Scaffolding: Concept Review - Dig Dug Pump Controller

DIG DUG PUMP

For this project, I thought of a controller simulating the pump in Dig Dug.

I initially struggled rather intensely to think of a game with a simple control scheme that could lead to a controller that suits my financial and supply needs for this project. 

One initial idea I had was to use a visual novel or point and click game for this project, with one of my more fleshed out ideas being to recreate the bracelets and RED (scanners in the game that allow the player to go through each door based on the combination of numbers on the characters' bracelets) from 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors, which would entail "scanning" the bracelet on the RED, but unfortunately I could not figure out a way to do so within my budget and/or current level of knowledge. I also felt that while knobs for movement would work decently for mouse movement for point and click sections, they would be much less helpful in puzzles requiring more precision or manipulation of on-screen objects.

Eventually, though, I realized I was thinking too modern. Thus, I started thinking in terms of old arcade games and remembered a particular game I enjoyed as a small child, Dig Dug.

In Dig Dug, the control scheme is very simple: 4-directional movement with a joystick and a Pump button.

This led to the clear evolution of the control scheme into either movement knobs or accelerometer-based controls for directional movement akin to an Etch-A-Sketch, and some sort of pump control to immerse the player.

Here are some of my concept sketches:

The first idea is to use the CPB's accelerometer to track when the CPB is pushed downward by the end of the pump handle. One way to do this would be as shown in the sketch, with the CPB attached to the sides of the enclosure with rubber bands to then be pushed down when the player intends to use the pump. 

Alternatively, this could be achieved by putting the CPB in the pump handle itself.

The second idea is to use tin foil on the bottom of the pump handle and another piece on a platform within the enclosure to allow electricity to flow when the handle and platform piece touch, acting as a switch of sorts.

The third idea is to also include a pump hose with the CPB placed in the nozzle which will track movement via tilt rather than using the knobs present in the other designs, and using the mechanic from the second idea to control the pump.

Currently, I am leaning towards the second idea, as the knobs would be more precise than the accelerometer for movement, as would the tin foil for the pump action.