PART OF RESEARCH PROGRAMME

PART OF RESEARCH PROGRAMME

At Interactive Institute Sonic Studio we have been researching the area of game and sounds for some years. The projects tests the limits of using audio as a key element in computer games and lately specifically for mobile platforms. The overall aim is to show the potential in sound to induce emotions and enhance an experience but as well to carry meaningful information.

AGRIPA is the II Sonic Studio project that investigates the potential and limitations, both technical and conceptual, for audio games on the iPhone platform that in part resulted in the iSpooks game. The inspiration to build a fully playable audio game came from the Beowulf project where we learned that sound worked well as a gameplay driver and that the players had a rich and immersed experience.

Beowulf is a computer game prototype based on sound with the simple player task to find a monster and kill it. The player navigates in a system of caves where sound from the environment as well as from living creatures make up the game world. The lack of visual stimulation in the application encourages the user to utilize their own interpretive skills and create the graphic elements mentally themselves. The Beowulf project aimed at answering questions about sound’s ability to help users create inner pictures and emotional responses to a game world. Beowulf has given valuable input to the Agripa project that deepens the research on game experience for audio games.

Download Beowulf (for Mac)      Download Beowulf guide leaflet (PDF)

The research aim in the AGRIPA and iSpooks project is to explore the use of sound, multi-touch, vibration and accelerometer as means of interaction to also evaluate the game from an eyes-free user interface perspective. We also want to find out if it is possible to build an immersing game experience on sound as a key element and to develop a method to evaluate it.