Category Archives: Cave Archeological Virtual Excursions Blog

Project Description
We are attempting to make an interactive puzzle game with multiple environments all following a cohesive story/setting. The user will be tasked with solving basic puzzles and traversing through interesting locales. The user will interact using the standard cave wand and potentially voice recognition using the Kinect. An indicator will be displayed on their hud giving them a clue as to what to do. Depending on how hard an objective can be, we can tweak this such that it is either more/less obvious. For more information, click here.

C.A.V.E. 4/28 Update

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THIS WEEK IN C.A.V.E. NEWS:

Group: Tried to test the Egypt level in the cave, but it was taking forever to load.

Lauren: Finished the Terminal and Egypt models.

Kevin: Got the Kinect VR to work and is now looking into getting the Egypt file up and running tonight.

CC: Almost finished with the Museum level. Needs to be tested

Nick: Worked out all puzzles/level flow diagrams. Started shooping for the Egyptian(hieroglyphics) & Museum(paintings) levels. Started creating the handouts to users.

What we’ll need for next week: Temple and Museum modeled. Add puzzle elements and programming to Temple, Museum, Egypt levels. Everything tested. Finish the user handouts. Start the powerpoint for the final presentation.

Update 4/21

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This Friday we were able to try some of our models in the CAVE. The terminal had some issues and the walls didn’t show up. Lauren is going to try building the walls differently to see if it solves the problem. The terminal currently looks like this:

Kevin and Nick tried to put physics on certain objects, but the floor was also not working correctly and the objects were falling through. Hopefully when the terminal is rebuilt the floor will stay in place.

CC is continuing to build her model and has found paintings that we are going to include in one of our games.

Kevin looked at programming voice commands with the Kinect. This is something we will incorporate into our games. It looks like this is going to work well.

Nick continued working on planning the games and as soon as the models are functioning, he will be ready to get those working.

Update #1

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So far this week we decided on a lot of core concepts to be included in the project. Below is a list of the features each person included.

Lauren: I’m working on the pyramid and terminal model. I should have the structures done by Tuesday, although I probably won’t have materials on.

CC: I have done modeling the building which is having the museum. I will continue to add materials and work with the interior of the museum this week. In addition, i will finish an outdoor environment before this Tuesday.

Kevin: I’m working on getting familiar with the Kinect SDK for voice today.

Nick: I have created nice outlines for puzzles in the Egypt and Temple levels. They’ll probably have to be refined a bit with the models of the structures, but we’ll handle that when it gets there. I’ll do the museum as soon as I have a nice list of paintings to go on.

Cave Archeological Virtual Excursions

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Cave Archeological Virtual Excursions

At least one concept image

C.A.V.E. was inspired upon Nightmare Before Christmas ‘hub” and airport terminals.

A brief description of your project

  • What you are attempting to accomplish?

We are attempting to make an interactive puzzle game with multiple environments all following a cohesive story/setting. Must be interesting and fun.

Description of the user’s experience

  • Does the user have a goal?

The user will be tasked with solving basic puzzles and traversing through interesting locales.

  • How will the user interact with the system?

The user will interact using the standard cave wand and potentially voice recognition using the Kinect.

  • What happens if the user doesn’t do what they are supposed to?

An indicator will be displayed on their hud giving them a clue as to what to do. Depending on how hard an objective can be, we can tweak this such that it is either more/less obvious.

Equipment

  • What software and hardware do you plan to use

        The Cave >.> Possibly the Kinect. Sketchup, Revit and 3DS Max

Weekly Timeline

  • Either use a Gantt chart or describe desired outcomes on a weekly basis

    • April 9: Have a cohesive theme and general direction for the game. Start creating puzzle design charts and specific level requirements/directions. Start working on terminal.

    • April 16: Have puzzle design charts finished and specific level requirements/directions finished. Start modeling levels. Start programming a HUD && item interactivity. Look at Kinect Voice Recognition. If (easy){startKinectProgramming()}else{nope.avi}

    • April 23: Levels are (or are nearly) finished. Have programming of HUD (say “give me a hint” and text is displayed) finished. Item interactivity almost finished, depending on how fast it takes to implement all of the levels.

    • April 30: The experience is finished, just adding the finishing touches/bug fixes.

    • May 7: Hopefully finished with a working game that doesn’t crash. (probably won’t happen)

  • What contingency plans do you have?

    Make a shoebox diorama and have people use their imaginations.

  • What is the bare minimum you would consider a success?

        A fun and interesting environment that people can walk through and enjoy.

Places:

 

  • Hub

  • Petra/Angkor Wat

   

  • Taizhou

  • Egypt – Pyramid

Puzzles:

  • Petra

    • Scroll deciphering

    • Open Sesame to open big tomb door

    • ???

    • Profit

    • Genie Lamp

  • Egypt

    • Choose the right canopic jars and place them in order on a pedestal.

    • Tomb is revealed

    • Open sarcophagus with ultrahuman strength?

  • Taizhou

    • Hidden object in a painting, object hidden behind the painting

    • PAINTING PUZZLES!!!!11!!1!!!!!