For my New Media class, I'll be working towards creating a simple Ball Game for people suffering from Cerebral Palsy. The goal is to tie together acceptable movements in a physical therapy session and the game I help create using the Kinect System. For example, a patient could move their head side to side in order to control the ball movement or possibility the game environment. Note: When ready, I'll need to investigate appropriate therapy session movements that I can use. The hope is to create an engaging and motivating experience for the user so that it doesn't feel like a typical therapy session.
Here is a quick visual of the ball game as it currently is (yep, not that exciting... for now):
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| Simple Ball Game |
The challenge for me is making this simple game of "move the ball to the other end" interesting and unique. My current objective is to create a prototype of this game and apply the prototype in different ways to test/find a fun experience. For now, my prototype will function with keyboard controls. After an appropriate direction is approved, I will then move to implementing the Kinect.
Some rough ideas going through my head:
- The ball moves at a constant pace. The player will need to move the environment blocks (left and right) to allow the ball to pass through.
- The player moves the ball through the level collecting orbs (?). The player needs a certain number collected in order to unlock the "win" area.
- Possible enemies: enemy patrols, shooting bombs or blocks, bombs constantly rolling down the level, etc.
- Ball racing game- The ball rolls through 3D environment, move the ball out of the way of obstacles. The ball speeds up over time or goes faster downhill, etc.
- Maybe the ball is a character that can respond to player controls.
Next Steps:
I'll be investigating other games to collect some inspiration. I'll also work towards creating a simple prototype: movement script and basic level. The hope is to reuse these in order to test out different game ideas.
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