Open Source
Open Source is a re-imagining of the classic video game Pong. Instead of a game played out visually on a screen, 2 participants will judge the position of the ball based on auditory cues only. Kinect hardware tracks the participants and their bodies act as paddles. A tone is emitted from the ball and sounds are adjusted based on their position relative to the player’s paddle.
Open Source is an experiment in alternate gameplay methods. In this case a game that doesn’t use a display and doesn’t use a traditional controller. The display of the game is only for spectators watching. It adds context to the viewing.
Further the installation is a new take on the 1966 work “Open Score”
Download version 1.2 (IndieCade 2012 version)
Images
Requirements
Windows 7
.NET 4
XNA 4
Kinect SDK 1.0
Installation
If not already installeded, setup the following libraries:
.NET 4.0 – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851
XNA 4.0 – http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=20914
Kinect SDK 1.0 – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/develop/overview.aspx
Setup
The game needs two computers that are networked together. The game uses UDP for the network traffic. For a gallery installation we just setup a hub to connect the two computers. Download the game from the link above and unzip the games file to each computer.
While the game doesn’t require a Kinect, it was designed to be played that way. For the Kinect you need about a 10 foot square. For a gallery installation we had the two players face each other with a net in between. It adds a new dimension to the gameplay when you can see the other player, react to their movement, and trash talk. Running the Kinect samples from the SDK can help to make sure the Kinect is working.
Headphones allow you to hear the changes in sound better and is important if both players are in the same room. Wireless headphones are recommended so you can move freely.
Getting Started
Run the game on the first computer (OpenSource.exe). It will load and say waiting for connection. Then start the game on the second computer. If a connection is made correctly it will say waiting for player 1 and player 2. When both players step in front of the Kinect the game will begin play. The game can also be played without the Kinect (all though the SDK must still be installed). You can use the spacebar to say you are ready and use the arrow keys to move up and down.
Controls
Kinect – Left and right movement moves paddle
Spacebar – Set to ready
Up/Down Arrow – Move paddle
~ – Shows Kinect information (useful to determine if game is reading the player position)
W – Tilt Kinect up
S – Tilt Kinect down
Credits
Developers/Artists:
John Meister
Richie Hoagland
Intern:
Daniel Huster
Networking Library:
Lidgren.Network – http://code.google.com/p/lidgren-network-gen3/
Narration:
Audio narration is a recording of Apple’s Siri
Problems/Comments/Questions?
Feel free to contact us at richie@supersoul.co
Change Log
1.2
Added Kinect paddle smoothing
Added Competitive mode with faster ball speed and new sound
Fixed player 2 audio problems
1.1
Ball speeds up as you play
Added “Click to begin” screen
Added Kinect adjustment error checking
1.0
Initial version
Watercolour
The world is not tiny but the time you have left in it is. Share your photos and experience on facebook.com/SuperSoulStudio
Download
Requirements
Windows XP or newer
Important
When we unzipped the game with the windows default zip utility the game would not run. If you unzip the folder with 7-Zip, it will work. We don’t know what is going on. Programs other than 7-Zip may work as well. Sorry for the inconvenience.
You can get 7-Zip here. Link to 7-Zip download.
Installation
XNA 4.0 must be installed. It can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=20914
Credits
Watercolour was for the Ludum Dare 23 game jam.
Music by Zero-project, used under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.
Album: Untold Stories of a dying Moon. Track: Moonlight No. 1
Zero-project site: http://www.zero-project.gr/
Developers/Artists
Pjchardt
Bill Adams
John Meister
Notes
Built using TorqueX CEV 4.0. Some art assets and code from the TorqueX Platformer Starter Kit.
Could not have done this game without the awesome work by the TorqueX CEV community.
Thanks to mildmojo for the idea of a world being tiny because of time restraints.
Direction
Interactive Installation
“Direction” utilizes its own interactivity to challenge participants notions of interactive works and spatial relationships. Participants hold a different perception of the work based on how they first experience it.
Oh and the video documentation sucks. Thanks Richie!