SeaRhythm - A Rhythm Game with the ROLI Seaboard - Innovation in Game Controllers

Abstract

More than 60 years ago, the first video games started appearing, and game controllers followed. Since then, the video and computer games market has become one of the largest entertainment industries in the world. Millions of dollars are spent on research and development of new game controllers, and the most popular ones have followed a similar design over the past two decades. This report studies non-conventional gaming controllers and how they might be used in creative ways to create new gaming experiences.

The first part of this study explores different game controllers, their evolutions, and their parallels. It aims to explore innovative ways for a non-controller device to be used as a game controller. Frameworks for game enjoyment are studied, and form the basis for several game concepts. One of these concepts is made into a rhythm-game which uses a non-controller as the primary gaming device. This game was tested using the frameworks for game enjoyment to ascertain the quality of the game.

Results from the tests indicate that the use of a non-conventional game controller can affect the gaming experience in a positive fashion. However, several flaws have been discovered in the design, but these can be fixed to further improve the positive effect.