What’s On Tap?Lien Tran | Interface Studio Final | December 15, 2009

Behaviors such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,

and physical inactivity are major contributors to chronic disease and injury

morbidity and mortality in the United States.

- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Concept

To design a fun and active social interaction that uses bothphysical and mental

capabilities for an environment where there is(excessive) alcohol

consumption.

Domains

Precedentsbar games pinball, darts, ping pong, Photo Hunt, Buck Hunt, Piss Screendrinking games Beer Pong, Flip Cup, Signs, Categories, High/Low, Quarters

arcade games Tetris, Tapper, Frogger, Out Run, Pacman

exercise games Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Fit

memory games Simon, “Going on a picnic”

competition games Horse, basketball, football

Research

1. Observed bars with games2. Sent out survey, 74 respondents ages 21-

40

Barcade, Brooklyn

Research

like playing games in bars

would play a game at a bar that requires mental memory and physical coordination

would play a game at a bar if they had the chance to win a drink from their friend (at risk of having to buy a drink if they lost)

61%

66%

80%

SURVEY RESULTS

Solution: What’s On Tap?

A sequence memory game that is a physical and mental workout.

A competition game that incentivizes people who are at bars to do physical and mental activity before consuming more alcohol and more calories.

Two players take turns testing their memory by tapping out a color sequence, which gets longer with each turn. What’s at stake? The player with the better memory earns a beer at the loser's expense!

What’s On Tap?

Systems Diagram

Prototypes Mapping

Paper Prototyping

“It’s fun [even if you’re losing]. It’ll be even more fun if you add in alcohol.” FEEDBACKIt’s hard to watch other

player’s feet and know what the new color is.

Digital Interface PrototypingPlayer 1’s turn

Player 1’s turn

Interface Modifications

Interface Modifications

Interface Modifications

play testing video

Players Systems Diagram

Bar Test

Bunga’s Den, 14th Street

Bar Test

play Bunga’s Den bar testing video

Observations• The game attracted attention• Sounds were entertaining to

players and onlookers– It was sometimes hard to hear the

sound effects if music on the jukebox was playing

• No one attempted to hop/jump between colors

• It would be more active and more difficult if players could tap add two color combinations

• It’s more difficult to accurately tap if you have larger feet, shoes or heels

• Game tests players’ balance

Next Steps• Make custom tap pads

– Bigger tap buttons– Waterproof and soil-resistant– Add tap lights

• Build game to be allow more activity

• Add timer so players have to tap sequence within certain amount of time

• Consider how to further design as a test of intoxication

• Brand and package game for bars

• Continue play testing and refining game mechanics

Conclusion• Iterative prototyping was

extremely beneficial and necessary to determine game mechanics

• Designing a game required a different design approach

• Using bright bold colors and simple recognizable graphics attracts attention and curiosity

• Visual and audio interfaces reinforced the game objectives and made the game more entertaining for players and spectators

• Game has potential to be viable bar game or drunkenness indicator