The Giskin Anomaly Cell Phone AdventureUpgrade for Mobile PlatformsThe original Giskin Anomaly Cell Phone Adventure is an award-winning audio-only cell phone storytelling scavenger hunt type game developed by Ken Eklund for the Balboa Park On-line Collaborative. It relies on players finding physical markers with code numbers in specific locations throughout Balboa Park.
The park permit for the markers expired in 2012, so my colleague Scott Jones and I proposed a location-aware, graphical upgrade to the adventure for smart phones and tablet computers that would not rely on any physical markers. Scott provided all of the programming functionality, and I created the graphic elements, with both of us collaborating on the design of the GUI.
Although the period depicted in the audio adventure is circa WWII, the Park and original developers showed an interest in a "Steampunk" inspired feel for the "anomaly detector". Thus I designed 3 different skins: one representing 21st century technology, one showcasing WWII era technology, and one with a Steampunk flavor.
The park permit for the markers expired in 2012, so my colleague Scott Jones and I proposed a location-aware, graphical upgrade to the adventure for smart phones and tablet computers that would not rely on any physical markers. Scott provided all of the programming functionality, and I created the graphic elements, with both of us collaborating on the design of the GUI.
Although the period depicted in the audio adventure is circa WWII, the Park and original developers showed an interest in a "Steampunk" inspired feel for the "anomaly detector". Thus I designed 3 different skins: one representing 21st century technology, one showcasing WWII era technology, and one with a Steampunk flavor.
21st Century Style Interface
These first 3 comps depict the start screen, the anomaly detector/search screen, and the anomaly playback screen for a 21st century mobile device theme. They reflect an early concept of adding "kinescope" type video clips for the decoded anomaly messages. Some of the screens were animated within a Power Point presentation.
WWII Era "Bakelite" Style Interface
This image depicts the detector/search screen for a WWII era "Bakelite" style treatment.
"Steampunk" Style Interface
The first screen is used to find the anomaly locations. The top dial is a direction finder that points toward the location. The bottom dial indicates signal strength (proximity to the location). When the player is within 100 meters, the arrow enters the yellow zone and the faceted light glows yellow. When the player is within 10 meters of the location, the meter pegs and the indicator light changes to green.
This second screen concept shows an animated "voice print" effect as the audio anomaly is heard by the game player.
