A game powered by the world's first cushioned entertainment system

Download Press Kit | www.staticlagoon.net
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Download from itch.io | Download from GameJolt

Mirrors:
Mac OSX (DK1), (DK2 only)
Windows (DK1), (DK2 only)
Linux (DK1), (DK2 only)

Abstract

Imagine a video game in which you only need to look around, sit, and stand to play.

Overview

Static Lagoon is an Oculus compatible game which is played with the RestBox - the world's first cushioned entertainment system. When combined, the Rift and RestBox give players a hands-free experience where they only need to sit, stand and look around to play.

Game Mechanics

In Static Lagoon, players move through a bedroom to a cab to a nightclub in the middle of the sky: in a never-ending loop of six chapters. They are periodically shown windows of opportunity for a few seconds; which they can choose to take or ignore by standing or sitting. The game's objective is to break out of the loop by standing up at the right place and right time. Only one window leads to victory, the rest are distractions that push players one chapter back. Players are always at risk of replaying a chapter when taking a window of opportunity, but if they risk nothing they remain stuck in the loop.

Static Lagoon by @akaprash, download it at http://t.co/4CTs7bdTAl @DifferentGames Conference 2015 #DG2015 https://t.co/eGllZMwHBt
— Cannabis is Medicine (@Vegapedia) April 4, 2015

Aesthetics

^{Click to enlarge}

The scenes in Static Lagoon focus on how the daily distractions of life contribute to escapism in a time when the abundance of choice can be emotionally overwhelming. The visual language is inspired by Berthold Brecht's theatrical technique of breaking the fourth wall. Everything is simplified to a ridiculous extent to draw attention to the dialogue between objects and space. The everyday quality of Static Lagoon creates relatable situations which open up for interpretation through the surreal aesthetic.

Development

Static Lagoon was designed and developed by Prashast Thapan - a graphic designer currently based in New York. This project was his senior thesis in Graphic Design at the Rhode Island School of Design. Static Lagoon was released at Babycastles Gallery New York during the weekend of 20^th & 21^st December 2014.

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Chillin @babycastles

A photo posted by Prashast (@akaprash) on Dec 20, 2014 at 10:41pm PST

Static Lagoon was created using Unity3D and Blender. The RestBox is powered by the Arduino Teensy Microcontroller.

Controls

Static Lagoon is controlled with the RestBox - the world's first cushioned entertainment system. It's a cushion that plugs into a USB port and allows players to play by just sitting and standing.

^{Static Lagoon Preview at The Doping Agency Second Show at Ella Lounge, NY}

^{Static Lagoon at IndieCade East 2015 at the Museum of the Moving Image, Queens NY}

^{Static Lagoon Release Party 2015 at Babycastles Gallery NY}

RestBox's moment of glory @indiecade @movingimagenyc

A photo posted by Prashast (@akaprash) on Feb 15, 2015 at 6:08pm PST

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You can play at home too. Downloaded versions can be played with the spacebar and mouse.

What's Next?

Prashast is interested in using the RestBox to create athletic video game experiences which bring physicality to video games. E.g. using the RestBox to do squats.