What is Musica?

Musica is the most recent installation in a continuing line of Jam-O-Drum projects.  

Demographic

This Jam-O-Drum is intended for installation in the Pittsburgh children’s museum in the near future.  We designed Musica specifically with this in mind.  The experience is aimed towards children ages seven and up, focusing on the younger side of this group.

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We chose an Arkanoid-type game because it is a fairly well-known genre.  Children will be able to sit down and with minimal instruction be able to play Musica effectively. A lower learning curve provides a more efficient use of museum time and caters to those children who may not have the patience to sit through a lengthy instruction.
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Storyboards

 

Goal

Musica is an educational game that builds teamwork and motivates musical interests, as a game for up to four players.

The primary goal for Musica is to allow children to have fun while learning musical concepts and working as a team.  The object is to free all the notes of a musical sequence by destroying the blocks they are held captive in.  When the board is clear, the players are rewarded with a musical sequence.  Rather than being competitive, the players must work together to keep from losing all the balls, while building a collective score.  Children are taking part in an attractive game as well as a mutual music-making learning experience.  

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Overview of the Game

One to four players play collaboratively in a musical, multiplayer version of the classic arcade game Arkanoid.  Each player begins with his or her own ball and a paddle in the shape of a ½ rest symbol.  Players deflect their own and their fellow players’ balls with the paddles via rotation of the turntables in an attempt to destroy patterned blocks containing musical notes and symbols.  Each block when struck will sound its corresponding note and duration with the audio patch currently specified for the originating player.  Upon successful completion of the level, the players will be rewarded with a new level and a musical sequence.