Technology-induced Indie-Game Development
The case of A.IR Back in 2008 Sebastian and Tobias, my friends of si-entertainment.org, had the idea to develop computer games that could be controlled with the new Nintendo Wii controller Wiimote. In addition to various acceleration sensors, the Wiimote has an infrared receiver that uses signals from the Wii transmitter bar for orientation in three-dimensional space. We wanted to turn the principle around: Use the Wii's well-functioning receiver to control the computer "without a controller": Only with gestures of our hands. First prototypes consisted of self-soldered infrared LED arrays that illuminate the hands. The light reflected back from the fingers was to be detected by the Wiimote and translated into signals for the PC. It turned out that the infrared LEDs were too weak for reliable operation (However, a nice…