Week 12: Physical Game ICE
The goal of this assignment was to select an object or a few objects from the following list:
spandex
dried bean/s
plushy bat doll/s
yarn
cabbage/s
lab chair/s
padlock/s
magnifying glass/es
paper clip/s.
From that selection, we were tasked with designing a game, where most of the interaction was facilitated with chosen object(s). At first, I decided on yarn. I thought it could be interesting to get users to create intricate yarn structures and knots through some kind of prompt. Maybe this could have led somewhere, but I couldn't think of an engaging scenario. After running through those scenarios, I switched gears to paper clips.
Dino Days! (name pending change).. The name had to be changed even before reaching the end of the next paragraph. I looked up cavemen to make sure it was a politically correct word or something (I'm sticking with caveman, because troglodyte sounds too scientific for this game) and discovered that dinosaurs were extinct long before cavemen came into existence.
So now, you're a caveman, and you're defending your dwelling, which is a cave, from invading beasts. The game is an augmented reality application. Realistic-implementation-wise, I have considered using an iPad app with images of beasts and environmental features being placed on top of your desk or play surface. Ideally, the feeling would be more realistic. This could be facilitated with projected images to make the interaction feel more realistic. A device like Google Glass could also be useful. I would like to optimize this to display the images beneath moving objects. In my experience using augmented reality apps, added animations and images were always layered on top. This game would detect objects like hands and place those over the new images.
To defend your home, you must shape paperclips to appropriately deter the invaders. Taller structures are needed for taller animals, but a tall structure may not provide enough close-to-ground coverage for small animals. Tangled bush-like structures would deter animals with horns, as they can easily get tangled. You must anticipate the upcoming animals, so you may have to adjust your strategy once the invaders appear onto the playing field.
If an animal makes it through your defenses, your home will show physical damage, and you may lose some of your belongings.
By properly defending yourself, you will accumulate points (oddly shaped rocks). Once you accrue a certain number of rocks, you notice that they fit together. You can choose to assemble the rocks, maybe in hopes to create the ultimate defense system. By contrast, the assembled rocks destroy all of your defenses and cause a rain of asteroids. You will gradually learn that the constructed device is a beacon to outer space (maybe we've veered off of the "historically-accurate/proven" track). Somehow your past interactions have angered the extraterrestrial beings, but they can be helpful to you (maybe even play Katy Perry's ET song). The extraterrestrials will send a storm of asteroids and other objects (in real life, they are dried beans), which destroys the invading beasts within the playing field. This destroys your defenses as well, but they can be repaired.
As you play, the frequency and speed of the invaders increases. To accommodate, you are also allotted more paper clips to defend.
Maybe we'll add the yarn back in. In times of peace with the animals, you can take the chance to decorate your home and memorialize your battles through cave paintings. The yarn is your tool to visualize your battles and earn more points.
Class is almost over. I think the game is developed enough for now. Hope you enjoyed this idea #cavemanprobz