Week 10 - The Interactive Prototype II Components

The original idea for the gameplay does not changed, the interaction still involves finger touch and combination of control buttons. For this interactive prototype II, I replace the keyboard control with a novel physical input. 

There is the link for my original game concept:

http://hushengliudeco7230.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/week3-concept-detail.html

However, for combining my game with Makey Makey, i did change some part of physical input. 

The board

The control board contain three main components, the first component is the board, it’s made of card board and become the base of the controller. In consideration of two players will against each other, so the control board need enough space that allow two hands press buttons at same time.  Therefore, I made the size of the board become 16cm X 11cm,  and user will use it transversely. Also,  i decide to add a “back board” behind the control board, because when two player play the game by using same control board, the physical pressure and friction may damage the wires, so the “back board” can protect these wires.

 

The Back Board

The button

The second component is button, there are six buttons which represent six keys (W, A, S, D, F, G)，the button made of “Copper Foil Tape”, the shape is circle, but the button divided into left part and right part, all right part connect to the Makey Makey “EARTH” port, and all left part connect to each “Key” port on the Makey Makey, when user touch the button and make connection between two side, then Makey Makey can detected which key has been pressed.

Original design:  
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7900357602027684615#editor/target=post;postID=2583183942709539398;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname

However, In order to increase the stability of connection when user press the button, I made the button inner sides interdigitate. Furthermore, I write the key instructions on the paper and paste them under each button.

Final design:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7900357602027684615#editor/target=post;postID=2583183942709539398;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname

The Board & buttons

The Wire

The third component is wires, each button requires two wires for connect Makey Makey “EARTH” port and “Key” port. All these wires made of tinfoil, because it’s can conduct electricity and it’s also a flexible material when twisted to wires. Because there is only one connection required for “EARTH” port, so I twist all “right side” wires become one thick wire.  The terminal of each wire connected by one alligator clip cable, then the alligator clip cable connects to the connector wire which plugged into the “Key” port on the Makey Makey.

The wires

Final Makey Makey Setup