with Wind Speed from Wave Config to produce the final wind vector used by the simulation.

Assigning a Profile

Profiles are assigned to the SceneSystem component:

1. Select the GameObject containing SceneSystem
2. Drag your profile asset into the Target Profile field

Switching Profiles at Runtime

Use SceneSystem.Instance.SetProfile() to change the active profile during gameplay:

using UnityEngine;
using PlatypusIdeas.VROcean.Runtime.Scripts.Scene;

public class WeatherController : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] private AquaticBiomeProfile calmProfile;
    [SerializeField] private AquaticBiomeProfile stormProfile;

    public void SetCalm()
    {
        SceneSystem.Instance.SetProfile(calmProfile);
    }

    public void SetStormy()
    {
        SceneSystem.Instance.SetProfile(stormProfile);
    }
}

Profile changes take effect immediately. The wave spectrum regenerates when wind parameters differ from the previous profile.

Smooth Transitions

Profile switching is instant. For gradual weather transitions, you have two options:

Option 1: Intermediate Profiles

Create several profiles representing transition states and switch through them over time.

public class WeatherTransition : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] private AquaticBiomeProfile[] transitionStages;
    [SerializeField] private float stageDuration = 2f;

    public void StartTransition()
    {
        StartCoroutine(TransitionRoutine());
    }

    private IEnumerator TransitionRoutine()
    {
        foreach (var stage in transitionStages)
        {
            SceneSystem.Instance.SetProfile(stage);
            yield return new WaitForSeconds(stageDuration);
        }
    }
}

Option 2: Runtime Property Modification

Modify profile values directly at runtime. Note that this changes the asset permanently in the editor.

// Caution: Modifies the ScriptableObject asset
profile.WaveConfig.WindSpeed = Mathf.Lerp(currentSpeed, targetSpeed, t);

For non-destructive runtime changes, create a runtime copy:

// Create a runtime instance that won't affect the original asset
var runtimeProfile = Instantiate(originalProfile);
SceneSystem.Instance.SetProfile(runtimeProfile);

// Now safe to modify
runtimeProfile.WaveConfig.WindSpeed = newValue;

Profile Versioning

Profiles include an internal Version property that increments whenever values change in the inspector. The OceanSimulator monitors this version to detect when the wave spectrum needs regeneration.

// Check if profile has been modified
int currentVersion = profile.Version;

// After modifications, version increments automatically via OnValidate

You do not need to manage this manually. It exists to optimize performance by avoiding unnecessary spectrum recalculation.

Included Example Profiles

VROcean includes several pre-configured profiles in Assets/PlatypusIdeas/VROcean/Runtime/Profiles/:

Profile	Description
Profile_CalmSea	Light winds, gentle waves, clear sky
Profile_Moderate	Medium conditions, balanced settings
Profile_Stormy	High winds, choppy waves, overcast
Profile_Tropical	Warm colors, moderate waves, bright sun

Use these as starting points or references for your own profiles.

Best Practices

One Profile Per Weather State

Create distinct profiles for each weather condition rather than modifying values at runtime. This keeps settings organized and allows easy tweaking in the inspector.

Match Skybox to Ocean

Ensure your skybox colors complement the ocean material settings. A stormy ocean looks wrong under a bright sunny sky.

Test in VR

Profile settings that look good on a monitor may feel different in VR. High choppiness and fast time scales can cause discomfort. Always test with a headset.

Use Descriptive Names

Name profiles clearly: Profile_Location_Weather (e.g., Profile_Caribbean_Calm, Profile_Arctic_Storm).

Troubleshooting

Profile Changes Have No Effect

• Verify the profile is assigned to SceneSystem.Target Profile
• Ensure you are in Play Mode (some settings only apply during play)
• Check that OceanSimulator and SurfaceLodRenderer references are assigned

Wave Spectrum Does Not Update

• The spectrum regenerates when wind speed, direction, or certain wave parameters change
• Minor changes to visual-only properties (colors, smoothness) do not trigger regeneration
• Force regeneration by toggling Play Mode off and on

Materials Appear Broken After Profile Switch

• Ensure the Surface Material field is assigned in the new profile
• Verify the material uses a compatible shader

Next Steps

• Wave Settings - Detailed breakdown of WaveConfig parameters
• Visual Tuning - Configure material and shader properties
• Skybox Setup - Configure day and night skyboxes