Winter '09, Game Design I with Eddo Stern. A sight-reading music game using overhead projection and the Arduino controller to create an immersive interface. Two drums are custom outfitted with piezo sensors to detect a player's input. The game is controlled using custom software written in Processing.
Below are some photographs from play tests. Software is able to rate the musical accuracy of a user's input, and adjusts a "reward spectacle" accordingly. A "combo counter" is responsible for displaying the number of consecutively scored notes. Thanks to Allen Lee.
According to Google, this is the second best reason that I am remarkable (aside from my MySpace). My "art school project" was hailed in the press, and is thus far the sole reason that anyone has ever visited my vimeo profile page.
"One part Donkey Konga, two parts of Toshio Iwai's studio art, and a hint of super clean Swiss design: UCLA game design work shop student George Michael Brower's Rhythm Game I is a little bit retro-rhythm and a little bit future-cool."
Volley mechanic. One element of the game left unfinished is a "call and response" mechanic. Certain phrases, if completed in their entirety, are "volleyed" to one's opponent, who sits across the playing field. The desired effect is to create a sense of "echo" or musical interaction, deviating from the prevailing linear structure of sight-reading rhythm games.
Hardware. Images of drum rig, and custom housing for the Arduino chip. Conceived of as a modular hub, up to 4 drums can be connected to the chip using standard 1/4" music cables.