APD Week 2 - Play and Time

APD Week 1 – Play and Time

Theme

When thinking about time, the idea that stuck out to me was the way time constantly moves forward (from our perspective). One way of understanding this forward direction of time is by looking at entropy, the ever-increasing property of chaos. As we move forward in time our entropy increases. I wanted to create something that visualized increasing entropy and the rate at which we progress forward directly contributes to an increasing rate of entropy.

Methods

Using Unreal engine, I created a simple side scroller. The player character can move only forwards but has the option of walking, standing still or running. The faster the player moves the more their “entropy” increases – This was done by using a dynamic particle system, which is tied to the character mesh, as the entropy increases, the particles are freed from the mesh and will move randomly. In addition to this the player’s colour will also change to reflect the entropy increase

While the player moves forward falling objects are spawned randomly above the player. When one of these collides with the player it gives them a bump to their entropy. Acting as an additional variable, the player must now choose to run and cover more distance or walk and avoid the falling objects.

The distance travelled is recorded and serves as a measure of progress for each run.

Context

The piece is influenced by the game Superhot (2016) a VR game where the player can stand still to stop the flow of time, giving rise to the perception of superhuman speed. I wanted to adapt that sense of control over time but limit it to a point. As with real life, chaos cannot be reduced permanently, and there are obstacles that will be thrown at you that cause chaos to increase. I also borrowed a colour pallet and simple aesthetics from the game, as it helped convey the irreverence time has for us in the grand scheme of things.

Reflection

In terms of changes, I think I would implement a multiplayer system to the game, a visualisation of other players (perhaps as ghosts) and how they have done would add to the sense of progress that the player achieves at the end.

The hardest part of creating this was learning the new GPU based particle system and how to dynamically change its parameters with gameplay. I think I achieved what I wanted to but In refinement the particle system could be improved to transition more smoothly.

Overall I think the game serves as a contained analogy for how we progress through life, and the inevitability of our progression, no matter how long or short it is.

Downloads:

Download File: windowsnoeditor.zip
Download File: entropydemo.mp4