Concept Review: Space Beetle

Game: Thumper by Drool

Link: https://thumpergame.com/

Thumper is a self-proclaimed “violent rhythm game” that utilizes limited controls to great effect. The player’s space beetle character can jump, ram and slide to interact with obstacles. Each level involves multiple courses linked together for a more unified experience, and one that could benefit well from an alternative controller tailored specifically to the game’s streamlined inputs. Considering the entire premise of the game is the motion of the beetle, it stands to reason that use of an accelerometer in an enclosure resembling the player character is as intuitive as it is thematically relevant. In that way the player would be manipulating their controller in the exact motion intended in-game; it could also simplify more complex inputs, such as reducing the space + directional input for a slide to a simple x axis rotation to make the physical interaction more representative of the game. 

Due to the few controls that require mapping and the relatively straightforward enclosure design each of the concepts are relatively similar. That said, depending on technical restrictions there is potential for more variance between designs.

Concept A: Accelerometer only for simplistic controls and space efficiency. 

Concept B: Light sensors contained in the enclosure and sensors for each; could provide more responsive input, but also somewhat complex.

Concept C: Utilizes z axis rather than x for a different range of motion. Vocal input offers an alternative to having two inputs on the y axis, though it may be less reliable for a game that requires frequent space inputs.