Consider the Lilies
Role:
Programmer, 3D Modeler, Animator
Software:
Unity, Maya, Arduino
Consider the Lilies is an upcoming 3D, Arduino-controlled immersive game that takes players on an ant-sized adventure that explores themes of mental health and relaxation. The levels explore techiques such as journaling and physical stretches as incorporated gameplay elements, with the game culminating into an interesting plot twist that is sure to impress!
Core Mechanics
Arduino Game Interface
With the desire to incorporate physical means of stress relief into the gameplay, Consider the Lilies features an Arduino-based interface centered around "stress balls" as a means for movement and interaction throughout the game.
Gameplay Reflecting Real-Life Mental Health Strategies
Consider the Lilies features innovative gameplay strategies that incorporate mental health techniques such as journaling, stress ball exercises, and exploration, immersing players in these strategies without even realizing it.
Calming, Natural Aesthetic and Environments
In order to further communicate this objective of serenity and mental reset, Consider the Lilies communicates a calming aesthetic focused on appealing and easy-on-the-eyes visuals & color scheme, along with a low-poly art style to focus on the simplicity & beauty of the environments.
Pre-Production
The pre-production process for my game began with a desire to create something that reflected my background as a very busy college student and someone who is strong in their faith. I chose to focus on the relationship between faith and mental health, as well as the connection between learning from video games and retention. To better understand these relationships, I conducted interviews and created user personas to improve the overall user experience. Through my research, I gained valuable insights that helped shape the direction of the game.
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Arduino Development
In developing an Arduino-based system to create an immersive mental health strategy interface, the goal was to engage players beyond simply presenting them with facts. The decision process involved evaluating different sensory inputs to best immerse the player. Initially, I considered breath control and stress balls. Ultimately, stress balls were chosen because they offered more flexibility in achieving a tactile control system that maintained the familiar feel of gaming while subtly integrating stress relief techniques. Additionally, research and interviews revealed that stress balls were particularly popular, further validating their potential effectiveness in this context.
Arduino System Toolkit
I went with the Thin Film Pressure Sensor 20g-2Kg as my input device system in order to react to the pressure created by squeezing a stress ball. The two pressure sensors were placed in between egg shaped stress balls and decorated as white lilies to match the theming of the game. The Ardity extension was used in order to transfer pressure information from the Arduino device to the Unity3D game engine. The Arduino system was used for gameplay such as the opening screen and flight minigame, and affordances were placed on screen in order to help the player make the switch between keyboard interaction and Arduino interaction.
Playtesting and Challenges
Multiple in-class playtesting and department-wide showcasing took place in order to get feedback for this project. Some praised aspects included:
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Love of the aesthetic: the garden theme with the pastel color scheme really communicated a natural and calming experience. The decor of the Arduino device was eye-popping and caught much attention.
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Unique and intriguing experience: The Arduino interface itself was a new experience that many hadn't tried before and didn't think was possible (not many have controlled a bird via stress ball). Many were shocked by not only the gameplay but the interface's technical design.
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Connection to the world of mental health and faith: Many caught the reference to "Consider the Lilies", a famous scripture used to discuss the toil of worry, with its themes strung throughout the story and gameplay. The stress relief techniques proved to amuse and destress many, with players actually using the journaling feature in order to write out thoughts and using the stress balls to relieve stress.
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Great feedback was given on many portions of the gameplay and its connection to the Arduino interface including:
Flight Control Handling
Initial versions of the flight minigame had the player controlling a sparrow as she landed in the field by turning left and right with the handles. Most players assumed up and down controls as squeezing the stress balls to increase and decrease power. The change was added to reflect this feedback: up and down controls were added, navigating through "rings" to get points and making the game overall easier.
Interface Connection/Transition
With the unfamiliar interface came some struggles with seamlessly transitioning between PC interface and the unique Arduino interface. Also, some confusion came with the interface swap separating from the immersion of the game. Some changes that were made included adding affordances to the gameplay to show a clear transition between keyboard and Arduino. Additionally, some more decor was added to the final prototype in order to create that "garden" feel.
Future Plans
Currently, only up to the first level of three has been completed. I have plans to complete all three levels, including a level with a "hopping" mechanism controlled by the Arduino over lilies and a "rowing" mechanism to navigate through a spring rain.
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