Link: https://youtu.be/-nOyG-mg0Mc
Theme
Play and object
My interpretation of play and object is playing objects in a perspective other than their normal duty. My response is using drawing on the paper to play pinball. Instead of using paper as a medium of writing or drawing, I try to use it as a 3d object of pinball and make it playable.
Context
After the lecture, my first idea about play and object is playing usual objects in an unusual way. Thus I decided to use normal objects like cardboard, pens, tape and bottles to make a vending machine or other kinds of machine which could be played. Maker culture is defined as a culture of DIY and encourages tinkering with existing things to create new things (Wikipedia and Pursel, 2005). The key of this idea is 3d printing parts to connect those objects. It is also inspired by cardboard DIY videos on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdGJgHbmqQcVZaJCkqDRwg). However the lockdown made it became impossible to 3d print in one week. Thus, I change to another idea which is using paper cut to make an AR pin ball game. It keeps the same concept of tinkering existing things but create it by AR. In terms of play, it fits into the field of playing with a goal.
Method
In practice, I designed a map for the pinball game. Then I draw cards which worked as handlers and buttons in normal pinball games. Photos of those cards are used as reference image of AR objects in Unity. The rest programming and modelling part is done in Unity.
Reflection
Unfortunately, the idea failed due to AR’s unstable image tracking. The function and mechanic of each card works fine in Unity’s preview. But when I tried to build and run on my mobile phone it crashed. I tried to build it with each single card but it didn’t worked quite well either. The image tracking is not as reliable as I thought. When I moved cards too quick it lost control of AR objects.
References
Pursel, B., 2005. Information, People, and Technology. The Pennsylvania State University. https://psu.pb.unizin.org/ist110/
About This Work
By Xipeng Niu (Xavier)
Email Xipeng Niu (Xavier)
Published On: 11/08/2021