you can find more info about this reseach in ingmar's website

GameEngine Programming III (DoNa) SlowGames (mit Marc R Dusseiller)
next topic of gamedesign: wetware, nanoparticles: design with living content

Check the course website here | gametheory.ch

During the course we will work with the students on the development of game concept using living systems integrated in the game engines. these living systems might be microorganisms, so we build microscopes, work on integrating web-cam streams into other game engine development environments, motion tracking and other stuff...

Paper-based microfluidic devices, new opportunities for diagnostics in the developing world.
The Simplicity approach of recent research done at the Whitesides group in Harvard has led to a series of simple and cheap microfluidic devices based on simple paper or DIY solution to build a centrifuce from an egg-beater. Shortly after publication in Lab-on-a-Chip and PNAS they started a non-profit organisation "Diagnostics for All" dedicated to creating low-cost, easy-to-use, point-of-care diagnostics designed specifically for the 60% of the developing world that lives beyond the reach of urban hospitals and medical infrastructures.

see an instructions video here

Was ist Phantasie aus der Sicht eines Hirnforschers?
Das ist die Fähigkeit, mit dem gespeicherten Material kombinatorisch zu spielen, es in neue Verbindungen zu bringen, Verbindungen zu entdecken, wo früher keine waren. Das ist die Essenz von Kreativität: mit dem, was man schon kategorisiert und formuliert hat, noch mal zu spielen. Das in neuen Konstellationen anzuordnen. Was man im Traum ja auch macht. Das Ganze ein bischen durcheinander zu wirbeln.
...
aus "Schnitte im Raum", Gabriele Voss, Vorwerk 8, 2006

Our goal in this project was to create a game based on microfluidics.

To gather ideas, our Team did brainstorming and we came up with the following proposals:

• Colour by numbers
• Labyrinth
• Memory
• Battleship

For more detailed informations to each idea click here. (German only)

We decided to realize the Battleship game. For further information about the project, go to http://wetpong.net/wetpong/?page_id=2

To implement the game, we wanted to make two layers of PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), each of them with 5 x 5 matrixes. One was to place the ships and the other one to mark the shots.

We did differents attempts to design the matrix. The first idea was too complicated to be implemented (click here) . The second idea was realized, but the channels were too narrow and the tests were not successful. So we decided to build a grid with valves.

Therefore, we tried to build microfluidic valves, but it was harder as we thought. We had problems with the layer thickness and the leak tightness.

To get thin enough layers for the valves, we worked with spin coating. We used a modified record player for it. The results were to no avail.

Unfortunately, we were not able to build a fully functional Battleship game, but we learned a lot on the way trying to achieve it. To get more informations about the development process, please click here (German only).

The goal of this project was building a microfluidic game. For further information about the project pleas use this link http://wetpong.net/wetpong/?page_id=2

Back to « Team Monkey »

We had several ideas for different games, however, we decided to develop 2 games. (http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Erste_Woche).

That’s maybe the largest difference to the other teams, because they developed just one game.

The two games that we wanted to develop were “Hangman” and “Get Three Inverse”. Unfortunately, there were some problems during manufacturing and so we weren‘t able to produce a well working prototype. If you’re interested in our project and would read something about the producing steps, don’t wait and hit this link (http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Dokumentation).

Therefore, we can give some advices about several producing-steps, the following (and more) can be seen on our wiki (http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Kniffs_%26_Tricks)

-Producing a PDMS-casting

- Attachment of connectors

- Different sealing options

-How to separate two fluids

Last but not least there are some really interesting links about the use of such systems in the industry.( http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Anwendung_in_der_Industrie).

After collecting a few different ideas for such a game we soon narrowed down to a micro fluidic labyrinth. Goal is to maneuver either a sphere or a hydrophobic drop through the closed fluid filed rectangular labyrinth. The sphere or the hydrophobic drop shall be moved by medical syringes witch are injected at each side of the labyrinth. By using the according syringe fluid is injected creating a flow witch shall move the drop/sphere in the desired direction.

The whole device shall be realized as small as possible. For that reason we use a 3D-printer that is able to print 0.7mm frames at the smallest. In order to print, we first create the labyrinth with the CAD-tool solid works.

In a first version of the device a ball of a pen is placed in the labyrinth. The device is closed with the bottom of a petri dish witch is glued on the labyrinth. Unfortunately the ball doesn’t move by the use of the syringes. A possible explanation is that the device is not leak-proof and therefore can’t create an equably fluid flow. On the other hand the ball seams to be too heavy.

Before building a second version using a hydrophobic drop (Perfluorodecalin 95%), the maneuver ability of such a drop is tested with syringes injected in a fluid filed chamber made of PDMS. The test shows that it isn’t possible to move the drop at all. It either sticks in the corner of the chamber or the injected fluid goes around the drop without moving it.

Based on the last experiences, the second version of the labyrinth is built with a lighter “play ball” with a non spherical geometry.  Therefore a thin piece of a flexible tube is placed in the labyrinth. The device is closed with the bottom of a petri dish and this time sealed with PDMS. Additionally the complete device is placed in a petri dish witch is filed up with more PDMS. Although this time the labyrinth is leak-proof it still isn’t possible to move the “play ball”. It seams that the injected fluid moves around the device creating a laminar flow, even though the “play ball” isn’t spherical.

The basic idea of fluid transportation is actually realisable. Different solutions for the transportation of fluid are already in use. For example the Field-Flow-Fractionation or the Electrowetting, witch are briefly explained in the last pages.

If you want to know more about our project, visit our Wiki page:

http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Team_Guinness

Finally we succeeded in create a new game called FLUXBALL! The Field is about 6 x 12 cm and is completely filled with water. The "ball" is a small slice from plastic, called puck. To induce the pressure and the flows, we used pipettes also filled with Water. The whole System is infused in PDMS, that it is nearly watertight.

To see how it works, watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoGPAAfvAyU&feature=player_embedded

To see how to build such a system, visit our wiki:

http://wetpong.net/wetpong/wiki/index.php?title=Team_Yellow_Submarine

In a next step, the system could be made smaller, for better use of the microfluidic behave. But at first we are satisfied with our work. Perhaps somebody will be inspired by this idea, then our aim will be achieved. =)

How do you play the game? Collect the food and your snake will grow. After a while your snake will be big enough and the door to the next level will be opened. The new level shows you a new background and the snake goes faster.

What could be the next steps? A video tracking system should be implemented, that a SNAKE game with real-time background can be programmed. A useful tracking system could be Community Core Vision (CCV). CCV provides the possibility to send the tracking information through TUIO OSC. If you like to, you can go on with our project and solve the aim with implementing a real-time background.

BioSnake