By Jim Rossignol on July 8th, 2011 at 12:43 pm.
A sandbox game with real sand. Developers Monobanda explain: “Monobanda has created a sandbox game with real sand, in which up to four players at a time control a ball that can roll around, jump and glide through the Mimicry world. Tiny virtual characters roll around in the sandbox. You can build obstacles for them or create a racetrack.” Yes, you play in your sandpit to create the game’s environment.
This bizarre and extraordinarily clever augmented reality project has a video and a couple more images, which you can see below. (Via the almighty Indie Games.)
08/07/2011 at 12:45 Spider Jerusalem says:
Clever girl.
Also: I want this game to be called Mandala.
08/07/2011 at 22:39 Fumarole says:
+1
08/07/2011 at 12:47 Njordsk says:
What the hell
Is this delivered with a 10m² room full of sand?
08/07/2011 at 13:57 Vexing Vision says:
Best extra controller ever. Beat this, guitar hero!
08/07/2011 at 12:47 konrad_ha says:
Damn hippies! Imagine how cool this would’ve been as a multiplayer shooter. With the blood stains showing up in the real sandpit. So much wasted potential.
08/07/2011 at 15:39 Bhazor says:
No.
08/07/2011 at 12:48 Bodminzer says:
This rules and makes me feel good. Thanks, sand.
08/07/2011 at 12:52 Berzee says:
Yep, that’s nifty!
They also made this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOMZVi86Zc&feature=player_embedded&t=3m23s
(I linked to the best part, but you should watch it from the beginning if you…hm….like….puppets? They also made this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEOMZVi86Zc&feature=player_embedded)
08/07/2011 at 12:54 Metonymy says:
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. “
08/07/2011 at 13:05 razgon says:
I wish video journalism weren’t so popular these days – I’d much rather just read what’s going.
Honestly, from reading the text in this article, I have no idea what’s going on – I guess today is one of those days, since I didn’t understand a word of the 3D printer article either
Edit: After watching the video, I still dont understand it. Are we supposed to make a sandbox ourselves, or is this game not for us? I seem to be missing something crucial here
08/07/2011 at 14:09 Ross Angus says:
You must become the sand, in order to play.
08/07/2011 at 20:01 Bodminzer says:
Congratulations on your autism?
08/07/2011 at 13:20 Corrupt_Tiki says:
Interesting, but Maybe I’m just a washed up byproduct of all these AAA titles or something, because I found it really boring to watch.
08/07/2011 at 13:42 ArcaneSaint says:
So, I guess this won’t be available via Steam then?
08/07/2011 at 13:57 Wunce says:
Steam dissipates too quickly for you to make the entire map without loosing your work. Luckily the Shattered Glass platform works wonders providing that you don’t use you bare hands.
08/07/2011 at 16:00 kirkbjerk says:
You could also apply steam to the Shatterd Glass model for a more unique and rewarding experience.
Pictures within pictures, oh my.
08/07/2011 at 13:51 AbyssUK says:
good idea for a kinect game, import your own worlds.
Hmmm kinect plus lego = minecraft ?
08/07/2011 at 14:00 Ezhar says:
You got sand on my controller!
08/07/2011 at 16:57 Matt says:
Is there any “point” to the game, or is this actually a toy and not a game? The final statement in the video makes me think the latter.
08/07/2011 at 19:08 colinmarc says:
I believe it’s an academic exercise
08/07/2011 at 19:54 tomeoftom says:
“From Sand”. Mesmerising.
08/07/2011 at 22:50 ColOfNature says:
I remember when a sandpit was just a pit full of sand. And cigarette butts.
10/07/2011 at 11:14 moondog548 says:
Cat poop.
09/07/2011 at 03:51 edit says:
Awesome concept.. could be taken in fantastic directions. Imagine (probably with the aid of AR HUD style glasses or something.. projection has its limits) a little society of AI characters for whom this is the landscape. You terraform etc a la From Dust, perhaps interact with the people in a multitude of ways (Black & White, for instance, could also be a source of inspiration).. Basically, imagine doing what you did as a kid with figurines and sandpits, only this time the figurines have minds of their own.
09/07/2011 at 10:03 Nathan_G says:
There’s lots of potential game modes you could incorporate into this idea. ie. A four-player game with a sort of ‘Golden Snitch’ if you will, two people on the standard controllers maneuvering earth-bound characters, two people controlling the sand. The ‘Snitch’ flies all over the place, and the people in the sand must build roadways, bridges and dig tunnels and ditches to allow the earth-bound characters to pursue it. Could allow for some pretty complex, fast-paced competition and would rely on communication between the sand-controller and the dude-controller :D
11/07/2011 at 20:34 Tatourmi says:
I logged in only to say that: That would be friggin’ amazing. BEHOLD THE POWER OF ASYMETRIC COOP!
11/07/2011 at 20:33 Tatourmi says:
Failed reply…
Interesting idea anyway, I am just a little bit disappointed with how the marbles interact with the world.