HIGH FIVE!!
Alt.Ctrl Game
Cooperative games naturally create interactions between humans and invite them to a special experience. In HIGH FIVE, players work together to control cute, bug-like characters using warm controllers (mittens), designed to foster a warm exchange of emotions and a childlike sense of accomplishment. To score, players must combine their efforts and coordinate their actions. This game may seem simple, but with the alternative controllers, the gameplay—which requires you to synchronize with your gamemate—becomes a bit more challenging and much more fun.
Strategies
- Cooperative game
: Make the game challenging. To be fun, the game needs to stimulate and challenge its players.
- Intuitive input action
1) It links action with visuals output to make players feel integrated into the game.
2) The high-five action creates behavioral and emotional connections.
3) Simple and intuitive ways of playing offset the difficulty of the cooperation aspect.
- : Mittens matche the concept of the game. They are made of conductive materials that create an electric connection when players make a phsical connect by high-five action.Alternative Controllers
- What expect they experience is,
: The simple and intuitive movements make players feel joyful while they are gaining points at the same time. This game requires that players should not only know how to move together, but also should know how to wait together to get scores and survive. It’s a simple game, but the players need to breathe as one.
How to Play
Two players control a single game character (a bug-like, adorable one) using physical mittens, which impose limitations on their movements. One player can only move the character to the left by clapping their thumb and fingers together while wearing the right mitten, similar to the action of Pac-Man. The other player can move the character to the right using the left mitten. They need to high-five, making the character jump and reach the floating eyes to earn points, while avoiding falling blocks (obstacles). This game requires players to cooperate, stay in sync, and focus on working together to be the one.
Technical details
- Interface materials
Conductive fabric, conductive thread, and nylon fabric tape were used as buttons and connections for gloves, the input interface.
- Interaction tools
Teensy Board, Arduino, Unity
Showcase at Wonderville
There was an opportunity to open this game to the public. It was a fulfilling experience, and I was able to take pleasure in people's reactions, which were more enjoyable than I had expected.
The woven conductive fabric and thread worked amazingly well as a controller at first. However, while many people actively and cheerfully enjoyed the game, malfunctions occurred due to interrupted circuits. Whether it was caused by electron particles flying into the air from the fabric or the limitations of electrical flow in the circular design, sometimes the character didn't react to the players' actions. Using a magnetic sensor for the high-five connection could be a potential solution for next time. I received positive and constructive comments from both the public and professionals who enjoyed the game. Based on the valuable feedback, there are still many possibilities I can explore.
︎ Role
Game Designer & Storyteller, Graphic design & Unity development, Fabrication.
︎ Tools & Methods
Unity, Arduino, Conductive materials, Alternative Controller Game.
︎ Exhibition
JUN 2023 - Alt.Ctrl Game Showcase, Wonderville, Brooklyn, New York, USA
︎ Credits
Mashiyat Zaman
︎ Thanks to
Nima Niazi
︎ Advisor
Mark Kleback
Game Designer & Storyteller, Graphic design & Unity development, Fabrication.
︎ Tools & Methods
Unity, Arduino, Conductive materials, Alternative Controller Game.
︎ Exhibition
JUN 2023 - Alt.Ctrl Game Showcase, Wonderville, Brooklyn, New York, USA
︎ Credits
Mashiyat Zaman
︎ Thanks to
Nima Niazi
︎ Advisor
Mark Kleback