```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2Fdanish-tax-a-tron-ez-estimator-4000%2F640ca4fe-c62e-41b2-9035-e84ba095d162.png?alt=media&token=6deda231-95b6-4962-b75c-419a0ef0aee3","id":"640ca4fe-c62e-41b2-9035-e84ba095d162","width":1500,"height":800,"filename":"F3kCWgqXAAAcCxK.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## This all started innocently enough...

When I moved from Berlin back to my hometown Copenhagen I also got serious about paying into a pension plan. Which made my tax situation a big mess, and estimating my 2023 taxes felt like I was signing a mortgage contract in colored crayon.

### "How hard could it be?"

“*Tax laws are really just closed systems*“, a younger, bluer-eyed version of me deducted, not yet aware of the fuse I'd just lit for a future headache. "*Building a model that accounts for 80% of the important stuff—I mean—how hard could that be?*”

### *Sigh...*

Dear reader, a month and a half later I can confidentially tell you: *Pretty hard*.

Which is why I’m happy to finally be done with this estimator in as much as:

1. It actually works

2. It provides practical  for one of the >0.5% of earth's population who needs to project their Danish income tax using only 1 data point.

### Here's what that looks like:

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FBCPo1lLhz5jMH2ZGiT0I%2F08020c8b-3f69-4799-abef-65799e95bda4.png?alt=media&token=6721f2dd-d99e-4236-95fa-0ce896d78fee","id":"08020c8b-3f69-4799-abef-65799e95bda4","width":3043,"height":1890,"filename":"taxatron-1.png","type":"image/png","caption":"1∕4  —  Slide to scroll →","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FBCPo1lLhz5jMH2ZGiT0I%2F03366d7c-701e-48e2-abdb-ce2e01600775.png?alt=media&token=c8c4e138-be0a-4097-a094-422421f2748e","id":"03366d7c-701e-48e2-abdb-ce2e01600775","width":3043,"height":1894,"filename":"taxatron-2.png","type":"image/png","caption":"2∕4","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FBCPo1lLhz5jMH2ZGiT0I%2Ff0064c34-ed7b-4caf-bd8a-265265bed924.png?alt=media&token=e846845d-ee55-491b-9bc8-c2b28b4d5a40","id":"f0064c34-ed7b-4caf-bd8a-265265bed924","width":3043,"height":1894,"filename":"taxatron-3.png","type":"image/png","caption":"3∕4","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FBCPo1lLhz5jMH2ZGiT0I%2F002c9a7f-b193-4a70-8f69-67f07b16a3a3.png?alt=media&token=7b8e5e16-495d-4b8a-965c-22233c676506","id":"002c9a7f-b193-4a70-8f69-67f07b16a3a3","width":3043,"height":1894,"filename":"taxatron-4.png","type":"image/png","caption":"4∕4","border":false}]}
```

## Hobby Horse-led Development

Snark aside, making tools for yourself, then releasing them publicly, is such a wonderfully myopic, hobby-horse driven quirky process that I will never not love.

Like, take the name ("*[Please](https://www.google.com/search?q=take+my+wife+please#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ae0e9509,vid:xlT2qnbJ5BU)!"* 🥁): It's corny, yes, but I have this personal rule: Very Serious Projects get dumb, silly names so they *feel* lighter—less overwhelming—as I build them.

No sensible actual business project lets you do that. This one did.

### How it's built

Tax-A-Tron EZ-Estimator 4000 is built on [Decipad](https://decipad.com), which is sort of like Excel, but fun. The tool has 4 sections:

1. Quick Result (gross → net income)

2. Detailed result

3. Accuracy Enhancer (deductible expenses)

4. Under The Hood

The calculation formulas lean on the calculation methods in a spreadsheet for estimating income tax developed and published by a citizen watch group for Danish tax legislation [Tax.dk](https://tax.dk/).

A crucial difference between that spreadsheet and **The Tax-A-Tron EZ-Estimator4000** is about focus. The goal with the Tax-A-Tron is usable by 80% to get 90% of the way there.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FBCPo1lLhz5jMH2ZGiT0I%2F31814800-f199-402b-84dc-765ef898c1c0.png?alt=media&token=142905ea-ca9d-469d-a606-e84e1bcec345","id":"31814800-f199-402b-84dc-765ef898c1c0","width":3600,"height":2250,"filename":"CleanShot—2023-06-14—20.03.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Spreadsheet from from https://tax.dk","border":true}]}
```

### *More highlights to come...*

## Try the Tax-A-Tron EZ-Estimate 4000

### [Live version](https://jonas.so/tax)

The Tax-A-Tron EZ-Estimator 4000 🇩🇰

```cv
youtube
{"url":"https://youtu.be/kyjXzThXEJU","width":200,"height":113,"thumbnail":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kyjXzThXEJU/hqdefault.jpg"}
```

### A minimalist rhythm game that transforms 12 strangers within five-ten minutes to 1 player group synchronised in rhythm, precision and cooperation to win

**My role:** Co-designer, production lead, managed a 7-person creative team + 9 event volunteers.

---

## About Bonkell

The Danish *Roskilde Festival* commissioned us to build a room-sized game installation for that year's Art Zone public space. We developed Bonkell entirely on-premise in the week before the festival, including coding the digital game itself, and build custom furniture wired to run as a shared, game controller the size of its exhibition room.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fb6abf43b-fb70-4502-ad9b-dccf30a7cfa6.jpg?alt=media&token=2ddd63cb-59ac-4d17-86e3-4645b3f30e34","id":"b6abf43b-fb70-4502-ad9b-dccf30a7cfa6","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_1760.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F0b605689-be52-414b-8ab4-f7be6a4700ab.jpg?alt=media&token=e41aad90-3dd6-4602-979f-435d103352d7","id":"0b605689-be52-414b-8ab4-f7be6a4700ab","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_1757.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F03a9157e-ea87-4959-9af8-f919c6befe12.jpg?alt=media&token=1c76bbef-0c60-4eb7-82f7-9ac9bf66552c","id":"03a9157e-ea87-4959-9af8-f919c6befe12","width":2448,"height":3264,"filename":"2014-06-29 15.05.37.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fb5ecc0fd-ec2a-4b0a-b489-f5f68d681b4f.jpg?alt=media&token=084d201a-2a9a-4529-88de-784ff74ef68d","id":"b5ecc0fd-ec2a-4b0a-b489-f5f68d681b4f","width":3264,"height":2448,"filename":"2014-06-30 18.57.04.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F640f05cb-9850-41af-8897-b95b0a40e75d.jpg?alt=media&token=55a6a27c-17d6-42f5-8e54-3ab99d0738ee","id":"640f05cb-9850-41af-8897-b95b0a40e75d","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_1762.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F41409fa5-9c7e-4365-a907-719816ce186a.jpg?alt=media&token=d1b69448-2adf-4235-83ff-1474df63f78b","id":"41409fa5-9c7e-4365-a907-719816ce186a","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_1771.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F55560468-bab3-472c-8b73-8a647e3f8e6d.jpg?alt=media&token=d90e441e-1793-4622-89d8-27fcc870d412","id":"55560468-bab3-472c-8b73-8a647e3f8e6d","width":3200,"height":2368,"filename":"IMG_20140629_182811.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F69ad134c-9ffe-4ccd-88cb-a32bc7e339b6.jpg?alt=media&token=721de518-88b7-4a89-bdff-7838591385b4","id":"69ad134c-9ffe-4ccd-88cb-a32bc7e339b6","width":3264,"height":2448,"filename":"2014-07-01 16.03.21.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F7acd66e5-e973-48bb-977e-116e5aa5fcbb.jpg?alt=media&token=d4ca1852-7051-4200-b33f-6ef8e0f3ef31","id":"7acd66e5-e973-48bb-977e-116e5aa5fcbb","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_0781.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fb3753275-2e0b-4f8b-b749-878aa3eae805.jpg?alt=media&token=b571c4fb-8034-4809-9961-4fef161ce926","id":"b3753275-2e0b-4f8b-b749-878aa3eae805","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"IMG_1775.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## How it works

Bonkell plays as a series of mini-levels that players solve by pressing increasingly complex color sequences via 12 arcade buttons built into the room’s 2 controller tables.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fa37f5dd5-ba34-43b2-9329-37ca09872fc0.jpg?alt=media&token=5139955e-86c9-4ac6-a3b6-71a747d2183b","id":"a37f5dd5-ba34-43b2-9329-37ca09872fc0","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"roskildefestival3.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F55897611-a85d-49b9-9213-2f689a0e8a69.jpg?alt=media&token=47b26ebd-7f25-498e-aaa3-691c66880151","id":"55897611-a85d-49b9-9213-2f689a0e8a69","width":2448,"height":2448,"filename":"2014-07-03 21.04.30.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fbc31c24f-5f6f-4dc1-8c75-9809cecabfb3.mp4?alt=media&token=292ecb76-0771-4b8a-ac46-01fab95ffa1b","id":"bc31c24f-5f6f-4dc1-8c75-9809cecabfb3","width":480,"height":480,"filename":"Video 02-07-14 17.15.16.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F3a0e2bb8-505c-433b-9e12-85b8be4b65eb.mp4?alt=media&token=d0b42d1a-5ba1-4606-9681-b86d34f7c9fb","id":"3a0e2bb8-505c-433b-9e12-85b8be4b65eb","width":480,"height":480,"filename":"Video 03-07-14 19.42.25.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fd8bd3875-5cd5-4033-93cc-60df9e50bd2b.mp4?alt=media&token=6d5489d5-9b14-4f25-9b3e-fe83f47defdd","id":"d8bd3875-5cd5-4033-93cc-60df9e50bd2b","width":480,"height":480,"filename":"Video 05-07-14 21.19.06.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fb94b54cc-30e2-498a-abf1-fd2a242e3051.jpg?alt=media&token=1341ada8-eb01-47de-b2b6-8edd049f9683","id":"b94b54cc-30e2-498a-abf1-fd2a242e3051","width":3264,"height":2448,"filename":"roskildefestival4.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F8a705024-f30e-4e91-846b-de110887c1d1.jpg?alt=media&token=fe6df5e5-0c69-40ed-a0fc-df79fd02d4fa","id":"8a705024-f30e-4e91-846b-de110887c1d1","width":2592,"height":1936,"filename":"roskildefestival1.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2Fdfb0bc66-1212-4bd1-8f61-cbaeb09b01b9.png?alt=media&token=84c52492-c711-49b7-8b11-262c8518bfc3","id":"dfb0bc66-1212-4bd1-8f61-cbaeb09b01b9","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"bonkell4.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F11c14478-1f47-4db8-9bdc-12ac40b63541.png?alt=media&token=e13028f4-a40e-4b67-86b3-345409bc815f","id":"11c14478-1f47-4db8-9bdc-12ac40b63541","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"bonkell5.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FGkrCe0niCsTg4qfiB2X6%2F0eb3dad8-f0b7-44a1-a371-67864ab1d172.png?alt=media&token=36e0a94d-1855-4a45-bf69-3b4d771275b9","id":"0eb3dad8-f0b7-44a1-a371-67864ab1d172","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"bonkell3.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## Credits

* Code: [Simon Vestergård](https://twitter.com/sengelsted) & [Mads Johansen](https://pyjamads.itch.io/)

* Game Design: [Joon Van Hove](http://joon.be), [Anders Østergård](https://twitter.com/anderzoe) & [Martin Petersen](https://twitter.com/itskumquat)

* 2D Art: [Lars Bindslev](https://twitter.com/larsss)

* Production: [Jonas Maaløe](http://jonas.ma)

---

## Related:

My talk about designing local multiplayer games like Bonkell:

[Local² Multiplayer Design](https://read.cv/jmaaloe/designing-for-local-multiplayer-games)

Bonkell

```cv
youtube
{"url":"https://youtu.be/taZSpxrMtVI","width":200,"height":113,"thumbnail":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/taZSpxrMtVI/hqdefault.jpg"}
```

### Microsoft Kinect game made in 48 hours during ALT CTRL Jam at the Game Innovation Lab at NYU Poly, 2012.

**My role:** Concept development, game design, 2D art and UI assets.

---

## How it works

Soar through the sky, avoid oncoming obstacles, collect fuel packs, and propel yourself through the atmosphere into outer space in this digital-physical hybrid game prototype made in just 48 hours.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F81d2695c-6403-4cc0-ae3f-3944033c6128.mp4?alt=media&token=29d31d30-840b-4225-ae01-c2bf0c262b7c","id":"81d2695c-6403-4cc0-ae3f-3944033c6128","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"He Decided To Fly - gameplay - 1.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"You'll master the game's core mechanics within the first 15 seconds, or perish and start over until you manage to break through through a first wall of breakable crates.","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F9449aeb0-723a-45fa-aaa2-d07744a3b5f3.mp4?alt=media&token=43141933-389d-4954-9426-c6440865d884","id":"9449aeb0-723a-45fa-aaa2-d07744a3b5f3","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"hdtf-gif-source2.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"The level gets harder and the sky grows darker the further upwards you get.","border":false}]}
```

## Motion-controlled gameplay

He Decided To Fly is **an endless, 2D vertical scroller** where you control a flying robot by moving your arms left and right in physical space in front of the screen via a **Microsoft Kinect**.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F466f63f1-b19a-48d8-859a-c11259f73414.jpg?alt=media&token=11881591-5a5d-48d5-884c-0d47cb3879fd","id":"466f63f1-b19a-48d8-859a-c11259f73414","width":2202,"height":1707,"filename":"2013-07-21 02.27.04.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"My initial sketches for player movement.","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F2d90ec6c-cffa-4ade-9c2a-6d327c6211cc.jpg?alt=media&token=b1e8ec63-5555-4c15-bbfc-698864680e72","id":"2d90ec6c-cffa-4ade-9c2a-6d327c6211cc","width":1867,"height":2221,"filename":"2013-07-21 02.27.57.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Sketch outlining the overall level progression and concept.","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F822565a4-207a-4a4d-a4cb-03ef63d25396.jpg?alt=media&token=c78a3b94-faf2-4566-b6c0-9993e814f20d","id":"822565a4-207a-4a4d-a4cb-03ef63d25396","width":1388,"height":1831,"filename":"IMG_1572.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Whiteboarding the start of the level","border":false}]}
```

The game’s physical control scheme—familiar to anyone who's ever imagined taking off in **Tony Stark's Iron Man suit**—combinesthe sense of digital embodiment with tight a level design, and a fast-paced game flow.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2Fa1390142-176f-4535-adcb-79a29bf006ef.png?alt=media&token=ae607054-e903-4330-9abb-42f16547d787","id":"a1390142-176f-4535-adcb-79a29bf006ef","width":2532,"height":1238,"filename":"embodiment-1.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F073f9fa7-b6a0-4b02-9bc2-87efc78aa0d5.png?alt=media&token=e308f0bb-7686-47c7-b964-3aa2ad844e74","id":"073f9fa7-b6a0-4b02-9bc2-87efc78aa0d5","width":2534,"height":1238,"filename":"embodiment-2.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2F9606e6a6-74f7-44bb-af38-d96615cca37f.png?alt=media&token=d010d3cf-297c-41c7-8526-28d724011c17","id":"9606e6a6-74f7-44bb-af38-d96615cca37f","width":2030,"height":1248,"filename":"Frame 17.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FY8ike6R4oq53ylGqcL2F%2Fc14a3523-4ecc-48df-b721-743fa62f44f6.png?alt=media&token=f85e2296-cced-4fcb-8baf-966fdf9bceb1","id":"c14a3523-4ecc-48df-b721-743fa62f44f6","width":1518,"height":1248,"filename":"Frame 26.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

### Made in 48 hours

He Decided To Fly was created at the **2012 ALT CTRL Jam** at NYU-Poly’s Game Innovation Lab in New York City and awarded 2nd place by a jury that included Kaho Abe, Matt Parker and Nick Fortugno.

### Team:

* Anthony Marefat

* Jamil Jewel

* Sitong Peng

* Jonas Maaløe

He Decided To Fly

```cv
youtube
{"url":"https://youtu.be/qicxslnLx5Y","width":200,"height":113,"thumbnail":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qicxslnLx5Y/hqdefault.jpg"}
```

### Find out which of your friends can protect you with their eyes closed in this cooperative, physical mobile game for 2–200 players

**My role**: UX Design, game design, playtesting, production.

---

## Gameplay

Sentree is a mobile multi-device game that you play on an iPhone and iPad:

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F92ecaf58-5a76-4ebe-8f7d-72f975616a71.mp4?alt=media&token=b1e97ab2-b877-4e15-b4ef-30e10dc6e9c6","id":"92ecaf58-5a76-4ebe-8f7d-72f975616a71","width":1280,"height":660,"filename":"sentree-subtitled.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

The Shooter controls the game's main character via the phone's gyroscope while Spotters overlook the game world on their tablet.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fe9a1a6e7-a5fb-4de2-a37c-fd8475104e81.jpg?alt=media&token=60ac43f4-892b-429f-8e1b-5c8387759c7b","id":"e9a1a6e7-a5fb-4de2-a37c-fd8475104e81","width":1024,"height":768,"filename":"amaze-sentree2.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fe63666ad-3e4d-4328-9981-88621ba23add.jpg?alt=media&token=bb0b616a-363f-4ea0-936a-21fef51d61ac","id":"e63666ad-3e4d-4328-9981-88621ba23add","width":1517,"height":947,"filename":"1_screen1.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Scroll to view →","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Ffcad4879-2510-4c5d-8756-ebb4da8c3296.gif?alt=media&token=0685742f-60f6-4ca0-b5c7-0cac96445420","id":"fcad4879-2510-4c5d-8756-ebb4da8c3296","width":972,"height":730,"filename":"sentree-gameplay-1.gif","type":"image/gif","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fc11c2103-ef6f-4f75-908a-0de8d512141d.jpg?alt=media&token=d2fd2dad-a538-4524-971c-f33a0e72d184","id":"c11c2103-ef6f-4f75-908a-0de8d512141d","width":1517,"height":947,"filename":"1_screen2.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fe7181b89-aa74-41f9-9b58-4e3566ed54d4.jpg?alt=media&token=b55027f2-ea7e-4b2b-abc1-656a407a94db","id":"e7181b89-aa74-41f9-9b58-4e3566ed54d4","width":768,"height":1152,"filename":"sentree-gameplay-2.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fa52b8fa4-4e67-4791-bae2-d4a2df91dc58.jpg?alt=media&token=18d082bc-5cf3-4d61-99ed-990106fd108d","id":"a52b8fa4-4e67-4791-bae2-d4a2df91dc58","width":1517,"height":947,"filename":"1_screen3.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fd1eb786c-3a32-4f1a-9f0c-29e0bf5d064b.jpg?alt=media&token=210ad741-c285-405c-a754-694e300bc3f1","id":"d1eb786c-3a32-4f1a-9f0c-29e0bf5d064b","width":1024,"height":768,"filename":"sentree-gameplay-3.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F88e16f66-2a0b-48c1-8d42-ea5b4226b4f2.png?alt=media&token=58f14009-065c-465a-b1cc-3143ab3a168a","id":"88e16f66-2a0b-48c1-8d42-ea5b4226b4f2","width":3270,"height":1434,"filename":"sentree-diagram-w-instructions.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Together your goal is to survive for as long as possible by fighting off the monsters that slowly but surely come moving towards your group from all sides.

---

## Teamwork

The discrepancy between information and agency in these two roles makes Sentree into a social communication game.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F4dbdb78c-13a1-4bf1-ba8b-48e41b558bdd.png?alt=media&token=eca88fac-026e-461b-a1b5-e68f80e28b2f","id":"4dbdb78c-13a1-4bf1-ba8b-48e41b558bdd","width":1440,"height":810,"filename":"Capture-2023-01-04-023204.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

**Spotters** have perfect information about the game world and state, but no direct control over it.

**The Shooter** has no information about the game world, but the only one who can act within it.

**Together** Spotters must guide the Shooter about which direction to point and when to shoot through verbal (or other expressive) commands

This imbalance, between information and agency, makes up Sentree's core gameplay. When it all comes together, the borders between digital and physical play fall away and players engage in a hybrid experince:

```cv
youtube
{"url":"https://youtu.be/0GnMW1rIBEA","width":200,"height":113,"thumbnail":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0GnMW1rIBEA/hqdefault.jpg"}
```

## Communication strategies

One of the most interesting take-aways of playtesting and exhibiting Sentree has been to see different player groups come up with different communication strategies on their own, like:

### The Compass

*Use 360 degrees to help the Shooter aim:*

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F4809151f-9471-470c-8389-51bff64112d3.mp4?alt=media&token=3f4fa1f7-570f-45d1-92a8-5d132a451afa","id":"4809151f-9471-470c-8389-51bff64112d3","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"compass.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

### "Right Right Shoot!"

*Simpler, but often more frantic*

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2Fe0ed1bf0-3782-473b-9bb6-c0b03db9eb74.mp4?alt=media&token=3641b6fb-8b60-4b23-a855-0234f3994326","id":"e0ed1bf0-3782-473b-9bb6-c0b03db9eb74","width":1280,"height":720,"filename":"rightrightshoot.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

### "Follow My Voice"

*Because the controllers are mobile, players can use the physical space to guide the Shooter:*

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F5e9e0bb6-5d3f-444c-9039-4651ebf1a89f.mp4?alt=media&token=eef0b646-e869-4fec-8730-35c61189f11e","id":"5e9e0bb6-5d3f-444c-9039-4651ebf1a89f","width":1266,"height":714,"filename":"followmyvoice.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Sentree doesn't instruct or encourage a specific way for the Spotters to coach the Shooter, and but leaves it up to each group of players to figure out how to develop **good command systems**.

## Credits

### Glitchnap

* [Joon Van Hove](https://joon.be): Concept, Programming, Game design

* [Mads Johansen](https://pyjamads.itch.io/): Programming, Level design

* [Jonas Maaløe](https://jonas.so): Producer, UX, Design

Featuring:

* [Lizzywanders](http://www.lizzywanders.com/): Concept art

* [zerbamine](http://www.zerbamine.nl/): 3D art

* [Martin Kvale](http://twitter.com/martinkvale): Audio

* [Mads Vadsholt](https://twitter.com/ItsMadsTalking): 3D art, audio

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FYP8jRXXDmlJqpCuVg1cX%2F88031067-c8fa-4699-930a-a2c1d90246be.png?alt=media&token=59c1f74d-5e13-470c-84c7-9e3085cc026b","id":"88031067-c8fa-4699-930a-a2c1d90246be","width":1920,"height":1082,"filename":"sentree-fancy-render.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Sentree

### Annotated slides from a talk I gave with my Glitchnap co-founders on our work in digital-physical game design and play installations

```cv
gallery
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```

This is a design thesis for a lot of the design projects I did with Glitchnap between 2013—2018, and a case study if how we applied this philosophy in practice for the physical game installation **Bonkell**  at an interactive art space at Roskilde Festival, Denmark.

I gave this talk at the JOIN 2014 summit in Berlin. It is also available as a [video recording](https://youtu.be/E_9C3M7gHY4).

## Don't miss:

[A closer look at 'Bonkell'](https://read.cv/jmaaloe/bonkell-game)

Designing for "Local² Multiplayer"

```cv
gallery
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```

### Installation game played in a public hedge maze, made for the 2014 w00t Play Festival.

**My role**: Prototyping, HTML/CSS, UI design

---

## How it works

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F63a44d4e-6491-4bd8-a91d-3f46353c6bee.jpg?alt=media&token=3cbaab66-ad39-40eb-b3f1-7c37c3723b04","id":"63a44d4e-6491-4bd8-a91d-3f46353c6bee","width":2000,"height":1500,"filename":"avatar1-2000x1500.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2Fd79356e6-f0c6-49b2-b5e3-836e3affd408.png?alt=media&token=b9e01e17-38e9-4b98-bdd2-a538f0c28b73","id":"d79356e6-f0c6-49b2-b5e3-836e3affd408","width":1024,"height":668,"filename":"avatar2-1024x668.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

To start, players load a URL on their mobile device's built-in browser to a fairly basic web service built on Node.js and Socket.io to let its visitors link up in pairs of two on one unique, random team ID, and assume the roles as either Avatar (smartphone) or Pilot (tablet).

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F19326ea7-0606-4005-ac27-d0601acfa8e8.jpg?alt=media&token=b3ea26ec-b8bc-499e-ac19-8a7d0fdab14c","id":"19326ea7-0606-4005-ac27-d0601acfa8e8","width":5418,"height":3612,"filename":"Frame 6.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"The mobile devices connect via a web server","border":false}]}
```

### The Avatar

After they connect to a Pilot, the Avatar equips a blindfold, a pair of (noise-cancelling) headphones connected to their smartphone, which they pocket and wait at an entrance to the maze / physical play area for further commands  from their pilot.

### The Pilot

Pilots take remote command of their Avatar co-player via their tablet and the on-screen Avatar Controller: A d-pad and 4 action commands, which trigger a robotic text-to-speech sounding audio clip in their Avatar's headphones when pressed.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2Fa353b46f-dbe6-45bc-8921-8da354eca599.jpg?alt=media&token=aaef5af6-565f-4562-afe5-799d6478375f","id":"a353b46f-dbe6-45bc-8921-8da354eca599","width":5418,"height":3612,"filename":"Frame 15.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Tapping a button on the Avatar Controller triggers an audio cue on the connected Avatar device.","border":false}]}
```

### Remote embodiment

The game's fairly basic technical implementation deceive its gameplay's incredibly *weird*—but also how weirdly *amazing*—sensation of remote embodiment, that the near-instant quiet response that a command press on the Avatar Controller have of another person's body in physical space.

It's a key part of what elevates the experience of playing Human Avatar Controller to more than the sum of its parts.

## Maze Combat

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F947e1ae8-7794-4b43-a1cb-4e015e3eacf7.jpg?alt=media&token=fdcc1eef-9fa6-4e3b-a279-203d8932ebe8","id":"947e1ae8-7794-4b43-a1cb-4e015e3eacf7","width":1722,"height":1148,"filename":"Frame 21.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Avatars battle in the hedge maze game are(n)a","border":false}]}
```

Pilots' control over their Avatar is limited to the d-pad and only 4 verbs —

1. "Pick up"

2. "Shoot"

3. "Release"

4. "Duck"

(Five if you count the d-pad's "Stop" command).

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F7e1319c2-295a-44eb-8ffe-4b5b9ad54291.jpg?alt=media&token=355636e3-cade-4207-b5c2-dfa7bc34d996","id":"7e1319c2-295a-44eb-8ffe-4b5b9ad54291","width":1874,"height":1244,"filename":"image 5.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Avatar","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2Fb0191749-c1a8-41a3-aff5-2e61e3cf6b8a.jpg?alt=media&token=57927a95-eea3-4cea-a732-68adceb3d76c","id":"b0191749-c1a8-41a3-aff5-2e61e3cf6b8a","width":792,"height":1244,"filename":"image 4.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Pilot","border":false}]}
```

Once combat begins between the remotely piloted avatars in the Maze, the Pilots must first spot Avatar weapons spread inside the Maze from afar, navigate their blind avatar to it and attack other avatars before someone manages to do the same towards you.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F6392e6e0-382a-440e-9da1-da6bebd451c0.mp4?alt=media&token=17cb0a05-4bf7-45e2-a962-c0165861f8ef","id":"6392e6e0-382a-440e-9da1-da6bebd451c0","width":1080,"height":980,"filename":"avatar-maze-final-video-1.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FPgbLbbpTlmdZRWa8hJhj8W1MghN2%2FyKiNGGm1NZDS8Wrk9wWe%2F8a29d363-a529-4eee-bfe6-790f9a4b191b.mp4?alt=media&token=0353947b-effd-4b77-ab95-dfee0b63f98c","id":"8a29d363-a529-4eee-bfe6-790f9a4b191b","width":1200,"height":1100,"filename":"avatar-maze-final-video-2.mp4","type":"video/mp4","caption":"","border":true}]}
```

If an Avatar is hit by a Maze weapon they are down and must leave the maze and disconnect from their Pilot. The game ends when only 1 Avatar remains inside the Maze.

Spectators get to cheer for their favorite avatar.

### Credits

* Jakob la Cour (concept, event production)

* Patrick Jarnfelt (web server)

* Jonas Maaløe (everything else)

Human—Avatar Controller

Hurling through space and time at any given moment