In The Zone is a game that uses of augmented reality to immerse players in a fast paced rhythmic experience.
THE CLIENT
Senior Capstone Project
THE SPECS
Mixed Reality, Motion Graphics, UI Design
WHAT SETS THIS GAME APART?
Mixed reality.
I've always been a fan of rhythm games, I even play Dance Dance Revolution competitively. However, the genre has recently started feeling repetitive (think Guitar Hero, Just Dance). Do you have any urge to play those games? I don't.
In The Zone is different. The game meshes the physical act of walking to the beat of a song alongside a responsive world that changes based on a player's performance. And it does this through the power of smart glasses, the user's phone, and augmented reality.
Hello, future!
A NOT SO EASY TASK
Stepping to the beat of the music.
"Synchronization to a musical beat is a process sustained by a complex neuronal network." It's a hard task ... but I believe that we can train anyone to time their steps, especially if its to music they enjoy!
The early sketching process for the games UI explored different ways of communicating timing to the player to help them identify the rhythm of a song, regardless of the player's familiarity with the music.
// EXPLORING HOW TO COMMUNICATE RHYTHM
HOW DO NOVICES KEEP TIME?
Metronomes and instructors.
The main guiding element in the game's UI is a metronome. Why? The metronome has proven to help those who aren't so musically gifted keep time since its creation in the late 17th century. The final product relies on skeuomorphism and utilizes design cues inherent to the basic metronome.
However, a metronome isn't enough! The game provides players the choice of a Ritmo (Spanish for Rhythm), an instructor who will provide tips and tricks for the world of In The Zone.
The instructor lives in the metronome and provides real-time feedback to ensure the player feels comfortable and confident.
THE BIG REVEAL
Introducing the masses to AR.
A gameplay trailer was produced to illustrate the game's concepts. This trailer would be shown at video game conferences like E3 to generate interest in the game and introduce players to video games that use mixed reality.
// THE GAMEPLAY TRAILER
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Everyone can get In The Zone.
The competitive nature of the game is an opportunity. In the future, I hope to explore ways to set up competitions as a social component for the game. In addition, I hope to provide support for bone-conduction headphones and an accessibility mode tailored for the deaf or hard of hearing to play along.
