Doom 3 Arena

Doom 3™ is a cool game from idSoftware. The graphics are really amazing but require a good graphics card.

Doom 3 Arena is a CAVE modification that interlinks multiple games to build an immersive projection environment. It offers support for different configurations like Widescreen and n-sided CAVEs.

Started on:14.06.2005
Current Version: 0.1
Status: Test Prototype
Download: Stay tuned.

Impressions

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History

What is it good for ?

What matters most: It’s the experience the game creates [Lazzaro 2004]. Laurel talks about interfaces and points out that it is the experience we desire [Laurel 1986, page 75]. By direct interaction the full range of the artistic imitation (mimesis) is available to the user. Experience is an important factor why we love to play games. The feeling of what happens [Damasio 2000] makes the player experience the game at first hand (fear, anger, victory, …). Successful games are designed to take the user onto a ride of emotions that allows them to deeply immerse on different levels with the game. Todays games offer a rich set of emotional design but there are some limitations. Mixed Reality arenas are aiming to push the experience towards new dimensions. They use existing game technology and place them in a special environment that strengthen feelings of players on several levels: display, input and social aspects are considered.

Beside playing games in an immersive environment these Arenas can be used for entertainment, edutainment, performing art and installations. The use of mixed reality devices allows to create enhanced interaction interfaces beyond mouse, keyboard and joystick paradigm of PCs and Consoles. Immersion, emotions and embodyment are the key elements of these Arenas. The distance between the player and the game world is reduced to a minimum.

The term Arena was choosen because it reflects an space or room where players come together to play a game. It also has a long tradition from ancient times (Rome) up to today (Quake3Arena, Arena Wars, …). It stands for competition, collaboration and emotions and that is what we all are looking for.

References