Sending images via text message is one of the great things about Hive Mechanic. One way to make this easier is by using WordPress to manage your multimedia. Let me explain… Sending multimedia for anything made in Hive Mechanic requires the file to be online and accessible through a URL that ends with a filetype […]
For installations: A DIY Box (aka, the “MiDI Bee” for Hive Mechanic)
This post is part of a series on physical installations, which are important for public space and can radically expand the possibilities for games made with Hive Mechanic and other interactive systems. Our goal is to publish blueprints that use cheap materials from the neighborhood hardware store, so that anyone can make their own. For […]
Paper cards as on-ramp for Hive Mechanic (“hybrid cards”)
We developed physical cards as an on-ramp for making games in Hive Mechanic. In the online system, the card metaphor continues — and in fact, is central to how we help non-programmers to craft interactive stories and experiences. We were surprised at how making the paper cards helped us to simplify language for the digital […]
Article proposal: Hybrid cards to simplify game design
One of the neat things we are trying with Hive Mechanic is pairing paper with digital cards to make games. (Hive Mechanic is our game authoring tool for non-programmers and city leaders.) Why is this cool? Because everyone knows cards — and some cutting edge game designers use them as a creativity boost. Our inspirations […]
Simple Prototype Input Boxes featuring Makey Makey
In our search to democratize game design, our lab has been exploring the Makey Makey as a simple way to create your own “alternative controller.” The appeal in good part is that any old physical switch or button can be hooked up and function similarly to the arrow keys on a computer (plug-and-play!). Plenty of […]
New exhibit: Photo Mapping DC’s Alleys (at the District Architecture Center)
For this installation at the District Architecture Center, we invite residents of DC to “Show Us Your Alley” by cameraphone and help to reimagine public alleys. Our team’s contribution is a blend of playful visualization and what we call “conversational mapping” by text message — no apps required! The full show is ALLEY HOPPIN! Putting […]
Iterations on the Mount for the Classic Phone
The classic phone mount has become our most popular way to display our simple installation (including in libraries and the Humanities Truck), both for portability and the small footprint on-site. How did we get here? The initial box was long and unlabeled: The first prototype was more rectangular than future versions because. In part, this was accidental (it […]
Spanish Hotline and Dual Phones (“not an accident”)
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we created a Spanish version of our hotline and installed a direct line at the Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library (on 9/17/2019). This library is a focus for Latino events and activities in the DC area, and was eager to refine their installation for the A Right to the City exhibition. […]
6+ Nodes for a Special Event (Adams Morgan Day, 2019)
Up until now, the most storytelling nodes we’ve launched for a live event was two for a cafe at night. But earlier this month we headed to a neighborhood music festival to test a multi-node approach. Our goal was to see how breadth might add up to more than the sum of the parts. We successfully featured four […]
Making the “Desk Payphone” (for the Storytelling System)
Our first proof of concept (left) and the finished product at PorchFest 2019 (right). If the payphone is to be a serious actor in our storytelling system, we must ensure a proper stage! The first step was developing the proof of concept using pieces of poster board cut to scale. This helped in thinking about how to […]