Theme: Play and Objects
Demonstration:
Context:
The main idea behind my project this week is turning the “tool” mechanic into a play mechanic. I wanted to repurpose objects I didn’t use in my home, and create something which could be played with. I decided to use the veggie slicer because of the rotation of the handle. This gave me a simple mechanic to focus on making into a way to play.
The game I made is a two player game, focusing on competition to make the game fun (Costello and Edmond, 2007).
Method:
One player controls the rotating axis, the other controls the capsule on a string.
The player with the capsule’s goal is to reach the exit of the tube. The rotating axis player’s goal is to stop them.
A timer could be set for each round, or the round ends when the capsule player escapes. If using a timer, the player who takes the least amount of time may be declared the winner after a specified number of rounds.
The players could choose to expand the game by including building on the axis as part of the game. This could be done by working together, or maybe taking turns with one player adding a block and another taking one away.
Reflection:
Overall, I think the premise of using the nature of a tool as part of a game is an interesting idea. I think the game is a fun idea, and has potential if there was more standardisation in its creation. With different materials this could be achieved, and the rules for the players could be expanded to involve the creation of the axis better. The current gameplay is also a bit one sided as the game ends when the capsule holder escapes. It would be good to incorporate a points system like a pinball machine, so the rotating axis player can measure their success, and the players could compete for high scores.