Space Pyramids: Task 20: Elements of game technology, part three: interaction design.

‘Games are inevitably complex entities demanding constantly changing inputs and responses from the player. Given that Call of Duty is more demanding than Word, how do the designers enable such complex interactions relatively ‘intuitively’? Are these interactions in fact intuitive at all?

Game engines can handle complex physics simulations, but have traditionally been hindered by the limitations of screen/keyboard/mouse interaction. What effect could the rise of the Wii and the new generation of motion controllers have on game design? What about the impact of 3D technology?’

In a traditional solo video game you're actually interacting with the designer.
In a newer video game, you're interacting with other people through situations devised by the designer.

Interacting with the designer: (Often called PvE, Player vs. Environment)
   Puzzles
   Talking with NPCs
   Collecting information
   Avoiding obstacles and hazards (which may behave sentiently (with intelligence) or not)
       Stealth
       Con them (bluffing)
       Blast/smash them
       Clever other methods (drive cattle in front of you)
       Dodge/avoid
   (Cutscenes–but no interactivity)

Interacting with other people:
   Negotiation (persuade or dissuade)
   Direct Conflict (PvP, Player vs. Player)
       "Beating them to the punch" (in races, collection of objects, as well as in attacking)
       Kill-crush-destroy opposing entities
       Physical contests
   Cooperation (typical of group RPGs)
   Trading
   Bidding against/auctioning
   Drafting (selecting the best set of useful items, getting something before someone else does)

   Anticipation of what someone else will do (could be tied to “beating them to the punch”)
   "Bragging rights"
   Telling bad jokes, charades, drawing pictures, and many other kinds of party game activities
   Acting/pretending (lying) (bluffing)
   Being annoying
   Indirect interaction (you cause forces other than yours to do something to harm another player's)

As shown there are numerous way in which a player can interact indirectly with the designer and ultimately the game enabling these interactions so that the player can experience all of the above in an intuitive manor takes a great deal of time and effort to produce. Designers can choose to go don't he already well established routes like the Xbox and PlayStation controllers we know today or the humble keyboard and mouse, but with more and more small time developers taking the next step in these some what usually overlooked fields, more and more developers are beginning to take note and to want to be part of this new movement. Companies like Oculus and Sixsense creating prototypes and now fully fledged consumer products that have inspired many to re think the way we can interact with games.

Oculus are a company devoted to the pursuit of creating the worlds best VR –virtual reality- device that can place you quite literally so far as your vision and hearing is concerned, into the game world, no longer will you be limited by the size of your computer screen, the Oculus Rift lets players intuitively move in three dimensional space. being able to lean and look in every which direction opens up dramatic new possibilities for the games industry and developers.

Sixsense is also working to push the boundaries of player, game interaction, creating products like the Razer Hydra –which also identify the point that bigger companies do want to help make this a reality with names like Razer taking ideas like this on board- which can also be used in conjunction with the oculus to give an almost full immersive and intuitive experience where the player is free to look and move in 3D space.

Now with both products there still is the limitation as to actual player movement, by which I mean walking or running. But once again another company has that covered.

The Virtuix Omni is the first –when combined with the oculus rift- virtual reality interface for moving freely and naturally in your favorite game.

The device allows for complete immersion while still creating an intuitive environment for the player.

Applications of natural movement in virtual reality stretch far beyond gaming: training and simulation, fitness, virtual tourism, virtual tradeshows and events, meet-ups and multi-person adventures, virtual workplaces, museums, VR architecture, VR concerts… The possibilities for all of the mentioned above are limitless.