unity example of L-system based drawing coming from simple rules
THEME: Play and Rules
CONTEXT:
My Response to this weeks task was based around the old turtle software program that was used to teach programming concepts (video of modern take here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH-HkmaWnCE)
The content of the program is based on Lindenmayer systems (L-Systems) a type of formal grammar that is used to impart rules on a simple staring string in order so they can be expanded to larger more complex rules and systems.
In his thesis Video Games of the Oppressed: Video Games as a Means for Critical Thinking and Debate, Frasca (2001) recognizes two types of rules pradia rules and ludus rule. Ludus rules are established in order to win a game where as padia rules are established in order to play. In this work I wanted to focus on only having pradia rules.
METHOD:
Using Unity a simple string replacement was created in order to be able to impart the rules on a starting structure. Once this had been done the string could then be read as a set of instructions for moving and drawing the path the sphere took
RESPONSE:
The end response for this piece was a unity project that took a starting condition as well as a set of rules and created a symmetrical geometric pattern. The user can change the number of generations and the starting condition and rules to be able to experiment and create their own patterns
REFLETCTION:
This was an interesting project to build as tiny changes in the rules can create vastly different patterns. Also due to the way the rules and substitution worked watching the patterns being drawn , while taking a while was interesting and playful in itself.
The only things I would have liked to get do is to have easier input for users creating their own rules as well as a character that drew the path as a further refence to the turtle software program
References
Frasca. "Video Games Of The Oppressed: Video Games As A Means For Critical Thinking And Debate". 2001, Accessed 07 May 2020.
Examples of games with Rules
Monty Python Fluxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8cCtml36Zw
Monty Python’s Fluxx is a physical card game base around the television and movie show of Monty Python. This multi-user card game rules and goals changes based on the user choices as the game goes along.
Monty Python’s Fluxx presents rules and chaos as similar elements and shows how the multiple users environment adds to gameplay. It also shows how dynamism add to the longevity of the play experience
This work shows us how a mixture of dynamic rules goals with multiple users make for a fun and chaotic play environment
Sonic2 XL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDIeIs_yb_I
Sonic XL is a rom hack for the Sonic the hedgehog two that subverts the users expectation around what a sonic game entails
The expectations of most people who have played a sonic game is that sonic moves fast and collects a lot of ring. The Sonic XL subverts this by making collecting a lot of rings a negative thing as it makes sonic fatter and slower the more rings he collects
This work show how established rules can be subverted to create a unique and engaging experience