Forrest Gun

We created a game for the small exhibition Touch, Play, Code: Adventures in Digital Discovery, hosted by CIID.

The project began with an exploration of different sensors and playful interactions. We were especially interested in laser sensors and liked the idea of creating a 3D-printed laser gun that people could actually use as part of the game. From there, the concept gradually evolved into a two-player cowboy race.

From the beginning, we wanted to move away from conventional inputs like buttons or sliders. Instead, we designed two wooden stomping pedals that players use to control their cowboy. Every stomp drives a motor that moves the cowboy closer to the finish line—the faster you stomp, the faster your cowboy advances.

The race is made more competitive by the laser interaction. Each cowboy wears a laser sensor on its hat, allowing the opposing player to aim and shoot at it. A successful hit temporarily freezes the other player's motor for a few seconds, creating moments where players have to balance racing forward with trying to slow their opponent down.

When a cowboy reaches the finish line, it presses a hidden button inside the structure, triggering a victory sound. The game then automatically resets both cowboys to their starting positions, ready for the next round. A separate start/reset button allows the game to be restarted at any time.

Although the system behind the game is fairly complex, the interaction itself is simple and intuitive, making it fun and engaging to play. With the laser gun quickly becoming the highlight of the experience.