Intention:
Changuya is an interactive media game prototype that creates a visualization of folklores based on brain wave data and through the use of technology. The technology stated is the MindWave, a portable EEG, from NeuroSky. This prototype is trying to explore a new way for players to interact with the digital virtual world. With neural control, the game will offer players a more immersive experience. The theme of the game is about the relationship between humans and nature. We would like to let people to think about their roles in modern society.

 

Game Concept:
The player character named Changuya was the princess of the moon. She was born in the earth with a human body. She is tired of being involved in the exploitation and destruction of nature as a human and the only way to get out of the predicament is to fly back to her hometown – the moon. In the game, besides to control some changes of the character herself with players’ neurobiological parameters, players can also control the character’s behavior, which will finally determine the character’s personality type.

 

Game Play:
The prototype helps the audience to perceive the story through the interaction within the created folklore world. This folklore world is based on the Asian folklores, Kaguya and Chang’e.

 

The control for this utilizes the MindWave and the keyboard. With the MindWave, the audience controls Changuya with concentration and meditation brainwaves. Concentration controls the growth of the objects around Changuya while meditation controls her to fly. With the keyboard, the audience can control Changuya to move around and switch the type of control. For example, instead of growing objects, the audience can choose to make Changuya can grow herself with concentration instead of growing objects.

 

Changuya starts off on Earth and the audience can explore with the controls available to them, whether it is to grow the plants and structures or destroy them, or just roam around. To end the game, Changuya must return to the Moon.

 

There is an alignment system between good score and bad score. Good score is based on the plants’ growth while bad score is based on the destruction of the plants. This serves the purpose of letting the audience to learn about their own interaction through Changuya. When Changuya flies and reach the moon, an ending image will be shown. The ending image alternates based on the amount of good and bad score which determines the ending image to be good, bad, or neutral.

Key Game Features:

1. Novel interactive input: In the game, players will use a Neurosky headset which detects brainwave signals to monitor attention and meditation levels of players as they interact with the game.

2. Various playable modes: Since the character is a goddess with human body, the player is able to change her look and size.

3. Fly to the moon: The goal of the game is to make the character flies back to the moon. Player’s meditation value will control this movement.

4. Personality shaping: In the game, the player’s behaviors for plants and buildings will shape different personalities of the character.

5. Different Endings: There will be three different endings triggered by different personalities.