What’s On Tap?Lien Tran | Interface Studio Final | December 15, 2009
Behaviors such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,
and physical inactivity are major contributors to chronic disease and injury
morbidity and mortality in the United States.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Concept
To design a fun and active social interaction that uses bothphysical and mental
capabilities for an environment where there is(excessive) alcohol
consumption.
Domains
Precedentsbar games pinball, darts, ping pong, Photo Hunt, Buck Hunt, Piss Screendrinking games Beer Pong, Flip Cup, Signs, Categories, High/Low, Quarters
arcade games Tetris, Tapper, Frogger, Out Run, Pacman
exercise games Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Fit
memory games Simon, “Going on a picnic”
competition games Horse, basketball, football
Research
1. Observed bars with games2. Sent out survey, 74 respondents ages 21-
40
Barcade, Brooklyn
Research
like playing games in bars
would play a game at a bar that requires mental memory and physical coordination
would play a game at a bar if they had the chance to win a drink from their friend (at risk of having to buy a drink if they lost)
61%
66%
80%
SURVEY RESULTS
Solution: What’s On Tap?
A sequence memory game that is a physical and mental workout.
A competition game that incentivizes people who are at bars to do physical and mental activity before consuming more alcohol and more calories.
Two players take turns testing their memory by tapping out a color sequence, which gets longer with each turn. What’s at stake? The player with the better memory earns a beer at the loser's expense!
What’s On Tap?
Systems Diagram
Prototypes Mapping
Paper Prototyping
“It’s fun [even if you’re losing]. It’ll be even more fun if you add in alcohol.” FEEDBACKIt’s hard to watch other
player’s feet and know what the new color is.
Digital Interface PrototypingPlayer 1’s turn
Player 1’s turn
Interface Modifications
Interface Modifications
Interface Modifications
play testing video
Players Systems Diagram
Bar Test
Bunga’s Den, 14th Street
Bar Test
play Bunga’s Den bar testing video
Observations• The game attracted attention• Sounds were entertaining to
players and onlookers– It was sometimes hard to hear the
sound effects if music on the jukebox was playing
• No one attempted to hop/jump between colors
• It would be more active and more difficult if players could tap add two color combinations
• It’s more difficult to accurately tap if you have larger feet, shoes or heels
• Game tests players’ balance
Next Steps• Make custom tap pads
– Bigger tap buttons– Waterproof and soil-resistant– Add tap lights
• Build game to be allow more activity
• Add timer so players have to tap sequence within certain amount of time
• Consider how to further design as a test of intoxication
• Brand and package game for bars
• Continue play testing and refining game mechanics
Conclusion• Iterative prototyping was
extremely beneficial and necessary to determine game mechanics
• Designing a game required a different design approach
• Using bright bold colors and simple recognizable graphics attracts attention and curiosity
• Visual and audio interfaces reinforced the game objectives and made the game more entertaining for players and spectators
• Game has potential to be viable bar game or drunkenness indicator