ProjectProposal-Tavir
From CS160 User Interfaces Fa06
Contents |
Problem Description: Entertainment/Games
Though it may not be actively thought of as a "problem" that is in dire need of being solved, the issue of entertainment is a very real problem in need of solutions. Though we lead busy lives, the need to be entertained or to pass the time in a recreational manner pops up on a daily basis. People of all ages, from young children to college students to working adults to retired elders often find time in their daily life with a need to be entertained in some manner. This problem is solved in various ways, such as watching television, reading a book, conversing with others, listening to music, or playing games. Though games have existed as a means to entertain oneself for thousands of years, the advent and evolution of the videogame in the past 30 years have introduced an entirely new means of keeping someone entertained. Though traditionally operated with a handheld controller of some sort, the Nintendo DS system has brought innovation to videogaming by allowing a touch screen to also be used as a manner of user input. Taking this one step further, the Anoto Digital Pen and Paper could be used for further innovations in gaming by allowing for real-time user input using the pen and paper. Creating certain strokes on a piece of digital paper could correspond to certain actions on a computer screen that would affect gameplay.
Target User Group
Almost anyone and everyone who is in need of being entertained would benefit from the solution to this problem. No matter the level of interest in videogames, the use of the Anoto digital pen as a videogame input would appeal to an extremely wide audience. For the casual to non-gamer, a solution of this kind would appeal as a way to pass time during long trips (plane, bus, etc.) or during instances in which they have small breaks in an otherwise busy schedule and need a way to relieve stress or relax in a period of 15 to 30 minutes. For the serious gamer, the addition of pen and paper as an input mechanism offers the opportunity to have real-time input without any limitations of traditional controller input (direction pad/analog stick and buttons/triggers).
Problem Context and Forces
As demonstrated by the wide variety of games that exist in today's market, the solution to this problem will be heavily influenced by the fact that the target audience consists of people that are fans of many different genres of games, such as action/adventure, puzzle, strategy, role-playing, fighting, racing, and many many others. Though some genres are of course more suited towards solving the problem of entertainment via the Anoto pen and paper (strategy and puzzle are two key examples), there still exist many different tastes that need to be suited. In addition, the problem with introducing new methods of user input lies in acceptance by the gaming audience as a whole. Innovations and changes in user input must be accepted as a legitimate method of gaming by adding something new to the experience of gaming that is still fun and interesting and explores new ideas in gaming. Examples of this include the introduction of an analog joystick (Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation), touch screen (Nintendo DS), and in the future, 3D movement input (Nintendo Wii). Games designed for the Anoto pen and paper will need to offer a gaming experience that is unlike anything else on the market and is entertaining in order to be successful (aka, killer app). Several systems have failed to make a splash on the market due to the lack of such killer apps.
Solution sketch
Some examples of games that can be created using the pen and paper input system (both of these examples involve a paper with a generic grid printed on it, representing the grid of gameplay in which the characters on screen can move):
-A puzzle based game in which users will control the movement of characters on a grid world. The users will draw a path from the square in which the character begins to a goal square, while picking up different "treasure" items that are scatter on the world. Enemies will also exist in the world and cannot be controlled but will move in patterns. The challenge will lie in attempting to determine a path in which the characters can pick up all the treasures and arrive safely at the goal square without running in to any enemies (enemies will travel at the same pace as the characters). Paths for the characters are drawn based on observing the intial state of the level. Upon checking some kind of activation square on the paper, characters and enemies will begin moving based on the path drawn on the paper and the movement patterns of the enemy. Several levels will be provided by the developers of the game, with the possible feature of users creating their own levels.
-A puzzle based game, similar to the one described above, with the exception that characters on screen travel in straight lines, until running into squares marked with arrows. The users will mark on the paper which squares they would like to place arrows and in what direction the arrows will point. The challenge will lie in attempting to mark arrows on the grid to create a path for the characters to follow so that they can pick up all the treasures and arrive safely at the goal square without running in to any enemies. (this design is similar to the game Chu Chu Rocket)
Other ideas for games exist as well.
The Fly is an example of a digital pen that has some games developed on it already. The scope of this project hopes to expand on this idea.
