Installation
Real footages and Renders
A collaboration with Soroush Azari | @ NP3 RE:Search:Gallery | 2024
It's a multiplayer first-person style game installation where each player has a dedicated TV screen. They're both playing the same game but from two different perspectives of the same game level, each experiencing distinct visual themes and details in their surroundings. The game's concept revolves around one player wielding a 3D printed gun with an HTC Vive tracker attached, embodying a character in the game who shoots pieces of my written thesis on paper in random order. Meanwhile, the second player controls a vacuum cleaner with Playstation controller tasked with cleaning up the scattered papers. Once both players complete a round, the text collected in-game is printed onto real A4 paper, serving as a collectible item for the players.
The main installation consists of two TVs, a 3D-printed gun, controllers, and a printer. Beneath the PC, there is a blood stain created using epoxy resin and pigments. The setup includes a ready-made second-hand desk and a workshop desk to house the gun and the laptop running the game, positioned next to the PC. In addition to the game itself, a large screen displays a third-person view, showing real-time footage of one of the players. The walls feature HTC Vive trackers, which function to track the gun's movement during gameplay.
Including 3D renders and virtual mockups for the installation next to the real footages of the main experience.
Documentation of the 3D printed gun.
The creation of the gun was a lengthy process involving trial and error in both design and functionality. I began by designing the gun in Blender, using sculpting tools and modifiers to achieve my vision. The main challenge was breaking the gun down into pieces for 3D printing and making the grip functional. To address this, I divided the grip into two parts to insert a button connected to an Arduino board, which controls the trigger mechanism—the same model used in the game.
Additionally, I went through numerous attempts to create a functional space for a glue gun's plastic trigger, utilizing its mechanics for the click function.
RE:Present | Exhibition at NP3 RE:Search:Gallery
The final gun design is used for rotation and features a simple button—an implanted Arduino button that replaces the game's left-click function, controlling the trigger and shooting mechanism. Furthermore, a pedal on the ground takes over the "W" and "S" keys on the keyboard, allowing the player to move forward and backward.
Documentations from the video game experience and walkthrough.
The core of the project is a video game designed for two players. There are no specific objectives for each player to accomplish. The shooter can only shoot papers, while the cleaner's sole function is to clean up those papers. The shooter has a limited supply of 10 papers to use. If the cleaner successfully cleans up all the papers, the game ends. The random words from the papers are then sent as a text file to the printer in the installation and printed as collectibles for the winners.
TG0013 - Multiplayer gameplay
In this video you can see both players joining the same server and playing in the same map together.
Documentations from the video game experience through the eyes of the shooter character.
TG0013 - Shooter gameplay
The world the shooter navigates is simplified and minimalistic. This artistic decision serves the visual language of the project without any functional necessity. Every object in the scene shares the same texture, designed to accentuate the colorful sticky notes and create contrast with the surroundings. The shooter player can only shoot papers and walk around the scene, either making the game easier or harder for the vacuum cleaner to complete the round.
Documentations from the video game experience through the eyes of the Cleaner character.
Video Description
In contrast, the world the cleaner navigates is much more colorful and detailed, featuring several interactable objects. The vacuum cleaner has basic movement controls, allowing it to move back and forth and rotate using the right joystick. Additionally, it can turn itself on and off. The cleaner can interact with certain objects when it enters their interaction zones. For example, it can turn a TV on or off, activate a slot machine that scrolls through random images (memes), burn a painting, or rotate within an infinite mirror, among other interactions.
