SCOOT is an augmented reality location-based game that employs mobile devices, interactive multimedia installations, virtual worlds, the web and public displays to guide players through unique public places.
Players follow and respond to a series of clues via SMS while encountering SCOOT characters, challenges and activities, in an attempt to uncover interesting and useful facts about a site.
SCOOT is a project of Newish Media, created and led by Deb Polson and developed by a small core team of artists and developers.
A SCOOT event typically runs over several days and employs the use of SMS, interactive multimedia installations, and videos/animations on public displays. Certain SCOOT events have also involved more web-based elements such as a multiplayer virtual world, Flash games, and applications/spaces embedded in existing online social networks.
SCOOT events have run in several locations across Australia:
- 2004 – Brisbane – Queensland University of Technology, Creative Industries Precinct
- 2005 & 2006 – Melbourne – Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne Museum, State Library of Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre, Art Play
- 2007 – Brisbane – Riverfestival, South Bank, State Library of Queensland, Queensland Maritime Museum, Hands On Art, Arts Queensland, South Bank Markets
- 2008 & 2009 – Melbourne – Victoria University
The following is a brief summary of some of the elements involved in SCOOT we have been involved with.
VIRTUAL WORLD
Virtual World Team: Shu-Min Heng, Yang Wong, David Wallace, Deb Polson, Corin Edwards, Craig Gibbons, Luke Lickfold, Arief Leuvenardi
Character Customisation Team: Shu-Min Heng, Yang Wong, David Wallace, Deb Polson, Corin Edwards, Arief Leuvenardi
Above is a working avatar customisation testing tool that was used during development. Click on the buttons at the bottom to cycle through different options. The currently selected option is named below the buttons. Colours are randomised every click.
FLASH GAMES
Dodgem Team: Shu-Min Heng, Ben Gribbin, Craig Gibbons, Deb Polson
Players may encounter Flash games on the web, as part of installations or within the virtual world.
Online games can be played in the SCOOT Agency – Hazard Room.
INSTALLATIONS
Tug Team: Shu-Min Heng, Yang Wong, David Wallace, Deb Polson, Colleen Morgan, Corin Edwards, Craig Gibbons, Luke Lickfold
Installations vary from simple green boxes with single button input, to full blown temporary rooms incorporating technologies such as touch pads, contact sensors, camera tracking and projectors.
Players encounter these installations during SCOOT events while navigating through its public spaces (game environment). Installations present challenges for players to overcome as a team, or in opposition. Challenges may occur within a single physical space or across several sites simultaneously (networked installations).
The video above shows players at the Cheer Up installation. Players have to shout loud enough to cheer up their horse PharLeap so that it can successfully perform a jump.
More installation descriptions can be found on Newish Media.
Pook Team: Yang Wong, Katy Andrews, Deb Polson, Corin Edwards, Craig Gibbons, Luke Lickfold
Pook requires players to draw in a virtual book to reveal hidden secret information or capture escaped SCOOT characters. A working version of Pook without its physical shell can be found at following location. The mouse cursor replaces the pen.
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY
As members of SCOOT’s small core team of developers, we have all contributed to the design, development and running of multiple SCOOT events and its continual evolution. SCOOT also often takes on local undergraduate students to join the team to create various new components.
Core Team: Deb Polson, Colleen Morgan, Yang Wong, Shu-Min Heng, David Wallace, Sherwin Huang, Marcos Caceres
Yang Wong
My role is primarily as System Designer but I also partake in many other roles. My roles include:
- Design/Development of the gameplay logic engine, SMS integration, entering and maintaining integrity of gameplay scripts, database design, server administration.
- Design/Development of administration tools to monitor and communicate the state of play during a live event.
- Making sure everything technically runs smoothly during an event including reacting swiftly to rectify/divert play in response to sudden issues.
- Design/Development of the multiplayer virtual world (excluding all graphics, audio, communication server).
- Design/Development of various installations (excluding physical shell, most graphics, audio).
- Design/Development of various Flash games (excluding all graphics, audio).
- Helping in event setup and take down.
- Co-Design/Development of the SCOOT Comics Facebook application.
Technology: PHP, MySQL, Flash ActionScript 2 & 3, Apache, AJAX/JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and a variety of open source packages and public APIs.
Shu-Min Heng
My role is primarily as Art Director, a position I took over from the game’s original Art Director, Corin Edwards, who laid much of the groundwork for SCOOT’s carnival aesthetic including, but not limted to, the main stenciled logo, the early world props and the design of almost all its characters. I first joined the team as a Graphic Designer and Programmer in 2005 and assumed the position as Art Director in 2006 after Corin’s departure. My roles include:
- Ensuring a consistent art direction across all internally produced and externally contributed works
- Design/Development of printed graphic materials (posters, postcards, game mission cards, tri-towers, A-frames, ticket booth banners, staff lanyards, event signage and activity materials, various other marketing materials)
- Design/Development of the multiplayer virtual world map and interface (excluding audio, communication server and character customisation)
- Design/Development of a common interface template for contributed Flash games
- Design of new characters, world props (tents, flora and various other objects) and brands (SCOOT Agency, SCOOT Comics, SCOOT Broadband Network)
- Design of new and re-designed graphic elements for contributed installations, Flash games and video animations
- Co Design/Development of the SCOOT Website
- Co-Design/Development of the SCOOT Comics Facebook application
- Helping in event bump-in and bump-out
- Helping players during the event and monitoring and responding to issues that may arise at nodes on the game path (installations, clues, Flash games, etc.)
Technology: Flash (Actionscript 2), Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, CSS
LINKS
SCOOT is a project of Newish Media, created and led by Deb Polson and developed by a small core team based in Brisbane, Australia.
SCOOT Agency – http://scootgame.com
Event Photos – http://www.flickr.com/photos/scootgame/
Videos – http://www.youtube.com/user/scootgame
Core Developer Websites – Newish Media, Sherwinpedia
Other Developer Websites (incomplete, please email me!) – JoeGatling, Simon Joslin, Thomas Killen, Matthew Clark