Bobbles

Game as Creative Solution for Sustainability - Exploring Elastic Boundary Between Human and Ocean

Bobbles reimagines the human-ocean relationship as a dynamic and interactive social connection. The project offers a creative solution for sustainability by visualizing a healthy social relationship between humans and the ocean through bouncy and transparent bubbles in VR. Additionally, there is an interactive installation for participants to experience in physical reality, making the elastic boundary tangible with haptic feedback.

VR Experience, Worldbuilding, Immersive, Interactive Installation, Tangible Media, Peripheral Design
Narrative Designer, Technical Game Artist, Interaction Designer
Individual
3 months (Spring 2023)
Unreal Engine(Blueprint, C++)/Houdini/Blender/Arduino
SteamVR, HTC Vive Pro

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How can we reconcile our deep historical and spiritual connection to the ocean with the urgent need to address challenges like human-induced global warming, which leads to coral bleaching and rising sea levels?

The problem statement is…

A harmonious and balanced human-ocean Relationship for a sustainable future.

The project envisions…

Research Mindmap

Bobbles aims to connect the concepts of adaptability and reciprocal interaction in healthy social relationships to our bonds with the ocean, inviting participants to explore 'elastic boundaries' in a friendly, approachable, and interactive environment.

Design Concept

  • Concept 1: Proxemics

  • Concept 2: Anthropomorphism

Conceptual Reference

  • Concept 1: Spiritual Practice

  • Concept 2: Intimacy

Medium

  • Outcome 1: Virtual Reality Game

  • Outcome 2: Physical Installation

Outcome 1. VR Experience [Play 1-min Highlights Reel]

The VR experience aims to visualize elastic boundary between human and ocean and shows social relationship progression.

Act I. Arriving

Transition

Act II. Approaching

Core Interaction

Act III. Seeding

Act IV. Reflecting

Player’s Flow Chart

Visual Elements Design

Keyword: Elastic Boundary

Solution: Most of the materials are reflective or opaque, and don’t have sharp edges.

Keyword: Interconnected Social Relationship

Solution: Knots and metaballs are considered in the form design and modeling process.

Keyword: Elastic Boundary

Solution: Inflating landscape, bouncy pads, and jumping bubbles are used as a clue throughout the experience.

Keyword: Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Relationship

Healthy relationship → elastic / round / transparent

Solution: Improper player interactions lead to an unhealthy relationship with the ocean, which grows thorns out from the structure and prevents player access. This state change symbolizes personal boundaries that are no longer flexible.

Unhealthy relationship → inelastic / sharp / murky

Procedural Assets in Houdini

Shading in Blueprint

Level Design

UI Design

Outcome 2. Interactive Installations [Play Walk-Through Video]

The set of Interactive Installations aim to make elastic boundary tangible and foster social interaction.

The concept of elasticity can be pushed beyond the virtual medium and strengthened by haptic feedback. I aim to design installations that can enhance my VR player’s experience and immerse them in a social environment based on three concepts:

Design Concept

Visual design & material testing

Conclusion

Final Display

The world continues to attract explorers from all over, and the ocean sends out more of her bubble shells, accumulating voice messages from previous adventurers. Consequently, the environmental energy and ecology have grown more vibrant. As players walk through the initial scene and touch the floating bubbles to read the messages, they become part of a community that fosters nurturing and care for the ocean. This community leaves quotes, shares resources, and builds emotional bonds through the solitary process.

As the Story Goes On…

Credits:

Solo project by Yichen Pan

Performers (Set 1): Ariel Li, Wanda Shen, Zhuocheng Yan, Lauren Li, Mengjie Xu

Performers (Set 2): Yolanda Xing

Code Assistance: Liang Liu