2012-2013-A Vi Co

AViCo, Adaptive Virtual Controller

by Christiaan Arnoldus and Niels Visscher

This project provides an adaptable virtual game controller. It is virtual in the sense that it runs on your tablet or smartphone and uses their built-in sensors (like the touchscreen and accelerometer) and feedback features (audio and interface changes) so you can get best best possible gaming experience without buying additional hardware. The adaptability originates from the fact that it allows you to customize one or more predefined interfaces.

The implementation of the controller runs on the Nokia N900 Maemo tablet. The controller includes virtual joystick and buttons controls and is able to provide audio feedback. The game runs on a normal PC and connects to the device using a special library that allows the game to quickly accept client connections, define interfaces and provide feedback by switching between these interfaces or by triggering sound output on the device itself. Predefined interface layouts can be customized by the player and are saved on the (personal) device itself. Multiplayer, where multiple controllers are connected to the same PC over a network, is also supported.

For the purpose of demonstrating this project as a whole an Asteroids-like game was made. This game can demonstrate both the single-player and multi-player game experience that Avico can offer.