1/4s Review

After discussing the feedback from the faculty and clients, we decided to move forward with BotMania. Rushil tested using the Azure kinect while in a wheelchair and confirmed that it is able to track movement pretty accurately, which alleviates one of the main concerns the faculty had with our motion-tracking ideas. We still have a few game design elements that need to be fleshed out, such as ensuring that each of the WonderBot activities are both fun and educational. We also would like to see if there’s some way that we can incorporate some physical elements beyond the three buttons into the experience, so that it is not solely screen based.

We have a meeting with Christie Miga set for Thursday this week. As Christie was the main person behind the theming and narrative in the WonderLab, it will be really valuable to hear her perspective on the mini-games and ensure that the tasks we assign to each bot fit their personality. The main priorities for this week are to finalize the gameplay for the overall experience and begin testing some of the basic interactions in Unity.

Children’s Museum Part 2

We took a second visit to the Children’s museum to see their newest exhibit. As we are looking at ways to incorporate physical components into the digital experience, we paid special attention to the simple physical interactions that each of the attractions provided. We spoke with an Experience Designer (and ETC alum) who gave us some advice about playtesting with children. We will need to ensure that the prototype we bring to this kids is as close to fully done as possible to ensure that they are able to understand what is happening. 

 
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Meeting with Christie

Rushil and Aaron came up with designs for two possible iterations on the BotMania idea, which we reviewed as a team before our meeting with Christie. The first version is entirely digital interactions, while the second has physical elements as well.

Christie enjoyed both ideas! Her main notes were:

  • If kids don’t find success quickly, they will walk away – so it is important that any experience is simple enough that they can pick up on it very easily
  • Mag should not be JUST the artist who makes things look pretty. Her work needs to be just as important as the other bots. 
  • Using the rocket theme is good, especially since the WonderLab is right across from a space-themed ice cream parlor. However, can we add a narrative that connects it to the rest of the WonderLab – maybe it’s delivering something? 
  • Overall the games we have designed to fit with the wonderbot personalities – Bil loves tools, Mag loves art AND technology, Won likes wires and circuits
  • She liked the idea of having a physical component, however we should not use a star as those are very sacred in the WonderLab. 
  • She liked the idea of having a physical payoff – however she is hesitant about giving kids something physical they hold as things will get broken. If the experience relies on physical elements that they hold, they may not last very long. 
  • Utilizing the buttons is very important as currently they don’t do anything and kids really want to use them
She also provided documentation with additional information about the Wonderbots personalities and gave us some general advice about ensuring that each of the minigames fit in with the Village thematically.

Botmania – Final Design 

The team finalized the ideas that we have for the BotMania gameplay, merging aspects of both proposals. We will have a physical rocket (which can be placed either on the counter, mounted on a wall or hung from somewhere) that will react to the kids’ actions in the game. Each wonderbot will have a task to complete that will improve the rocket. The kids will have the option to launch their rocket at any time and test how their improvements worked.

Mini Games: 

 
  • Won: Circuit Connection
    • Interaction: Hover hands at two over nodes across the screen to create circuit connections
    • Rocket Output: When circuits are correctly connected, certain components will spin
  • Bil: Building
    • Interaction: Push items in place within a spaceship mold 
    • Rocket Output: Completing the design will cause the rocket to extend upwards
  • Mag: Design
    • Interaction: Wave hands across the screen to paint and create designs
    • Rocket Output: LEDs on spaceship will light up to match the colors on screen
There are still a few design elements that need to be decided. We need to make a narrative that connects to the rest of the WonderLab, and we need to ensure that the elements that Mag designs are as important as the circuitry and building that Bil and Won are doing. 
 

Priorities For Next Week:

  • Design
    • Design circuit puzzle
    • Create storyboard of overall game experience
  • Programming
    • Develop first prototype of Won’s puzzle
    • Prototype physical outputs with arduino
  • Production
    • Finish Half Sheet/Poster/Logo
    • Finish project website (theme/update all content)
    • Send in requests for all tech needs 
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