I stumbled upon this in one of my news feeds and felt the need to share it. IGDA Seattle posted about it. I think it's a very good idea and hope to see some good stuff come from it. The basic idea is that an indie team can apply by submitting a demo version of the game they want to create. If approved, HouseOgames will provide living expenses in shared housing for 1 year while your team develops the game. You'll have access to industry professionals and resources while they help you start your company. Sounds pretty awesome to me!
http://houseogames.com/
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
What's in the bag?
Unfortunately, I disassembled my project before writing this post so no pictures.
I had a bag of hair that I wanted to use (it's mine) and I was suggested to work on creating an atmosphere that lead up to a viewer unveiling the hair.
I typed up a bunch of letters with increasingly creepy messages to a person named Kate. At first the letters seemed to greet Kate like a concerned friend. "Hello Kate... Are you unwell?... You should take better care of yourself." The dates written on the envelopes indicated the time period that Kate was receiving the letters. The way the letters were pre-opened conveyed what Kate was feeling at the time. From tearing the envelope along the top to ripping the letters apart. Finally, the viewer reaches the hair carefully wrapped in a scarf. An unsent letter at the bottom of the bag ends the experience with "I'm sorry."
Though I intended there to be some logic and narrative to the story in the way I presented this piece, part of the experience is trying to decipher what exactly went on. A lot of the story is hinted at. But the ambiguity of whether Kate lives or dies or is kidnapped is left to the viewer.
-Zixing Guo
I had a bag of hair that I wanted to use (it's mine) and I was suggested to work on creating an atmosphere that lead up to a viewer unveiling the hair.
I typed up a bunch of letters with increasingly creepy messages to a person named Kate. At first the letters seemed to greet Kate like a concerned friend. "Hello Kate... Are you unwell?... You should take better care of yourself." The dates written on the envelopes indicated the time period that Kate was receiving the letters. The way the letters were pre-opened conveyed what Kate was feeling at the time. From tearing the envelope along the top to ripping the letters apart. Finally, the viewer reaches the hair carefully wrapped in a scarf. An unsent letter at the bottom of the bag ends the experience with "I'm sorry."
Though I intended there to be some logic and narrative to the story in the way I presented this piece, part of the experience is trying to decipher what exactly went on. A lot of the story is hinted at. But the ambiguity of whether Kate lives or dies or is kidnapped is left to the viewer.
-Zixing Guo
Chess Puzzle
Chess Puzzle is an inventive name for an interesting and well designed puzzle box.
Or at least maybe one of those things. I'd settle for amusing. Anyways here is how it works!
Or at least maybe one of those things. I'd settle for amusing. Anyways here is how it works!
You take a chess board, and a glue a configuration of chess pieces where a chosen side can make a checkmate in one move! I have chosen black. The movie can vary in difficulty, though chess skills vary so wildly between audience that child's play to one person could take another minutes to figure out.
The Black King fell off and is currently MIA, his position doesn't really matter but he is supposed to be on the glue stain in the lower left hand corner.
As you can see there are also tiny numbers on every square. Or maybe you can only see that there are green smudges on the square, in which case I will let you know that they are numbers. Each number is three digits long and has no apparent use, the only hint is that attached to the chessboard is a box with a combination lock keeping it shut.
Each set of three numbers is half of the combination. In this case the numbers are 340:
And 034
The squares these numbers are placed are indicate the piece to be moved, and the square to be moved to in order to produce the desired checkmate. So the Black Knight, takes the White Queen, and the resulting number is 340034.
This in itself is not immediately translatable into a combination, as one could suspect it to mean 3-4-34, or just use the first half for 3-4-0, or the second half for 0-3-4. In truth they must be separated into 34-00-34 and then input into the lock to turn this:
This in itself is not immediately translatable into a combination, as one could suspect it to mean 3-4-34, or just use the first half for 3-4-0, or the second half for 0-3-4. In truth they must be separated into 34-00-34 and then input into the lock to turn this:
Into a satisfying click.
The next step is to open the box to reveal:
Another box!! Always good for a laugh, this box within a box merely served as a visual shield in case the first box got open enough to see inside of it despite the locks best efforts. The small blue box can be easily removed and opened....
To reveal the prize!
A slightly fancier set of the two key pieces of the puzzle, a Black Knight and a White Queen.
The prize could have been anything, in this case just a physical reminder of a hopefully fun little puzzle.
This short, relatively simple puzzle is short and attainable, it involves a satisfying feeling when the lock unlocks and can be reset easily to amuse any number of people.
Mystery Box
On Wednesday I presented my project which consisted of having a volunteer place their hand into a closed box in attempt to find an object while there are other haphazard objects conspicuously placed inside the box (Mostly Swedish Fish). The goal of this project was to invoke a form of shock value with the participants, each segment of the box contained various materials to simulate a different feel, sand, grass, etc. As far as the project itself went, I somewhat surprised that it turned out as hilarious as it did. Some points were made about ways that I could have improved my project, many of them valid, one of the biggest suggestions was to have used a different design for the box to give it a more ominous look to it increasing the suspense, and to have given a greater impression that whatever was inside may have been possibly living. In fact I could have possibly put something living albeit harmless inside. Also, it would probably have been a good idea to have utilized a form of sound somehow to further give the impression that something living could of been in there. Overall I still felt the experiment went very well and am eager to see the rest of the presentations on Monday.
Test Results
So the run of my experiential object turned out better than I expected. I knew I wanted to employ a box. I originally wanted to tell a story somehow using a mystery box. I then decided that I wanted to be a little more mischievous but still provide a reward at the end for the player. I wanted to have a little fun, not be mean. The problem I did run into was of how to connect Point A to Point C. Thanks to my wonderful husband, who has experience with game mechanics, I decided upon using puzzle pieces to create an image that would determine the outcome of the experience.
I provided an unmarked, ordinary box. I shook it and caused a rattling sound to get the player(s) to believe that there was something inside for them. When they open it there is in actuality nothing inside except for a secret compartment in the lid that holds an object to create the rattling sound. Attached to the underside of the lid (even though it actually fell off) was the first piece of a puzzle with a clue attached that prompted a search for additional pieces. I sent the player(s) off to six other locations to find the rest of the pieces. The last piece sent the player(s) back to the starting point in order to piece together what would be a map of the room with the location of the prize. Skittles were had by all.
Since the entire class was involved, it turned into a collaboration to figure out what each clue meant. I set each clue up utilizing each floor of the art building and distinct landmarks. Doing this allowed different people to provide their own insight and experiences to the search, since not everyone might have known about most of the those locations.
I do regret that I lowered the difficulty level and pushed the search along. If there had been more class time left and if I hadn't had to hurry to a midterm, I would have let things progress as I had intended. But I do feel that there was some enjoyment derived from it.
Another lesson I learned is to listen to the instructor when he says not to start from scratch. I chose to build my own box because it was a chance for me to be crafty and build something with my own hands, something I enjoy. However, it expended a lot of my energy and occupied a lot of my time: something that I had to split between three classes that week.
I provided an unmarked, ordinary box. I shook it and caused a rattling sound to get the player(s) to believe that there was something inside for them. When they open it there is in actuality nothing inside except for a secret compartment in the lid that holds an object to create the rattling sound. Attached to the underside of the lid (even though it actually fell off) was the first piece of a puzzle with a clue attached that prompted a search for additional pieces. I sent the player(s) off to six other locations to find the rest of the pieces. The last piece sent the player(s) back to the starting point in order to piece together what would be a map of the room with the location of the prize. Skittles were had by all.
Since the entire class was involved, it turned into a collaboration to figure out what each clue meant. I set each clue up utilizing each floor of the art building and distinct landmarks. Doing this allowed different people to provide their own insight and experiences to the search, since not everyone might have known about most of the those locations.
I do regret that I lowered the difficulty level and pushed the search along. If there had been more class time left and if I hadn't had to hurry to a midterm, I would have let things progress as I had intended. But I do feel that there was some enjoyment derived from it.
Another lesson I learned is to listen to the instructor when he says not to start from scratch. I chose to build my own box because it was a chance for me to be crafty and build something with my own hands, something I enjoy. However, it expended a lot of my energy and occupied a lot of my time: something that I had to split between three classes that week.
 |
| Box and lid with secret compartment |
 |
| Painting |
 |
| The trick |
 |
| One of 6 locations |
 |
| One of 6 locations |
Update! Fortune Cookies Project Results
I made the fortune cookies this weekend. Hopefully you're all ready for this awesome surprise!
Once I do the experiment I'll update this post with my findings.
Update:
The game project was pretty successful on Monday, the 29th. As expected I came to class with the fortune cookies and everyone began to open them up. It was my first fluxus type of event! Trying to wake everyone up to the greatness of everyday life, aww yeah!
Success:
-Everyone understood what to do.
-Everyone said they were delicious
-The complete composition was actually kind of fun sounding.
Critiques:
-It took a little longer than expected for everyone to figure out what to do. I had hoped that upon opening the cookie, everyone would immediately begin to play their part. It took a little motivation from another student singing and me drumming on a chair to get everyone to finally play.
-Some participated more than others, so the musical piece wasn't as loud as I had hoped it would be.
Future Changes:
-In the future I think it would be fun to take this idea further, like providing a table full of objects to play with or getting a larger group, maybe even with musicians.
-It would be a pretty fun party game to try out with my friends, who would probably be a little less shy.
-Something besides music could also replace the fortunes inside and be made into a different kind of game, like a cookie truth or dare or something.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Se você pode ler esta, não abri-lo!
A big blue box with non-English writing atop it. (English translation: If you can read this, do not open it!)
This box opens to reveal three smaller boxes labeled 1-3.
One contains three small bottles labeled 1-3.
Two contains one medium sized bottle.
Three is locked with a combination lock.
This box opens to reveal three smaller boxes labeled 1-3.
One contains three small bottles labeled 1-3.
Two contains one medium sized bottle.
Three is locked with a combination lock.
The three small bottles contain a piece of paper with non-English words on them and dots. (English translation: 21, 3, 25).
The medium-sized bottle contains a picture and more writing. (English translation: This is how the box opens up).
By using the three numbers from the small bottles, the combination for box #3 is 21, 3, 25. This opens to a small wooden box.
The small wooden box has writing on it (Natal, RN - Natal, Rio Grande do Norte (a city, state in Brazil)). Inside can be seen part of a QR code, but the code cannot be scanned with the small portion that can be viewed.
When using the diagram from the middle-sized bottle, and holding two diagonal corners of the right-hand side of the box, the inside of the box slides out...
revealing the full QR code!
And when that QR code is scanned it takes you to the Brazilian-Portuguese portion of livemocha.com, a free online language-learning site.
When the box was opened in class I did not expect it to be so difficult to decipher. I had truly forgotten about the internet, so the language itself was quickly discovered, and a collaboration of knowledge about italian, spanish, etc. helped my peers to understand the letters for the combo. To be honest, when I had first received the small wooden box, I could not open it by myself; I had to be shown how. Even though I had labeled the boxes in what order they should be opened, it didn't make a difference that both 1 and 2 were being looked at simultaneously, which only provided more of a group effort to solve the box. I was pretty excited about my box, so I was glad that the class seemed to enjoy it as well, (considering it is basically an interactive advertisement for livemocha.com).
If I could do it again, (or make a "real" version, seeing as this is just a prototype more or less), I would have a nicer blue box. In fact, the box would be green! I was trying to imitate the Brazilian flag's colors. So the large box would be green, small boxes 1 and 2 would be yellow (as they are, but not lego-boxes), and box 3 would be blue. I really wanted to catch all of the senses that I could, so inside the small bottles is bath salts that smell good, and I had tried to soak the blue box in a "Carnaval" scented air freshener, but that didn't really work as well as the salts. I would have liked to have when the box opens, that Brazilian songs being to play softly, just to entice the opener and help them better hear the language and connect it to the written words. My goal was to inspire people to learn Brazilian-Portuguese by providing a fun way to introduce the language, giving them the means of learning it (from the website), and have them take it from there. I'm very happy with my project, and that's saying a lot because I usually don't like what I create for class assignments.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Treasure Hunt
This game is designed to stir curiosity in one individual and keep him or her moving around campus, searching for the next reward. There are a total of four dollars scattered around different spots, and a different method is used to find each one. The money makes for a good incentive in this case because the subject is more likely to go out of his or her way to solve each clue, not daring to stop until it's over, simply because there are no clues given about when it will end. Knowing that he or she is the only one participating means that quitting at any point will result in never knowing just how many unclaimed dollars might have been behind.
The first clue is in the form of vague sidewalk diagrams (3 total around popular walkways to school) that resemble the stone benches at Red Square. There is a specific point on one of the benches where a red "X" has been marked. The first person that thinks to reach under the bench represented in the chalk drawing will find a small envelope with a dollar inside, along with a small photo of Suzzallo Library with a sequence of numbers written on the other side. The participant will realize that these are call numbers to a book inside the library, and upon finding the book, there will be another dollar inside, folded between the specified page numbers with a new slip of paper. Written on this paper is a URL address for an audio file. This short sound clip turns out to be a reversed voice sample that gives a clue to the next reward. The participant must go out of his/her way to reverse the sample and go on to find the next dollar. Included with this one is a message written in morse code, revealing the location of the final dollar, which is close by. To add to the mystery of a game of which the origin or purpose is never explained, it might be fun (albeit a little cruel) to add yet another clue that is completely non-sensical, which will drive the player crazy with the sinking feeling that there is still hidden treasure around campus that nobody else knows of.
Update: Someone discovered the first clue, and I know that the second clue was also found because I recieved an email telling me that 'someone' had downloaded the audio file. I thought ahead with the last clue and left a time and date for whoever it is to return, giving me time to think about what I will do for the next clue. I've decided to keep this game going for as long as I can, because it is exciting to anticipate the other player's progress every time I open my email. It's interesting to imagine an ongoing game between two people whose identities remain a mystery to each other.
The first clue is in the form of vague sidewalk diagrams (3 total around popular walkways to school) that resemble the stone benches at Red Square. There is a specific point on one of the benches where a red "X" has been marked. The first person that thinks to reach under the bench represented in the chalk drawing will find a small envelope with a dollar inside, along with a small photo of Suzzallo Library with a sequence of numbers written on the other side. The participant will realize that these are call numbers to a book inside the library, and upon finding the book, there will be another dollar inside, folded between the specified page numbers with a new slip of paper. Written on this paper is a URL address for an audio file. This short sound clip turns out to be a reversed voice sample that gives a clue to the next reward. The participant must go out of his/her way to reverse the sample and go on to find the next dollar. Included with this one is a message written in morse code, revealing the location of the final dollar, which is close by. To add to the mystery of a game of which the origin or purpose is never explained, it might be fun (albeit a little cruel) to add yet another clue that is completely non-sensical, which will drive the player crazy with the sinking feeling that there is still hidden treasure around campus that nobody else knows of.
Update: Someone discovered the first clue, and I know that the second clue was also found because I recieved an email telling me that 'someone' had downloaded the audio file. I thought ahead with the last clue and left a time and date for whoever it is to return, giving me time to think about what I will do for the next clue. I've decided to keep this game going for as long as I can, because it is exciting to anticipate the other player's progress every time I open my email. It's interesting to imagine an ongoing game between two people whose identities remain a mystery to each other.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Creating an Experience in a Card
For this project, I decided I want to make something that will be helpful to me. I'm redesigning my business cards to be interactive and memorable. Because a card itself is very boring no matter how visually interesting you make it, I want to improve the idea of a business card and make one that people can interact with. The problem I've come across while trying to design this is: how do I design it to reflect myself in an interesting way. I've been looking into all kinds of design options. So far I like the idea of having a QR code, or something similar, that can be scanned from the card. In that way, if someone loses the card, they still have my information, plus they don't have to manually enter any information. All they need to do is use their phone. Microsoft has a different version of a qr code, called a tag, that can be used for free and seems to have quite a few options. It is also more flexible and interesting looking than the traditional black and white of a qr code. The other part I want to include in the design is some fold out. I like the idea of it starting at the standard card size, but being able to fold out and expand in some way. Still working on it though.
UPDATE: So here is how they turned out. Still prototypes, but they worked out better than I expected. I think the final printing would be on cardstock and probably cut out with a die-cut. I know they would have to be made differently than traditional cards. The cards fold into the standard size, fold out to reveal a piece of my artwork, or fold into a cube that can be used to store other small promos, if I choose to 3D print some small examples of my work.
UPDATE: So here is how they turned out. Still prototypes, but they worked out better than I expected. I think the final printing would be on cardstock and probably cut out with a die-cut. I know they would have to be made differently than traditional cards. The cards fold into the standard size, fold out to reveal a piece of my artwork, or fold into a cube that can be used to store other small promos, if I choose to 3D print some small examples of my work.
A Series of Ciphers
My original idea is scrapped, one sided conversation box is a stupid box. A BETTER box is a series of Ciphers that must be decrypted in order to progress to each stage.
This box will be closed with no way to open,
The first panel is entirely legible story concerning the The Black Knight on his way to the King Behind the White Castle to ask for his daughters hand in marriage. The story describes vaguely three quests, each quest is written in a cipher in order around the outside perimeter of the box. On either side in big block letters are the words YES and NO and at the end of initially legible story it is a cliffhanger as to her answer.
The first quest is to track a dragon who attacks only every other town, the [REDACTED] hint within the vague overview that lets the participant know that only [REDACTED] is part of the first story. Within the dragon hunting story is another clue as to how to decipher the second story. The clue is how the dragon talks, only responding using [REDACTED].
The second quest a word jumble, it is entirely made out of words from the [REDACTED] and is represented by a [REDACTED]. So the numerical representation for the word “numerical” would be [REDACTED].
The second quest describes the hunting of werewolves that are attacking villagers and stealing their sheep, inside the story are many references to [REDACTED]. This is the hint that to decipher the third challenge you must progress [REDACTED], or just [REDACTED] to any number in the cipher.
The third challenge, once deciphered is a [REDACTED] between the princess and the knight. The stakes are her hand in marriage, if he can win then they shall wed, if he loses he must leave. It goes on to describe the [REDACTED] and the princess declaring that he must [REDACTED] her in the next move or the answer is no.
This box will be closed with no way to open,
The first panel is entirely legible story concerning the The Black Knight on his way to the King Behind the White Castle to ask for his daughters hand in marriage. The story describes vaguely three quests, each quest is written in a cipher in order around the outside perimeter of the box. On either side in big block letters are the words YES and NO and at the end of initially legible story it is a cliffhanger as to her answer.
The first quest is to track a dragon who attacks only every other town, the [REDACTED] hint within the vague overview that lets the participant know that only [REDACTED] is part of the first story. Within the dragon hunting story is another clue as to how to decipher the second story. The clue is how the dragon talks, only responding using [REDACTED].
The second quest a word jumble, it is entirely made out of words from the [REDACTED] and is represented by a [REDACTED]. So the numerical representation for the word “numerical” would be [REDACTED].
The second quest describes the hunting of werewolves that are attacking villagers and stealing their sheep, inside the story are many references to [REDACTED]. This is the hint that to decipher the third challenge you must progress [REDACTED], or just [REDACTED] to any number in the cipher.
The third challenge, once deciphered is a [REDACTED] between the princess and the knight. The stakes are her hand in marriage, if he can win then they shall wed, if he loses he must leave. It goes on to describe the [REDACTED] and the princess declaring that he must [REDACTED] her in the next move or the answer is no.
Sorry so much had to be redacted or all the ciphers would be just given away! Anyways, within the initially legible portion is the question of weather or not the Princess will agree to marry the Knight or not, and the prize of knowing the answer to that question is hidden behind the three ciphers.
The answer is also printed clearly on the outside, but because the wrong answer is also printed it is almost more tantalizing to know that the prize is already in your hands, you just don't have the knowledge to know which is false and which is true.
Each layer holds hints to the next layer, and in the true spirit of the most curious objects the secrets of my multi-cipher layer may never be unlocked....
Or immediately unlocked, I have no idea how clever I actually I am I just know that this would take awhile for me to unravel if I wasn't the one raveling it in the first place.
The box may be intricately decorated as well depending on how much room the completed text leaves me for decorum.
The box may be intricately decorated as well depending on how much room the completed text leaves me for decorum.
A journey of some sort.
Of course, this object isn't really an object but more of the experience itself. Eyecatching posters scattered at various locations present the "player" with scannable codes that link to cryptic messages, garbled sounds, or scrambled images, which require the player to decode or investigate them in order to receive a clue which leads to the next poster. The challenge here is making the poster enticing enough to scan and getting the player invested enough to keep playing. For this reason, the clues would be just obvious enough to be familiar to anyone who has a decent knowledge of the seattle area, yet cryptic enough to warrant being intriguing to the player. As the players move from clue to clue, they receive incomplete datamatrix codes. As soon as they have every code, they can be combined to form a complete code, which leads to a congratulatory message of some sort. Obviously this is very much an embodiment of "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." This project is likely not going to be 100% complete, because I'm limited by my technical skills, but I think with enough effort it could be brought into a pretty fleshed-out proof of concept.
Tea bag note
It starts with a cup of hot water, a plate with a doily, and a tea bag with a white scrap of paper in it.
You put the tea bag in the cup to make your tea, then when you put the tea bag on the plate, you see a symbol on the paper in the teabag. (I took the paper out of the teabag at this point :I )
Then you open the note.
It's a bunch of weird symbols.
Then you notice the tea bag sitting on the doily, and see symbols on the doily.
The symbols on the scrap piece of paper in the tea bag are "translated".
So the note said "SAMPLE".
I'm Making a Box...
And you will all experience this box. I am so ready to build this box. It's going to be an awesome box. So far I am looking forward to phase one of this project. I like fabricating things. I know how I want to initiate this journey and I know how I want it to end. I want to trick the person who comes in contact with this box. There is something fun and satisfying about playing a trick on someone. Phase two is not coming so easily.
At first, I wanted the trick to happen, but then have the payoff follow soon after: a "Haha! That was cute, but sorry about tricking you. Here you go." Obviously, it can't be that easy. I then decided to send that person to another location to retrieve their prize, but that's a little too easy, too. I decided on a treasure hunt via a scavenger hunt. The thought that bugs me about this is that it seems like other people are doing it, too.
I still have much planning to do. I'll have to keep my eyes open so that the hunt can be unique and hopefully interesting. But in the meantime, this is the progress:
Step1: Initiate game
Step2: ???
Step3: Profit
At first, I wanted the trick to happen, but then have the payoff follow soon after: a "Haha! That was cute, but sorry about tricking you. Here you go." Obviously, it can't be that easy. I then decided to send that person to another location to retrieve their prize, but that's a little too easy, too. I decided on a treasure hunt via a scavenger hunt. The thought that bugs me about this is that it seems like other people are doing it, too.
I still have much planning to do. I'll have to keep my eyes open so that the hunt can be unique and hopefully interesting. But in the meantime, this is the progress:
Step1: Initiate game
Step2: ???
Step3: Profit
Project 2 Outline: What's in the Box?
(Warning Spoilers)
For this assignment my plan is to try and fool an individuals senses by hiding objects in a box using a variety of objects that share similar physical qualities to an animal, I intend to then place the object inside a shoe box or other unspecified container with holes cut either on top or on the sides. You then would have a volunteer poke their hand inside in attempt to decipher whats inside, but in a object where there's no telling what's in there, your imagination could definitely get the better of you. In all likelihood the object may be totally harmless, but our minds and senses could convince you otherwise. I will attempt to create this object and gather materials of my choosing to simulate the aforementioned experiment. It might be more effective to find a tool that can utilize sounds to make it seem more authentic as well. Hopefully this project might achieve the results in creating an interactive and nerve racking experience.
For this assignment my plan is to try and fool an individuals senses by hiding objects in a box using a variety of objects that share similar physical qualities to an animal, I intend to then place the object inside a shoe box or other unspecified container with holes cut either on top or on the sides. You then would have a volunteer poke their hand inside in attempt to decipher whats inside, but in a object where there's no telling what's in there, your imagination could definitely get the better of you. In all likelihood the object may be totally harmless, but our minds and senses could convince you otherwise. I will attempt to create this object and gather materials of my choosing to simulate the aforementioned experiment. It might be more effective to find a tool that can utilize sounds to make it seem more authentic as well. Hopefully this project might achieve the results in creating an interactive and nerve racking experience.
Project 2: Environmental Experience Search
Our world is full of many unique and interesting places and sites. I feel as though most people in this world take our surroundings for granted and don't give them the respect or recognition that they deserve. In order to encourage persons throughout the world I have created the game Environmental Experience Search.
The basic principle of my game is that you are given a photograph that has been altered in some way. Using just the photograph and your knowledge you must find the physical location that the picture displays. Once at the actual location you must compare the photograph to the site and determine how the photograph has been changed. Below is an example of how the game will work, however it will not be as obvious.
The top photograph represents what you will be given with your group. With your group or by yourself you will determine that this is obviously the statue of George Washington on UW's west campus.
Once you and your group have found the physical site in the picture you are able to confirm that the picture is wrong because the actual statue of George Washington is missing.
The goal of my project/game is to make you focus in on your physical surroundings. I want everyone to become more aware of what is around them and to make the most of the spaces and places that they experience. Using your knowledge of your surroundings you can locate the physical sites and determine what is wrong with the photographs. My game is influenced from the idea of geo-caching because it gives you an object that you must use to locate a place on earth. I was limited for the sake of this class and where we can go to just use places on the University of Washington's campus. However, I would really like to take this on a bigger scale so that people can experience not only there local regions but the greater world itself.
The basic principle of my game is that you are given a photograph that has been altered in some way. Using just the photograph and your knowledge you must find the physical location that the picture displays. Once at the actual location you must compare the photograph to the site and determine how the photograph has been changed. Below is an example of how the game will work, however it will not be as obvious.
The top photograph represents what you will be given with your group. With your group or by yourself you will determine that this is obviously the statue of George Washington on UW's west campus.
Once you and your group have found the physical site in the picture you are able to confirm that the picture is wrong because the actual statue of George Washington is missing.
The goal of my project/game is to make you focus in on your physical surroundings. I want everyone to become more aware of what is around them and to make the most of the spaces and places that they experience. Using your knowledge of your surroundings you can locate the physical sites and determine what is wrong with the photographs. My game is influenced from the idea of geo-caching because it gives you an object that you must use to locate a place on earth. I was limited for the sake of this class and where we can go to just use places on the University of Washington's campus. However, I would really like to take this on a bigger scale so that people can experience not only there local regions but the greater world itself.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Scrapbook
A scrapbook is a catalog of the owner's interests. Time and money is often put into filling up a large scrapbook. They may contain photos of fond memories or mementos from places significant to the owner.
Spoiler:
I'll be filling up the first few pages with mundane items such as coins and leaves with journal entries. The entries will become more and more ominous and end with a page asking viewers for a strand of their hair to tape into a fresh page. This was inspired by my brother who in middle school, filled up his notebook with people's hair. He'd ask random students for a strand of their hair, claiming that he would clone them one day.
-Zixing Guo
Spoiler:
I'll be filling up the first few pages with mundane items such as coins and leaves with journal entries. The entries will become more and more ominous and end with a page asking viewers for a strand of their hair to tape into a fresh page. This was inspired by my brother who in middle school, filled up his notebook with people's hair. He'd ask random students for a strand of their hair, claiming that he would clone them one day.
-Zixing Guo
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Fortune Cookies
My Project
I will be making fortune cookies. SPOILER ALERT. If you would rather be surprised for my presentation on Monday the 29th (I'll be gone on the 24th for a doc appointment) then avoid reading the spoiler section at the end!
Original Ideas
-Wanted to do something with a gumball machine involving plastic eggs that would roll down and have mysterious prizes. Then I immediately realized those already exist...
-Lead people to various places on campus only using photographs. The real location would be altered in some way to be scary, such as having Slender man looking out a window at you. I began to realize it would probably involve too much work and material.
-Then I thought of food... we all pretty much love and need food.
Original idea forming methods
-Develop something that is hidden
-Do something that already has a preconceived context (such as food, which everyone knows you generally eat)
-Something with a story or map leading to various places
-Having a set of instructions with an element of surprise/unpredictable outcome.
-Start by thinking of the result you want, and then thinking backwards on how to formulate it.
Recipe
http://www.fortunecookiemessage.com/fortune-cookie-recipe.php
Main Idea
-Take something that already exists and change it
-Decided to use food, specifically fortune cookies!
-These have a preconceived context: they are cookies (food) that you break open in order to obtain the fortune that's inside
-Decide to add an unexpected element by making the papers inside do something different other than tell fortunes
Alterations to Idea
-I originally wanted to add food coloring to the fortune cookies to make them different colors. However, making them different colors would immediately give away the fact that these fortune cookies are not normal and stun the surprise of what's inside.
-I originally wanted everyone to be doing random actions but realized that the room might become really wild and unorganized without some sort of cohesive set of actions or theme.
Design Elements Used
-Controlling the context: people know generally what fortune cookies are and what to do with them, a framework is basically already in place
-Make the paper slips elicit an unexpected behavior
-By default, the fortune cookies have a hidden feature
-The paper rewards you with knowledge
-Engages all of the senses
SPOILER ALERT!!!! Text has to be highlighted in order to be read
Inside each cookie, there will be a piece of paper. However, instead of being a fortune, it will be an instruction for a type of noise making and how often. For instance, one might contain "Clap every other second." Eventually everyone will be composing a musical sound to create a giant song. What that song is going to sound like is completely a mystery! Hopefully it will be interesting. I hope that everyone will be really surprised that fortune cookies led to making a class band!
I will be making fortune cookies. SPOILER ALERT. If you would rather be surprised for my presentation on Monday the 29th (I'll be gone on the 24th for a doc appointment) then avoid reading the spoiler section at the end!
Original Ideas
-Wanted to do something with a gumball machine involving plastic eggs that would roll down and have mysterious prizes. Then I immediately realized those already exist...
-Lead people to various places on campus only using photographs. The real location would be altered in some way to be scary, such as having Slender man looking out a window at you. I began to realize it would probably involve too much work and material.
-Then I thought of food... we all pretty much love and need food.
Original idea forming methods
-Develop something that is hidden
-Do something that already has a preconceived context (such as food, which everyone knows you generally eat)
-Something with a story or map leading to various places
-Having a set of instructions with an element of surprise/unpredictable outcome.
-Start by thinking of the result you want, and then thinking backwards on how to formulate it.
Recipe
http://www.fortunecookiemessage.com/fortune-cookie-recipe.php
Main Idea
-Take something that already exists and change it
-Decided to use food, specifically fortune cookies!
-These have a preconceived context: they are cookies (food) that you break open in order to obtain the fortune that's inside
-Decide to add an unexpected element by making the papers inside do something different other than tell fortunes
Alterations to Idea
-I originally wanted to add food coloring to the fortune cookies to make them different colors. However, making them different colors would immediately give away the fact that these fortune cookies are not normal and stun the surprise of what's inside.
-I originally wanted everyone to be doing random actions but realized that the room might become really wild and unorganized without some sort of cohesive set of actions or theme.
Design Elements Used
-Controlling the context: people know generally what fortune cookies are and what to do with them, a framework is basically already in place
-Make the paper slips elicit an unexpected behavior
-By default, the fortune cookies have a hidden feature
-The paper rewards you with knowledge
-Engages all of the senses
SPOILER ALERT!!!! Text has to be highlighted in order to be read
Inside each cookie, there will be a piece of paper. However, instead of being a fortune, it will be an instruction for a type of noise making and how often. For instance, one might contain "Clap every other second." Eventually everyone will be composing a musical sound to create a giant song. What that song is going to sound like is completely a mystery! Hopefully it will be interesting. I hope that everyone will be really surprised that fortune cookies led to making a class band!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Project #2- Experiential Object (No Spoilers)
I'm being vague on purpose because if I spilled the beans on this it wouldn't be half as cool as presenting it with some hidden knowledge. I'm pretty stoked for this, because I think it will be pretty interesting. I hope I'm not the only one who thinks my object is pretty cool.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Checkers Tic Tac Toe
My variation of tic tac toe involves the game of checkers. In checkers, a player can jump over an opponent's piece if it's adjacent to the player's piece, thus removing it effectively from play. I want to use this aspect in my tic tac toe's variation.
In this game, the objective is still similar to regular tic tac toe where a player must place three of their markers in a row to win while preventing the opponent from doing the same. Now, the difference between a regular tic tac toe and my variation employs the use of the checkers' feature I mentioned above. A player can jump over an opponent's marker, removing it from play and making the space the opponent's marker was in before free. On the other hand, the player's marker is placed on the space next to where the opponent's marker was before. If it was occupied beforehand by a marker of the player's or the opponent's, that marker is moved to the direction the player's marker that jumped did. To visualize this, I have this image:
Say for example, there's an O in boxes 1 and 3 and an X in 2. The player decides to jump over the X marker in 2 using the O marker in 1. The player jumps over the X in 2 removing it from play and making 2 an empty space. The O in 1 is transferred to 3. Remember that 3 is occupied, so the O marker in it is moved to 1 because the O in 1 jumped over to the left, so the O in 3 moves to the left as well. Same rule applies vertically and diagonally.
A player is not limited by jumping over a marker that is visibly adjacent to the player's marker. It can also jump over a marker on the opposite side across the board. Say, for example, from the image above, a marker in 1 can not just only jump over an opponent's marker if placed in 2, 4, and 5, but can also jump on the opponent's marker if placed in 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9. In conclusion, the marker in 1 can jump over horizontally (2 and 3), vertically (4 and 7), and diagonally (5, 6, 8 and 9).
But before a player can actually jump over an opponent's marker, the player and the opponent have to decide it through a coin flip, a die roll, or rock-paper-scissors, and the player has to win to be able to jump over. Otherwise, the player loses a turn, for jumping over is similar to placing a marker in that they both take turns.
In this game, the objective is still similar to regular tic tac toe where a player must place three of their markers in a row to win while preventing the opponent from doing the same. Now, the difference between a regular tic tac toe and my variation employs the use of the checkers' feature I mentioned above. A player can jump over an opponent's marker, removing it from play and making the space the opponent's marker was in before free. On the other hand, the player's marker is placed on the space next to where the opponent's marker was before. If it was occupied beforehand by a marker of the player's or the opponent's, that marker is moved to the direction the player's marker that jumped did. To visualize this, I have this image:
A player is not limited by jumping over a marker that is visibly adjacent to the player's marker. It can also jump over a marker on the opposite side across the board. Say, for example, from the image above, a marker in 1 can not just only jump over an opponent's marker if placed in 2, 4, and 5, but can also jump on the opponent's marker if placed in 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9. In conclusion, the marker in 1 can jump over horizontally (2 and 3), vertically (4 and 7), and diagonally (5, 6, 8 and 9).
But before a player can actually jump over an opponent's marker, the player and the opponent have to decide it through a coin flip, a die roll, or rock-paper-scissors, and the player has to win to be able to jump over. Otherwise, the player loses a turn, for jumping over is similar to placing a marker in that they both take turns.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Radial Tic-Tac-Toe
Radial Tic-Tac-Toe
a 2-3 person variant on tic-tac-toe that uses a d6 to add a bit of chance
Set up: Game board consists of three rings containing six spaces each. The inner-most and outer-most rings are stationary, while the middle ring (as shown in red) needs to be able to rotate clockwise.
For two players, use the traditional Xs and Os, but for 3 players, add in another symbol. I used a triangle.
Goal: The goal is to get 3 in a row, but lined up from the center ring out along the radius. Three in a row within a single ring does not count.
Gameplay: Pick who goes first, or use the d6 to determine who goes first. The game is played in the traditional manner of tic-tac-toe. Each player picks where they want to play on their turn.
At the end of the second round (each player has two spaces). Roll the d6. The resulting number determines how many spaces the center rings rotates clockwise around the board. After each round, roll the d6 and rotate the middle ring the corresponding number of spaces.
To give players an even chance, the winner isn't decided until the end of a round. For instance, a player may have 3 in a row at the end of their turn, but they won't know if they have won until the end of the round(after the ring rotation).
a 2-3 person variant on tic-tac-toe that uses a d6 to add a bit of chance
Set up: Game board consists of three rings containing six spaces each. The inner-most and outer-most rings are stationary, while the middle ring (as shown in red) needs to be able to rotate clockwise.
For two players, use the traditional Xs and Os, but for 3 players, add in another symbol. I used a triangle.
Goal: The goal is to get 3 in a row, but lined up from the center ring out along the radius. Three in a row within a single ring does not count.
Gameplay: Pick who goes first, or use the d6 to determine who goes first. The game is played in the traditional manner of tic-tac-toe. Each player picks where they want to play on their turn.
At the end of the second round (each player has two spaces). Roll the d6. The resulting number determines how many spaces the center rings rotates clockwise around the board. After each round, roll the d6 and rotate the middle ring the corresponding number of spaces.
To give players an even chance, the winner isn't decided until the end of a round. For instance, a player may have 3 in a row at the end of their turn, but they won't know if they have won until the end of the round(after the ring rotation).
Tic tac toe varients
My form of tic tac toe plays very similar to the original game, but with more chance and mind games involved.
Each player gets a set number of dice to play with: we play tested with 6 each, but think there should be as many as 10. You can gamble any number of these dice on a square, but you don't get more dice than you start out with. After you run out of dice, you roll half rolls, or a 3 sided die.
When you want to claim a space on the board, you state which space you want. You and your opponent (defender) then secretly choose how many dice you are going to roll. You reveal them at the same time, and then roll for the square. Ties result in the "attacking" player to win.
To win you get 3 in a row.
Because of the element of chance that dice bring to the game, games vary drastically. Sometimes the board can be filled with one lucky opponents symbols. Sometimes a 3 dice bet can lose to a 1 dice bet. sometimes you can try to make your opponent think you want a square, and trick them into gambling their dice, when in fact you just want them to waste their dice so you can claim the one you really want without opposition.
We played with the idea of winning dice back, but were unable to decide in a fair way to do this
Each player gets a set number of dice to play with: we play tested with 6 each, but think there should be as many as 10. You can gamble any number of these dice on a square, but you don't get more dice than you start out with. After you run out of dice, you roll half rolls, or a 3 sided die.
When you want to claim a space on the board, you state which space you want. You and your opponent (defender) then secretly choose how many dice you are going to roll. You reveal them at the same time, and then roll for the square. Ties result in the "attacking" player to win.
To win you get 3 in a row.
Because of the element of chance that dice bring to the game, games vary drastically. Sometimes the board can be filled with one lucky opponents symbols. Sometimes a 3 dice bet can lose to a 1 dice bet. sometimes you can try to make your opponent think you want a square, and trick them into gambling their dice, when in fact you just want them to waste their dice so you can claim the one you really want without opposition.
We played with the idea of winning dice back, but were unable to decide in a fair way to do this
"Tic Tac Troll" or "U Mad?"
"Tic Tac Troll" or "U Mad?"
Nah, let's call it "Tic Tac Draw Your Cards"
The game consists of the traditional X and O on a 3x3 game board. Each player is provided with a set of 11 cards ranked from 0 to 10 points that are shuffled before the beginning of each round to ensure a random draw. Flipping a coin determines whether X or O goes first. This way it is randomly determined whether X will end up with 5 cards on the board and O with 4 or the other way around (assuming the round ends as a tie). Now the player must hope that they drew high value cards. This is the chance portion of the game. I did take into consideration that the round itself may be won in the traditional manner of matching three, thus an additional 5 points is rewarded to the player who is so lucky as to have won the round (in turn the player who was so unfortunate as to have not caught on is punished. This did happen to me at least three times). Players may play as many rounds as desired, so long as at least three are played to ensure a better total overall score.
So how does this seem fair when a winner has a chance to lose? What I had hoped to accomplish with this game was to incite an excitement that came from the interactions of people who share the same uncertainty of chance but still feel as though they can win. I saw this happen when I played with Cuong. During one game set, he managed to win two rounds by matching three and gained ten additional points, but still lost the overall game by 1 point. How did this happen? He drew very low cards while I drew very high cards: one round was a whopping 11 to 36 unassisted. What came from this was the drive to try again until he could win (which he did in the third game). Afterwards, we reflected upon this concept of the luck of the draw by comparing it to poker, which we attempted to play with the game's card decks.
Dots and Boxes and MYSTERY BOXES Tic Tac Toe
So basically this game is a mix of
"Dots and Boxes" and Tic Tac Toe
You start off by drawing 5 rows of 5 dots, and then you put one box anywhere in each row, the first row's box is labeled 1, the second row's box is 2, third row's box is 1, fourth row's box is 2. Then you play a normal game of dots and boxes, each player takes turns putting one line down at a time. When a player makes a box, they put an X or O in their box. If a player can create multiple boxes in one turn (after creating one box, if there are other areas around them they can create a box with one line) then they can create multiple boxes, but can only chose one space to put their X or O. The next player can either put their symbol in a box made by the other player, or make more lines. You continue playing the game until every square is filled, even if someone got a 3 in a row, 4 in a row, or 4 in a box.
After all the squares are filled, you flip a coin to figure out what the mystery boxes are.
If it's heads, 1's = X, 2's = O
If it's tails, 1's = O, 2's = X
Here's a game I played with a friend. (In this game, we flipped tails, making 1's = O and 2's = X
You start off by drawing 5 rows of 5 dots, and then you put one box anywhere in each row, the first row's box is labeled 1, the second row's box is 2, third row's box is 1, fourth row's box is 2. Then you play a normal game of dots and boxes, each player takes turns putting one line down at a time. When a player makes a box, they put an X or O in their box. If a player can create multiple boxes in one turn (after creating one box, if there are other areas around them they can create a box with one line) then they can create multiple boxes, but can only chose one space to put their X or O. The next player can either put their symbol in a box made by the other player, or make more lines. You continue playing the game until every square is filled, even if someone got a 3 in a row, 4 in a row, or 4 in a box.
After all the squares are filled, you flip a coin to figure out what the mystery boxes are.
If it's heads, 1's = X, 2's = O
If it's tails, 1's = O, 2's = X
Here's a game I played with a friend. (In this game, we flipped tails, making 1's = O and 2's = X
Point System:
Natural:
3 in a row: 5pts
4 in a row: 7pts
4 in a box: 6pts
Modified:
3 in a row: 3pts
4 in a row: 4pts
4 in a box: 4pts
A Rubbic Tic Tac Toe how interesting?
In my
opinion, Tic Tac Toe is very interesting
game since you can play it anytime,
anywhere with your friends. The game has a pretty straight forward rule
which includes X and O for each player,
and whoever gets a roll of three X or O first win. Thus, this game is easy to
get bored since it requires both players to think and apply their own strategy
in order to win; it's more like a
competition type which encourage people to fight each other to win, and from
that point, it's easy to be boring if one keeps winning, and the other keeps
losing. Therefore, I come up with a new thought of playing Tic Tac Toe
with a few new rules. I found quite
interesting about playing Tic Tac Toe in a Rubbic cube.
The rules of
the game are very simple.
_Player one play with
X, and player two plays with O. (Player with X will go first)
_ After each move of X or O, each player will have a chance
to turn the Rubbic around in which way he or she feels comfortable with.
_ Keep playing until there is no space left on the rubbic .
The result will be quite interesting since no player can plan
anything, and it would be more surprised and enjoyment since even you move an X
to win you may create a win for your enemy on the other face of the rubbic cup.
Tic-Tac-Search
The basic rules for Tic-Tac-Search include the following:
- Use of 5x5 grid (option to make larger if wanted.
- Have third party organize X's and O's randomly throughout the board, place face down so that the character is not revealed to the players. Third party must make sure that at least one row of 4 is positioned for both X's and O's.
- Players start game by rock paper scissoring to see how guesses first.
- Players alternate turns by choosing a square to be revealed. They do not know if the square will be helping them or their opponent.
- Players continue selecting squares until someone has found their 4 in a row. First player to reveal their 4 in a row wins the game.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Tic-Tac-Toe Fifteen in a Row
The variation of tic-tac-toe I came up with a way to incorporate math into trying to win, it's fairly simple but became very intense and complex when people played.
The rules are as follows:
> The goal is to line up a set of 3 different numbers down, across, or diagonally that add up to 15
> One player uses only odd numbers while the other uses even (the player using odd numbers must go first since there are more odd numbers from 1-9 than even)
> Only numbers 1-9 can be used and the same number cannot be used twice
While trying out this variation we attempted a number of different ways to play the most effective of which was adding a time limit to each move, that put a lot more pressure on the player since there's less time to think about where to move and made them prone to mistakes that could cause them to lose. We experimented with other options, a different goal number, increased the range of number values you could use, and each player being able to use any number instead of just even or odd. Ultimately however the original rules still held up the best, the time limit addition was the only one that seemed to make the game more interesting. Overall I was very pleased with how this tic-tac-toe variation turned out and how it challenge players to think extremely carefully about every move.
The rules are as follows:
> The goal is to line up a set of 3 different numbers down, across, or diagonally that add up to 15
> One player uses only odd numbers while the other uses even (the player using odd numbers must go first since there are more odd numbers from 1-9 than even)
> Only numbers 1-9 can be used and the same number cannot be used twice
While trying out this variation we attempted a number of different ways to play the most effective of which was adding a time limit to each move, that put a lot more pressure on the player since there's less time to think about where to move and made them prone to mistakes that could cause them to lose. We experimented with other options, a different goal number, increased the range of number values you could use, and each player being able to use any number instead of just even or odd. Ultimately however the original rules still held up the best, the time limit addition was the only one that seemed to make the game more interesting. Overall I was very pleased with how this tic-tac-toe variation turned out and how it challenge players to think extremely carefully about every move.
Tri tic tac toe
Blank grid
Orange: Playable spaces
Blue: Point spaces
A completed grid with points tallied
The playable spaces (orange) adjacent to the three sides of the point spaces (blue) determine which player gets the point.
The point goes to the player that has more Xs or Os than the other player in the highlighted areas.
Having TWO Xs or Os will give you ONE point. Mark the point spaces with an asterix (X) or a circumpunct (O)
If you manage to dominate a point area, you get ONE additional point. Mark your points with a PLUS.
If you manage to earn all the points on any side of the game grid, you get TWO additional points.
Have fun playing!
-Zixing Guo
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