Introduction: Human Whack-a-Mole Arcade Machine Game
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About: I am interested in the boundaries between engineering and art, with a slightly eco/nature vibe.
A version of the arcade whack-a-mole game where 5 people are the moles, and one person hits them with a foam hammer. This was created as a not very serious, one-off art exhibition piece.
Here is video of it in action:
Step 1: General Instructions
It's basically a table with holes in the top and cloth round the sides. It then has an ipod shuffle and speakers taped to it so it plays music. This game is quite a good size for 5 medium sized adults.
MAIN BIT
top surface: 1.8m x 1m MDF, thickness 12mm
backboard: about 1.8m x 50cm MDF, thickness 6mm
legs: 1.1m long, screwed directly into top surface
sides: 4 x 2m x 60cm cheap black scarves (bought in an asian dollar store for 1.50 GBP (3USD) each)
HAMMER
4 large sponges, as the type you get for washing cars. bought from asda walmart or dollar store
a short handle: 20mm dowel , which extends halfway into the hammer
lots of duct tape
OTHER
5 cheap cushions for people (the moles) to sit/kneel on
ipod shuffle and computer speakers (taped onto legs of unit)
That's about it really. I recorded 12 songs onto the ipod shuffle, each which lasted about 40 seconds. To give it that tacky videogame sound, I used midi versions of songs like:
haddaway - what is love
las ketchup - asereje
a-team theme
2 unlimtied - RU ready for this?
tijuana taxi
...you get the idea.
The unit was designed to be a bit of laugh for drunk people, not to be a serious game. If I was building it again I would incorporate fun lights and a generally sturdier build. It's quite difficult to persuade people to get under it, so perhaps a good idea would be helmets for the moles, which could have a hit sensor (linked to the hammer, very much like fencing gear).
Anyway, here's a video of a hot girl playing it. Feedback welcome. This project was a lot of fun.
MAIN BIT
top surface: 1.8m x 1m MDF, thickness 12mm
backboard: about 1.8m x 50cm MDF, thickness 6mm
legs: 1.1m long, screwed directly into top surface
sides: 4 x 2m x 60cm cheap black scarves (bought in an asian dollar store for 1.50 GBP (3USD) each)
HAMMER
4 large sponges, as the type you get for washing cars. bought from asda walmart or dollar store
a short handle: 20mm dowel , which extends halfway into the hammer
lots of duct tape
OTHER
5 cheap cushions for people (the moles) to sit/kneel on
ipod shuffle and computer speakers (taped onto legs of unit)
That's about it really. I recorded 12 songs onto the ipod shuffle, each which lasted about 40 seconds. To give it that tacky videogame sound, I used midi versions of songs like:
haddaway - what is love
las ketchup - asereje
a-team theme
2 unlimtied - RU ready for this?
tijuana taxi
...you get the idea.
The unit was designed to be a bit of laugh for drunk people, not to be a serious game. If I was building it again I would incorporate fun lights and a generally sturdier build. It's quite difficult to persuade people to get under it, so perhaps a good idea would be helmets for the moles, which could have a hit sensor (linked to the hammer, very much like fencing gear).
Anyway, here's a video of a hot girl playing it. Feedback welcome. This project was a lot of fun.