Platform: PC (Xbox Controller / Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons)
A game played entirely through touch.
This project explores a simple question:
Can players build a mental map of a game world using haptics alone?
To investigate this, I designed two prototypes that remove visuals and audio entirely. Instead, players navigate by interpreting vibration patterns that communicate walls, distance, direction and movement. The first prototype uses an Xbox controller to explore the fundamentals of tactile navigation, while the final version uses Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and HD Rumble to create a more expressive haptic language.
Rather than focusing on building a complete game, this project was about researching interaction design. Through multiple rounds of playtesting, I iterated on the haptic feedback, onboarding and level design to understand how players learn and interpret a completely new form of game language. The findings also revealed interesting accessibility implications, as the game can be played independently without relying on sight or hearing after the initial explanation.
If you're interested in the design process, playtesting discoveries, and the evolution from the Xbox prototype to the final Joy-Con version, I've documented the entire journey in my article.
Play the prototypes here!:
Check out the yellow section for my design notes and process for this project:
