Pathfinder:Aperformance-gamefortheaugmenteddrum-kit

ChristosMichalakos

UniversityofAbertay,Dundee,[email protected]

Abstract.

Pathfinderisaperformance-gameforsolodrummer,exploringthesynergiesbetweenmultiplecontemporarycreativepractices.Theworknavigatesbetweenmusiccomposition,improvisation,projection/lightartandgameart.Atitsheartliesabespokeelectro-acousticinstrument,theaugmenteddrum-kit,usednotonlytoprovidethesoniccontentoftheworkinreal-time,butalsoasahighlyexpressivegamecontrollerthatinteractswithaninstrument-specificgame.Themusicalinstrumentoffersamuchwiderrangeofexpressivepossibilities,controlandtactilefeedbackincomparisontoatraditionalgeneral-purposegamecontroller,andasaresultitaffordsamorediverseandnuancedgameplayperformance.Liveelectronics,lights,projectionsandthedrum-kitallmakeuptheperformance-game’suniverse,withinwhichtheperformerhastoexplore,adapt,navigateandcompleteajourney.

Keywords:Games,NewInstrumentsforMusicalExpression,InterfaceDesign,UI/UX

AugmentedDrum-KitTheaugmenteddrum-kitwasdevelopedoverthecourseoffiveyears,andconsistsofatraditionaldrum-kitmountedwithsensors,contactmicrophones,speakersandbespokesoftware.Theacoustickitalsobecomesthecontrolinterfaceoftheelectronicswiththeuseofmachinelisteningtechniquesandgesturalanalysisresultinginahighlyphysicalperformance.Thereisminimalinteractionwiththelaptop-allcontroloftheelectronicsound,game,lightandprojectioncontroliscarriedoutthroughtheacousticinstrument;thecomputerservesonlyasthemediatorforallassembledpiecesofdigitalandanaloguetechnology.

PathfinderWithinthegame,theplayerexploresanopenenvironmentbynavigatingthroughpresetsandmanagingresources.Playingtooloudortoofastinthebeginning,forexample,wouldmeanhavingfewerresourcesavailableforexplorationlaterinthegame.Also,theworldcanbeexplorednon-linearly,andisdifferentoneachplay-through.Whilethemainmechanicsarestillinplace,presetsandresourcesarepositioneddifferentlyeachtimethegameloads;theplayer’sstrategywillhavetoadaptaccordinglyinordertoexploreasmanyareasoftheworldaspossible.Theinteractionbetweentheperformerandthegamerangesfromaveryclearanddirectrelationshipbetweenphysicalgestureandresultonthescreen,tomoreobscurerelationshipsandmappings,allofwhichcontributetowardsdrivingtheperformanceforward.Fromamusicalperspective,thegamecanalsobeseenastheperformance’sgraphicscore,shapingthesonicoutputaccordingtothepresentgamestateandtheplayer’sactionswithineachgivensituation.

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Figure1.Pathfinderbird’seyeview–Navigatingthroughpresets

BiographyChristosisacomposer,performer,soundartistandsoftwaredeveloper.Hisworkexplorestherelationshipsbetweensound,space,gamesandbespokeperformanceenvironments.HehaspresentedworksandtalkedatawiderangeofconferencesandfestivalsincludingtheLondonJazzFestival(London2015),GameDevelopersConference(SanFrancisco2015),ACMCreativityandCognition(Glasgow2015),NewInterfacesforMusicalExpression(Oslo2011/London2014),InternationalComputerMusicConference(Ljubljana2012),InternationalSymposiumonElectronicArt(Albuquerque2012)andSonoritiesFestivalofContemporaryMusic(Belfast2011/12).

BeforejoiningAbertayUniversityinDundeeasalecturerfocusingondynamicaudioforgamesanddigitalmedia,heworkedasleadaudioprogrammerandinterfacedesigneronsoftwareusedinmajorfilmsandgamesincludingMarvel’sAvengers:AgeofUltron,FarCry4andEvolve.

HavingcompletedaBScinMathematicsattheUniversityofCretein2006,hemovedtoScotlandtopursuepostgraduatestudiesattheUniversityofEdinburgh.HegainedanMScinAcousticsandMusicTechnology,andaPhDinCreativeMusicPracticein2013,examinedbyrenownedcomposerandmulti-instrumentalistFredFrith.