Chapter 2 : Visual Map

 

This is the Visual Map that is prepared to give a clearer view of my ideas to people.

5 Similar Things

I found 5 game installation projects that were in a way similar with the idea of my final project. I wanted to explore different methods to play games beyond the screen. One of the keyword that used to search these installations is called "Project Mapping". These are some of the artifacts that I find useful as references.

VISUATARI : An installation created for an event called Escaparte, a gathering of artists who specialize in art and technology that took place in Bogotá. The projection surface is just a simple white table with a Nintendo console positioned in the middle of it. Classic video games such as Super Mario, Pac Man, and Duck Hunt transform the surface into a 3D game world, creating the illusion that the games are literally spilling out of the game cartridge and into our physical world.

 
SPACER : An interactive installation project that combines both virtual and physical world together. This is done by combining a multiplayer space racing game with projection mapping to experiment something that is beyond your mouse, keyboard and screen. The projected platform space track does not just act as a visual canvas, but different depths and shapes of the surfaces that makes up the track interacts differently and manipulates the physics of the game play.

 
EELS : A projection mapping game where users are able to use their mobile smartphone as a controller connected via Internet to play with other users in the projection mapping surface.

 

REVENGE OF DOH : An interactive installation based on the classic brick-eliminating Breakout game. In this version, players compete against the computer on each level to see who can destroy the largest amount of bricks, bouncing a real ball against a projected screen to knock off the bricks.

 
OCTOCLOUD : A projection-mapped sculpture that up to 8 players can interact with through smart phones or tablets. Its physical angles influence the virtual layer as users fire digital slingshots: the shots ascend and descend, speed up and slow down according to the sculpture’s volume. Fully destroyed obstacles unleash an animated performance that takes over the piece and the players’ mobile devices.

4 Inspirations

These are the 4 inspirations that I find suitable for the direction that I am heading. 

2D (GAME) : I have always been inspired by games ever since I was a child. To create 2D games is interesting for me as it comes with great narratives and good sounds, it can even beat other 3D games. Such example would be Super Mario series or Odin Sphere.

Legends and Myths : I have been fascinated with legends and myths that appears throughout the world. Some are unique in their stories while there are those who have the same background stories but are known as different identities throughout the world.

Atlus (NARRATIVE) : The game company is known to produce good narratives and relates the story to the legends and mythical beings in their games such as the Persona series or the Shin Megami Tensei series.

Square Enix (SOUND) : This genre of music inspires me because I wanted my project to have the sense of exploration and also experimental. 

3 Heroes

These are the 3 heroes that inspired me to looked up to for my project:

B-Reel :  B-Reel's method of always trying to break the boundaries of the input and output methods for interactivity has attracted my attention.

Atlus :  A Japanese video game developer, publisher and distribution company subsidiary from SEGA. I have always been attracted to their methods of narrating their stories in their role-playing games and their way of manipulating the players in full immersion into their games.

Shigeru Miyamoto : Probably one of my biggest inspiration, his games, such as Super Mario or Zelda, has what been inspired me to push forward in pursuing my goal to create my own 2D game series.

2 Theories

2 theories that were relevant to my final project:

Positive Gaming by Jane Mcgonigal
McGonigal writes and speaks about alternate reality games and massively multiplayer online gaming, especially about the way that collective information can be generated and used as a means for improving the quality of human life or working towards the solution of social ills. This inspires me to create games that could help people in solving the said issue.

 
Transmedia Narrative by Marie-Laure, Ryan
The technique of telling a single story or story experience across multiple platforms and formats using current digital technologies, not to be confused with traditional cross-platform media franchises, sequels, or adaptations. I am interested in developing my final project something that can play as a normal game but also can interacts with the audience. This will also help me in expanding my parent's company in developing children's books throughout Malaysia through a different, refreshing concept.

1 Issue

The lack of knowledge on Project Mapping would be an important issue to tackle in order to be able to balance out between the game and the physical platform. I am also currently searching for Unity2D tutorials in developing my game as I plan to create the game from a bird's eye view.

I will further research of ways to tackle this issue in future blog posts. 

References

https://creators.vice.com/en_uk/article/3d-projection-mapping-with-your-favorite-nintendo-games

http://www.thejeremyproduction.com/spacer.html

http://ahieronymi.net/pdfs/ahieronymi_playtime.pdf

http://projection-mapping.org/469/ 

https://killscreen.com/articles/video-game-installation-combines-physical-and-digital-play/

http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/20/localizing-persona-an-interview-with-atluss-yu-namba/