The Pingus Plasticiline Experience
From Medialab Prado
Contents |
Descripción del proyecto / Descripction of the project
The Pingus Plasticiline Experience is a project arising out of the classic “Lemmings” computer puzzle, based on the popular belief that lemmings commit mass suicide when faced with dangerous situations. The point of the game is clear: to guide the larger number of characters to the exit of the map, avoiding dangerous elements such as ditches, lava, water, tramps, etc
Through an augmented reality platform, users can participate in and modify the scenarios, using plasticiline of different colours as an interface to guide the lemmings to safety. In addition, the maps will be made entirely of paper, enabling participants to quickly and freely design their own scenarios or play with them instantaneously and exchange them with other people.
The game is based on the Pingus open version of the Lemmings game. The difference with these games is that the player does not intervene in the character (i.e. by giving it properties and powers) but in the layout, by adding pieces of different materials to connect blocks or modify their properties. The goal of the game is to create a path that allows x of y penguins to get to the exit by using a specific number and type of tools. The use of plasticiline will open to potentially infinite options of shapes and colours, so we have to limit the possibilities of interaction depending on the objective of the game and the technology currently available.
Play modalities
Collaborative
Each player has different colours of plasticiline and they have to work together to build the path to let the penguins make it to the exit. Players win if they manage to get the required number of penguins to the exit with the allowed pieces of plasticiline.
Competitive
Option 1:
Player 1: Fixes the initial layout of the game with cardboard and defines the amount of plasticiline pieces
Player 2: Dynamically add elements with plasticiline to allow Pingus to get to the exit.
Option 2: Initial cardboard layout is determined by the computer (or randomly taken from the library previously created by players)
Player 1: has only a certain set of colours of plasticiline to get Pingus through the exit.
Player 2: has different colours of plasticiline than Player 1 to avoid Pingus to make it through the exit.
Players will add pieces to the landscape depending on each other’s intervention to avoid or facilitate penguins to make it to the exit.
Game Scenario (example of Competitive game Option1)
1. Player 1 defines the layout of the fixed blocks by cutting and locating the coloured cardboard bits on the table. Paper is glued onto the table and the layout is projected on the screen.
2. Player1 defines the least amount of plasticiline pieces for that layout by designing the solution. The availability of pieces for each colour will appear on the top right corner of the screen and will be continuously updated as the Player2 uses them.
3. Player2 manipulates a piece of plasticiline and put it on the table. He removes the hands to let the camera detect the new layout.
4. The new virtual landscape is projected on the on the screen and the pieces counter is updated 2-3 second after he removed his hands.
5. Pingus start falling down from the entrance and walk on the surface it encounters. The Pingus can walk, bounce, slide, and fall.
6. Player2 removes or adjusts the pieces of plasticiline (i.e. thickness, height, shape, position) on the layout depending on P’s behaviour with them. Every time Player2 makes a change the projected layout will be updated, together with the piece counter.
7. Player 2 wins the game if manages to get the minimum amount of penguins through the exit by using the amount of plasticiline provided in the time available; Player1 wins if Player2 does not achieve getting the minimum amount of penguins through the exit with the amount of plasticiline provided in the limited time.
Documentación (gráficos, fotos y vídeos) / Documentation (graphics, pictures and videos)
Tecnologías y herramientas / Technologies and tools
- Plasticine(Red,Yellow,Blue)
- Cardboard(White,Black,Blue)
- Computer with
- Ubuntu
- 256 Mb video card
- OpenFramework
- Code Blocks
- Gnu C++ compiler
- Firewire 400 port
- Projector 2000/3000 lumens with support for frontal projection
- Projection surface
- Firewire 400 color camera(Unibrain)
- Camera tripod for detection from above
- Working table (1 X 1,20) meter
Equipo de desarrollo
Autor/a/es de la propuesta / Author
Jose Maria Blanco Calvo
Pascal Landry
Sebastián Mealla C.
Colaboradores / Collaborators
Fernando Blanco
Cătălin Codrean
Melle Hofman
Emanuela Mazzone
Tini Reiter
John
