Mike Stein

The Project

Using Pixelblocks, I created a Mega Man statue, and mounted it in an Ikea picture frame. I cut a hole in the top of a frame, dropped in a switch, and wired up a couple LEDs to a circuit.

So, when you flick the switch, white LEDs come on behind the pixel blocks, like so:

More after the jump.

History
A couple months ago, during a home improvement buying spree, I decided I wanted to put up some pictures. I bought a bunch of frames, including 3 small ones for photos, that I figured I'd eventually do something with.

When Bolas assigned this current project, my first idea was to create a maze in the library stacks. After actually hanging out in the stacks for a day, all the ideas I had for the maze weren't compelling enough to me. I wanted to create something like a hedgemaze, and I couldn't figure out how to build what I wanted.

My second idea was a game that I've been wanting to make for a year or so, involving cell phones, Bluetooth, and processing. After playing with that for 2 days, I realized that the learning curve for what I wanted to do with Bluetooth was greater than the time I wanted to invest in the project. I'm still tinkering with this, but on my own time frame - considerably longer than 2 weeks.

I hit on my third (and final) idea while cleaning my room last week. I found the unused picture frames, had recently seen pixelblocks at the iam8bit show, and the two just worked together.

Lessons Learned

I started off this project wanting to make 2 pixel block pictures. I figured that'd be 3 LEDs a piece. So, I wanted 6 white LEDs. Radioshack only had 5. 1 of those turned out to be a dud. And I managed to light another one on fire while buidling a circuit. Meaning I only had 3 functioning LEDs.

I also broke the glass for one of my picture frames while re-inserting it after drilling a hole for my switch.

The lesson? Because I'd set out to make 2 pictures, I had enough parts from 2 somewhat broken projects to build 1 functioning one. I

Posted by Michael Stein at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Jitter is incompatible with Java 1.6
A fix or this from the processing forums:

1) On Windows, find the file C:\Program Files\Cycling '74\MaxMSP 4.6\Cycling '74\java\max.java.config.txt

2) Open it with a text editor (Wordpad works best)

3) Find the line that says: max.jvm.option -Xms16m

4) Change it to read: max.jvm.option -Xms64m

5) Save the file

Posted by Michael Stein at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've spoken to a lot of people who've said that they're going to play, but haven't signed up yet.
It's getting close to game day, so I'd encourage people who want to play but haven't signed up to do so.

Again, check it out at www.cruelgame.com/signup

Posted by Michael Stein at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm running a game of Cruel 2B Kind on Saturday, April 21st.
If you don't know about it, it's a game where you run around in public and shout compliments at strangers.

Actually, there's a little more to it than that, but it's a blast to play. I played it in San Francisco, and there's nothing quite like a group of 50 people charging at you, to loudly compliment your shoes.

If you're interested (and I hope you are - it's a great excuse to be outside on a Saturday), head over to http://cruelgame.com/signup. It's the Santa Monica game, not the Seattle one.

Posted by Michael Stein at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are two things I'm doing to prototype my thesis before the year ends.

The first is running a game of Cruel 2B Kind.
The second is to run my own game, which I've called Codename.

Rules and description of Codename can be found here.

About half of my schedule for the term is devoted to getting a run of Codename in. I'm already off, because I wasn't thinking about the 2/4/8 project, so I'm going to have to redouble my efforts to get it off the ground. Looks like I'll be coming in to campus this weekend.

Posted by Michael Stein at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. It's not an ARG (yet)
ARGs involve a narrative. I'm studying player interaction. I'm not sure if I want to get involved with wrapping the interaction in to a narrative, and building appropriate puzzles, etc.

Both ARGs and games like Cruel 2B Kind are part of a type of game, that doesn't have it's name exactly defined. I'm looking at that top layer, not specifically ARGs.

2. A game.
What I'm interested most in my thesis is the research, NOT the game that comes from it. I'm using the game (or possibly, games), to back up the research.

3. MySpace or Facebook.
I'm not building a method to keep track of friends.

4. Time / Space / Mike dependant
The game that comes from this, will not be one that is scheduled, or dependant on me. I'm looking at ways to get a large group of people, gamers and non-gamers alike, to play. A part of that is making it incredibly easy to find a game, and one that is always on is certainly easy to find.

5. Complex
Again, I'm trying to build something that as many people as possible can enjoy. As such, the means for interaction, and the rules, can't be complex.

Posted by Michael Stein at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)