2011
game program built with Processing and Max/MSP
Artist: Zune Lee, South Korea
Collaborators: Chihyoung Shim, Programmer, South Korea
Changgyun Jung, Sound Designer, South Korea
Inho Won, Programmer, South Korea
Supported by: Catholic University of Daegu, South Korea
Sponsor: Art Center Nabi, South Korea
Weather Pong receives weather data from Seoul (South Korea) and Auckland (Australia) via network. To do this, in two cities we installed environmental sensor kits enabling to gather local weather data. The game also collects words concerning weather and environments from websites and social networks such as Google, Naver, and Twitter. Based on such data, the game engine creates weather bubbles and sound. During game-playing the bubbles continue to increase in number and then approach the center of game stage from both sides (cities). The gamer must burst appropriate bubbles approaching her/him by passing the ball through the opposite side or reflecting the ball with the paddle in order to keep an environmental balance between two areas. The burst bubbles directly influence the virtual tree’s life in each area, and the gamer must keep their life and help their growth smoothly. If the bubbles arrive to the center of stage or one of trees dies, the game is over. The weather data and words are also used to control the game difficulty and game environment such as the ball speed, bubbles number and hardness, paddle length, sound, etc. By doing so, the game tries to prevent the gamer from winning the game. When playing this game, the gamer, as a mediator between our environments, will have a chance to realize the importance of our eco-environmental issues.
Artist bio:
Dr. Zune Lee is an artist, who has been crossing various fields such as visual art, music and technology. His media art pieces have been showcased domestically (MediaBottles, Trialogue) and internationally (Mixplore, A Bottle of Weather). His recent works introduce the sense of taste and synesthetic concepts to the sphere of art in various projects (Bottlogics, Butchered Text). He graduated from Stanford University (MA/MST, CCRMA, 2005) and Seoul National University (BFA in Visual Communication Design, 1999/BS in Computer Science and Engineering, 2001). Recently, he received his PhD in Culture Technology from the Graduate School of Culture Technology at KAIST (2011). http://studiobottles.net
Chihyoung Shim, a designer and engineer, is interested in generative design and kinetic sculptures. He studied mechanical engineering (BS & MS at Seoul National University) and worked in a heavy equipment company as an engineering designer. Currently he studies design management at IDAS (International Design School for Advanced Studies, Hongik University). Chihyoung, as a visual programmer, participated in Seoul Square Media Canvas Project: Big Screen Big Game, 2010.
Changgyun Jung, a sound designer, has been interested in creating ambient sound. He has participated in several sound performances and new media art projects such as Hello World Vol.2 (2010), Hello World Vol.3 (2011), A Night of SuperCollider (2010), Seoul Square Media Canvas Project: Big Screen Big Game (2010).
Inho Won is studying interaction design and new media art in Seoul National University. Inho has concentrated on game art and generative art based on creative programming. Recently he showcased Break Me, Game+Interactive Media Art Exhibition, The Museum of Art, Seoul National University, 2010, and he also took a part in Seoul Square Media Canvas Project: Big Screen Big Game, 2010.
