Lasercat Platformer

• 

  create your path up as you go

• 

  every cat loves lasers

Inspiration

Generative art like this http://www.lab-eds.org/ and bullshit from the internet (cats)

What it does

Use a red object (a pen works fine) in front of the webcam to control the cat

• up = jump
• left/right = walk Most times you land on a platform a new one will spawn.

How I built it

I used processing as quick graphical programming tool and connected to the webcam with OpenCV. First I made the platforms, then the collision detection and then the controlls. When I got really tired I needed to do something exciting so I added the special effects (green lines and "fireworks")

Challenges I ran into

The platforms should not overlap when they are spawned, so I need to keep track of their positions and the lines connecting them. Collision detection before adding the platform mostly prevents the platforms from overlapping.

The webcam controls are hard the be made precise. Mostly due to people in the background wearing red tshirts.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

The platform generation and the controls. Also the graphics because I love particle effects.

What I learned

How to use OpenCV for red-object tracking. Procedural generation is harder with branching systems because the branches have to interact.

What's next for Lasercat Platformer

I consider the project to be finished, but I will definitely reuse the controls in future projects. Maybe I will port the platform generation to a mobile game.

Built With

• java
• opencv
• photoshop
• processing