~~NOTOC~~ ====== Slider Custom Controller ====== {{ :projects:dsc00693.jpg?nolink&600 |}} I've been a big fan of local multiplayer games for a while, and have been toying with the idea of creating games that use very simple input controls. After using just a single button (zero dimensions) per player and having some success with that on [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=coolcherrytrees.games.reactor|Android]], the logical next step is using exactly one dimension: a slider! I have quite a few prototypes of tiny mini-game mechanics, and instead of limiting myself to one such method, I prefer to build a compilation where players compete in rapid-fire mini tournaments, a bit like Wario Ware, but simultaneous multiplayer, with more than the usual 4 players competing.

===== Philosophy ===== The Slider controller and its dedicated game collection enhance gaming in these ways: {{ :projects:dsc00121.jpg?300|}} * **An easy to understand controller**: The Slider controller is designed to be picked up without any instructions whatsoever. No button-mapping, no tutorial-phase, no entry barrier! * **Force Feedback that exceeds rumbling**: Virtually all current main-stream controllers only allow for rumbling as a feedback mechanism. The Slider controller can do more: Its motor can pull the slider to any position - it can actively guide or challenge a player, and allows for more expressive feedback and adaptive difficulty. * **Larger groups of friends**: Very few local multiplayer games exceed four players. I want to explore the dynamics of a larger group of local players. It's probably going to be chaotic, that's why the games have to stay simple! * **A collection of games**: By virtue of the limitation of player-input to one dimension, the depth of possible games is reduced as well. However, there are dozens if not hundreds of different mechanics to exploit: turning, dodging, weighing, collecting, selecting, aiming, balancing, guiding, ... by creating a connected collection of those, the players have to adapt constantly and a plethora of skills are required. \\ Follow me on [[https://twitter.com/Robin_B/|Twitter]] ==== Slider Hardware, Software, Testing ==== **Please follow the links below**, where I'm documenting the creation process of my Sliders Game, in particular the custom controllers that I'm making for them. * **[[projects:sliders:construction|Box Construction and Specs (Iteration 1: Wood Box)]]** * **[[projects:sliders:construction2|Construction of 2nd Iteration: Acrylic Box]]** * **[[projects:sliders:feedback|Force-Feedback and Motorization]]** * **[[projects:sliders:game|The games]]** * **[[projects:sliders:game:ggj14|"Inslide World" - Global Game Jam 14]]** * **[[projects:sliders:altctrlgdc|Game Developer Conference 2014: ALT.CTRL.GDC]]** {{ :projects:dsc00110.jpg?600 |}} ==== Other Projects with the Sliders ==== I've collaborated with [[http://draknek.org|Alan Hazelden]] to adapt the Sliders for his game [[www.draknek.org/games/BRICKbricksmashSMASH/|BRICK[bricksmash]SMASH]]. [[http://aipanic.com/projects/brick|Dedicated Project Page]]

==== Online Arduino + Unity Presentation ==== I gave a little presentation at the London Game Space in March 2014 about interfacing Unity with Arduinos and Teensys. [[https://slid.es/robinbaumgarten/arduino-unity3d/|Here is the presentation]].