Students at Carnegie Mellon University showcased the future of interactive entertainment during the annual Fall Festival at the Entertainment Technology Center on December 5, 2023. This event transformed the center into a vibrant arcade, allowing visitors to experience gaming prototypes developed over the past semester.
Among the featured projects was a multiplayer game titled Overboard, where teams compete to sink each other’s pirate ships. Frank Lin, an artist and producer for the game, emphasized the importance of fun in gameplay. “They don’t have to care about strategy or think too much. What they can do is just kind of like, destroy the friendship in a good way and just have fun,” Lin remarked.
Another project, The Escape March, drew inspiration from the 1994 film “The Shawshank Redemption.” In this single-player experience, participants use a controller shaped like a hammer to break out of jail while timing their strikes with thunder to avoid detection by guards. Ivy Hu, an artist on this project, aimed to create an immersive and intense experience to thrill players. The controller, designed to resemble a hammer, can be cleverly stored in a fake bible, echoing elements from the film.
Collaborative Gaming Experiences
Some projects were developed over the entire fall semester and included educational elements. For instance, The Cavern features a semi-circular video display for a car racing game designed to promote teamwork. Jose Mireles, who demonstrated the game, explained that players do not control the cars directly. Instead, they influence the race by cheering for sections of the crowd, which in turn impacts the drivers on the track.
Mireles noted the challenges and excitement of the gameplay, stating that players must communicate effectively. “We are using this playground to spark conversation about communication and cooperation,” he said, adding that even if a car crashes, it is not the end of the game. The primary goal remains to have fun while also fostering teamwork.
The festival provided a platform for first-year graduate students to create projects from scratch within just two weeks, showcasing the breadth of creativity and innovation at Carnegie Mellon University. As these students push the boundaries of video gaming, their work highlights the potential future of interactive entertainment, merging technology with engaging gameplay experiences.
