DESCRIPTION:
The Booger Bonanza is a carefully crafted hand-felted mask that brings a touch of artistry and humor to your gaming sessions. With an intricately designed felted nose and embroidered zits, this mask is a work of art in itself, but there’s more than meets the eye.
Hidden within the whimsical façade lies the Flora V3 seamlessly integrated into the mask’s fabric using conductive thread and fabric. This innovative technology transforms the mask into a fully functional gaming controller, ready to take on any digital challenge. Booger Bonanza features four analogue switches, each offering a unique way to interact with the game.
The right nostril, when activated, becomes your gateway to pressing the right key on the keyboard, while the left nostril takes care of the left key. But that’s not all – the cheeky fun continues with two strategically placed embroidered pimples on the left and right cheeks, allowing you to control the up and down movements in the game.
Activating these switches is where the magic happens. Simply dig your nostrils or gently squeeze the zits while wearing the mask, all while a copper tape wrapped around your finger connects the circuits, triggering the corresponding key presses.
PROCESS IMAGES:
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
PARTS LIST:
Flora controller
Conductive Fabric
Conductive Thread
Cotton Thread (To sew the mask)
Industrial Felt (For the base of the mask)
Wool fibers (For needle felting the nose and lips)
CODE:
https://gist.github.com/abhapatil123/4d6c0120192971b31a049fae144085e4
REDEFINING GAMING INTERFACES:
The ever-evolving gaming landscape is marked by a notable shift towards immersive and unconventional gaming experiences. At the heart of “Booger Bonanza” is a vision to transcend the confines of conventional functionality. It aspires to infuse gaming with a rich tapestry of creativity, humor, and a touch of whimsical absurdity. This innovative approach draws inspiration from a diverse spectrum of sources. The works of artists like Yrurari, renowned for crafting delightfully bizarre knitted wear, and Becky Stern, a creative technologist adept at merging playfulness with technological ingenuity, have played a pivotal role in shaping the essence of “Booger Bonanza.” By integrating elements from these artistic influencers, the project seeks to redefine the gaming interface as a medium for artistic expression, fun, and imaginative exploration. In the evolving dialogue of gaming innovation, “Booger Bonanza” contributes to the ongoing discourse on the transformative potential of gaming interfaces. It invites players not just to participate in a game but to embark on an artful, humorous, and absurd journey.
Yrurari’s knits:
The form of this whimsical mask was inspired by the remarkable work of Icelandic artist Yrurari. Yrurari is known for her distinctive creations, which include knitted facemasks and sweaters which are delightfully bizarre. What sets her work apart is the playful exploration of the features of the human body. In her designs, mouths with tongues sticking out and teeth adorned with braces create and unexpected visual aesthetic. The influence of Yrurari’s playful and non-conventional approach to design from the basis of how I wanted the aesthetics of the controller.
https://www.instagram.com/yrurari/?hl=en
Plush Game Controller (by Becky Stern):
The plush game controller created by Becky Stern was another delightful take on traditional gaming input devices. Instead of using plastic and buttons, this gaming controller is soft and cuddly like a stuffed animal toy. The plus gaming controller is a functional input device that can be connected to you computer to play video games. It’s a creative and unconventional approach to gaming technology.
This plush gaming controller demonstrates how technology can be integrated into everyday objects in unexpected ways. Its also a playful reminder that innovation and creativity can bring a touch of joy and novelty to the world of gaming and technology.
Similar to this controller, the Booger Bonanza makes use of conductive threads and fabrics to enable a touch sensitive interface. The utilization of these materials opened up a world of possibilities about the possible human-device interactions. It encouraged me to think out of the box and consider the unconventional interactions that one would have while interacting with the device.
The Chainsaw Controller:
The Chainsaw Controller was a special controller for Resident Evil 4. It was manufactured by NubyTech. The name “Chainsaw Controller is quiet literal- it’s a replica of a chainsaw from the horror themed game complete with a blood splattered blade, metal grating and omnious design. It was designed such that it makes an impressive collector’s item for the fans of Resident Evil franchise. It was a unique way to engage players and create a sense of fear and excitement, even if it means designing controllers in unconventional forms.
https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Chainsaw_Controller
BIBLIOGRAPHY
May,T. “Spinning a Yarn: How Icelandic Artist Ýrúrarí Turns Textiles into Stunning Works of Art.” Creative Boom, March 27, 2023. https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/yrurari-aka-r-jhannsdttir/.
Stern, Becky. “Plush Game Controller.” Becky Stern, April 29, 2021. https://beckystern.com/2013/04/03/plush-game-controller/.
Wiki, Contributors to Resident Evil. “Chainsaw Controller.” Resident Evil Wiki. https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Chainsaw_Controller.