Weirdows ’98 - 2024 alt.ctrl.GDC Finalist | BVW Round 4

I am responsible for the gameplay which is the fake OS in Unity and location installation setup.

The traditional input system on a PC would be the keyboard and mouse, but have you ever thought about using the actual computer? In Weirdows ’98, our team has put together an operational “fake computer” that players must interact with to progress through the game. We do this by using an Arduino hidden inside the computer case. (To clarify the computer case is hollow and there is a hidden computer running the game.) There are four controls on the fake computer, the power button, the floppy disk drive, a button on the side and a switch on the back. The power button initiates the booting up scene, The players push the floppy disk inside to gain access to the documents on the PC. Then another error occurs where the motor inside the fake computer drags a small piece of metal creating a very loud sound and the player has to hit the switch on the back of the computer to progress. Then finally, the computer “overheats” and a small gust of smoke comes out the top of the computer causing the player to hit the button on the side of the computer. (The smoke is creating using a cotton swab, vegetable glycerin, and a wire to put simply.) In all, our experience gives non-tech savvy players the excitement of playing with hardware and software. We give the computer itself life along with the traditional escape room find of finding clues.