Using a Mobile Phone as a “Wii-like” Controller for Playing Games on a Large Public Display

摘要

Undoubtedly the biggest success amongst the recent gamesconsole releases has been the launch of the Nintendo Wii.This is arguably due to its most innovative attribute—thewireless controller or “Wiimote.” The Wiimote can be usedas a versatile game controller, able to detect motion androtation in three dimensions which allows for veryinnovative game play. Prior to the Wii, and with much lessfuror, Nokia launched its 5500 model phone which contains3D motion sensors. Using the Sensor API library availablefor the Symbian OS, this sensor data can be used bydevelopers to create interesting new control schemes formobile games. Whilst 3D motion can be utilized for ondevicegames, in this paper we present a novel system thatconnects these phones to large public game screens viaBluetooth where it becomes a game controller for amultiplayer game. We illustrate the potential of this systemthrough a multiplayer driving game using the MicrosoftXNA framework and present preliminary feedback on theuser experience from a public trial which highlights thatthese controls can be both intuitive and fun.