Dock Drop Go Proposal

24Mar10

‘Dock Drop Go!’ – An interactive Game

Project Outline & Background

Dock Drop Go is based on the brief to develop a visual representation of networked ‘stories’ documenting the experience of the Olympic Games.

The Olympics has a rich political and emotive history and this ‘bringing together’ of nations across the world seems to serve as a highlight to political tension and identity clashes of the time.  For example the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and the sinister religious tension of anti-Semitism. Or the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute referring to the black civil rights protest which is considered to be one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games.

However in direct contrast, there is also the sense of camaraderie that can develop, when strangers watching an event will share a moment in time with joy, energised by a common goal and sense of ‘belonging’.

The collective experience of a when a nations hopes and dreams are realized: or not.

‘Drop Dock Go’ is a deliberately playful project that aims to engage an audience in the moment of time of winning/losing in competition and the emotions that surround it.

Project Structure

In order to recreate a sense of camaraderie and competition, a simple interactive game will be produced that can be played via the web and in a gallery setting. Drop Dock Go will be aimed at a wide demographic of people to maximise playful interaction and participation in a digital environment.

Using a game platform allows us observe participants reactions to the moment of winning/losing in competition. What makes someone become overtly competitive? Who will enjoy just taking part in this digital game? Will participants return to repeat the game to better their scores or to beat the scores of their friends?

Online Game: A website ‘DockDropGo’ (to be registered) will host the game. Participants will see themselves on the screen in the game by using their web-cams.  Using motion tracking technology and Flash, will be used to catch falling balls into a basket.  Users will be timed and the balls will go faster as time passes.  The number of balls ‘caught’ will be counted which will produce a set of data for an ongoing ‘Dock Drop League Table’.

Gallery Game: This game can also be shown in a gallery setting for the public to drop in and engage with. A projector and web cam would be needed.

Data Visualisation: A set of data from peoples scores will be stored and visualized via the Dock Drop League Table using a database and Processing or Flash (tbc)..

Blog: DropDockGo.wordpress.com has been set up to document the process and findings of this project. Every team member will use this as a platform to talk about their findings and personal thoughts on the project.

The blog will also serve as a tool for SEO purposes along with Twitter and other relevant social networks to further promote the game and website.

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Tags: digital media arts, interactive game, proposal, visuals