Concept Review, Custom Controller--Demon's Tilt

 

Demon’s Tilt

My chosen game is Demon’s Tilt, a video pinball game. Its intended input devices are keyboard and controller. I believe it could benefit from a controller which calls back to the way that pinball machines are controlled in arcades. Although, I think using something other than buttons would make controlling the flippers even more interesting than on actual pinball machines.

The Steel Battalion controller from the alternative game controller examples in the project’s inquiry questions inspired my idea. While a pinball controller would not be so complex, it would aim to be immerse like the Steel Battalion controller. To illustrate, I want to use the act of tilting a controller to be how you tilt the pinball machine in game rather than using a joystick. While a joystick is easier, it is not as interesting. However, I did include one sketch which explores using another method to nudge the ball in game.

 

Sketches:

Sketch with an Accelerometer from the CPB for nudging the ball in game, two Potentiometers for controlling the flippers, and a plunger for launching the ball.

An alternative to the accelerometer using a wand to touch areas on the controller for the nudge action.

An alternative to the potentiometers for using the flippers. Instead using flex sensors you bend.