🪑MidFall Chairs

Musical Game based on Choice and Probability created in Processing 4

MidFaLL Chairs is a virtual rendition of the game Musical Chairs created in Processing 4 that adds a twist. Most of the game is based on probability, yet there is the randomness of chair switching when using the spacebar. MidFall Chairs is only one player for now. The concept of the music starting and stopping is still the same. As the music plays, a circle-shaped array of chairs spins around in a very humorous way. There is also a live-fed video from the user’s webcam placed on top of their currently selected chair. The number of chairs will start with 10. The player must use the number keys to select a chair that is left. (ex: If chairs 1 and 3 are left, you can only select chair 1 or 3). The thread function was used to randomly change the length of each round and add a humanistic feel. The player must select a chair before the round is over. After each round one chair will be removed. If the chair you selected is the chair removed, then You're Out! (cue funny sound effect). If not, you move to the next round. It you are still standing when one chair remains, You Win!

MidFall Chairs falls mostly into the Wanderer DGD1 type. I have included many opportunities to interact with the game that are more exploratory. When the player presses the number keys, each number has the dual purpose of selecting different melodic or drum loops. Each loop was stretched to fit the same tempo of 140 bpm. They were also pitch-shifted to fit the same tonal key center, F minor. Animated turntables were included to set the mood of a DJ mixing tracks live as the game is being played. Every time a loop is played, a scratch effect can be heard also. The animated turntables even reverse a little to emphasize this effect. As stated earlier, the spacebar will randomly select a chair. I will also randomly change the melodic loop. Anytime a melodic or drum loop is changed, the playback position among them all stays in sync. In the draw function, the playback position of the drums is always being saved for this purpose. The last form of interaction is user performance. The left mouse key is also mapped to an oscillator. The F minor scale was used to map and constrain the pitch along the Y axis of the screen. This gives the user the opportunity to improvise without worrying about using the “correct” notes. The current note is visualized using chairs along the left side of the screen vertically. The user can disable the thread function with the button ‘D’ so that they may jam for as long as they would like. (I forgot to add this to the controls menu 😊). The level design (rotation angle/speed and animations), speed rate of music loops, sound selection (oscillator, phasor, etc.), midi control, midi manipulation, and multiplayer are items on the roadmap for future releases.