ICAE

Used Tools: Processing // Harduino and Java

Description: This project was a cross-class collaboration merging programming, physical interfaces, and interactive exhibit design. I programmed the core game system and handled integration with the Harduino and Xbox Kinect, while my teammates focused on visual assets and explanatory materials for the installation.

In the installation, players attempt to detect and capture a variety of anomalies. The main anomalies include:

• The Gnome — visible and captured via the standard targeting system.
• The Zombie — invisible; detection relies on Arduino-driven beeps and proximity lights.
• Pepe — a screen-wide anomaly removed by pressing a reset button (which resets the display).
• The Jaguar — cannot be captured normally; players must press the microphone button and scream to remove it.
• With — uses Kinect motion detection; it requests the player to move or hide and disappears when its instruction is followed.

The gameplay escalates as the spawn rate of anomalies increases over time. The experience is introduced with an in-game tutorial video and supported by printed informational sheets placed near the darkened room where players watches and interacts through a large projected screen. The setup was intentionally theatrical: a dim space, a single viewing window, and physical materials that contextualize the experiencefor maximum immersion.

The project was intense and taught me crucial lessons in time management, teamwork, hardware integration, and user testing. While I’m proud of the final system and enjoyed seeing people react (especially the Jaguar / scream moment), I also learned practical limits of hardware like the Kinect and how to prioritize polish under tight deadlines.