Building Virtual Worlds – Stefani Taskas

Building Virtual Worlds is part of the curriculum at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Master’s. Interdisciplinary teams of 4 to 5 work together to create interactive entertainment experiences. These teams are usually made up of two programmers, two artists, and one sound designer. Each project lasts 1 to 3 weeks, in which teams work iteratively based on playtest, class, and instructor feedback.

Round 1 - Hair-ifying

Use a magic glue stick to help the main character as his hair starts popping off of his head! His grandpa and dad are bald so he created a magic glue stick that reattaches hair after it’s fallen off. The player can also create a cool new hairstyle for him by dyeing the pieces and attaching them in a new place!

This game was created over the course of two weeks in a team of five. It is on the Magic Leap, an AR device.

Round 2 - Whale You Were Here

Pilot a spaceship through an ocean-like outer space while using a magic wand to free endangered animals from bubbles.

This game was created over the course of two weeks in a team of five. It is on the HTC Vive and utilizes a tracker on a joystick.

Round 3 - Water Truckin': Evil Hero

Team up with a friend to control a firetruck and knock the opposing firetruck off the map and into the water. One player controls firetruck movement while the other controls the water cannon.

This game was created over the course of one week in a team of five. It is on the Jam-O-Drum, which is a device at Carnegie Mellon University.

Round 4 - The Moon

An adaptation on the myth of Charon and the River Styx. Play as Charon, the ferryman on the River Styx, and collect souls to bring to the afterlife.

This game was created over the course of two weeks in a team of five. It is on the Valve Index.

Round 5 - Co-opterpillar

Teams of three race against each other by stomping on floor buttons. Players have to cooperate with their teammates in order to move in the same direction. The first team to the end wins!

This game was created over the course of three weeks in a team of five. It utilizes the Makey Makey.