Oasis: Game Ideas

Going into game ideas, we knew that any game that is played via washing hands should very simple for the user.

With this is in mind, we decide to make the controls to the game very minimal. We chose to try out left and right movement as the core mechanic at first. This would require the user to wash their hands while slightly move their hands from left and right within the sink to play the game.

Based on these controls, the first game we started playtesting was a puzzle game, basically a Labyrinth. It would show a wooden labyrinth puzzle on the screen and the player's goal is to rotate the puzzle left and right, guiding the metal ball to the bottom of puzzle to win. A wireframe example is shown to the right.

Left and right controls are simple and allow the user to wash their hands at any speed they want.

...but we ended up changing the controls for the installation to be the speed at which the person washes their hands. In other words, the Leap Motion will pick up how fast your hands are moving and based on that, it will affect the mechanics of the game.

Creating the Platform

This is is my first post of many having to do with a new platform for video games that me and some friends are working on for our Senior project at SCAD Atlanta.

My buddy Matt came up with the idea, "Wash Your Hands, Save the Princess." This was an idea for a video game played by washing your hands. This was an exciting idea and I was interested immediately.

We don't have a definite name for the system but for the time being it is called "Oasis."

Basically we are looking to create a kit that can be installed into bathrooms that have monitors or tv screens behind its mirrors behind sinks. (example to the right)

The first thing we looked into were the facts dealing with the CDC's hand washing guidelines to ensure that our system finds a way to make people wash their hands the correct way, making the world a cleaner place.

I believe that with Health backing us, this could turn into something really big. I will update our progress here, so stay tuned!