Chú Mó is an experience that combines virtual and physical feedback to create a one of a kind adventure. Players take the role of fledgeling exorcism students who must seal away an unruly demon. Alternative controllers, projection mapping, and physical components help immerse the player in this award-winning game.
Role: Physical Computing System Programmer
Duration: 01/2023 - 04/2023 (4 months)
Tools Used: Unity, C#, Visual Studio, Phidget Control Panel
Responsibilities
Physical Computing: Coded the system that allowed Unity to affect real world objects
Wiring Assistant: Assisted a mentor to connect the various objects together
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Physical Computing
During gameplay various real-world props are controlled by the game. These items are part of a feedback system that helps players identify their next objectives. This was initially done with Arduino, but we needed to control too many objects at once. A mentor suggested that Phidgets would be better for our use case so I started researching how to connect them with Unity.
Working on Chú Mó felt like making the ghost that haunts the house. It was amazing to watch players get spooked when the game made objects move. This project made me realize how important feedback is, both for the players and game designers.
While I love the version of Chú Mó hand-built with our team of a dozen talented designers, programmers, artists, and storytellers, it evolved to a much bigger, more complex project after my exit thanks to their persistence and passion. They spent the next three months polishing the project until it was ready for its Indiecade debut. You can find links to their online presence below:
Learnings
Chú Mó taught me the importance of team communication and documentation. While the diverse make-up of our team allowed for creativity and innovation, project documentation and communication with teammates took place in multiple languages. This led to mistranslation and poor communication. It gave me a greater appreciation for clear communication. On the projects I’ve led since I prioritize getting the team on the same page and removing obstacles that may keep them from succeeding.
