Technical Challenges

1) Consolidating the Experience

The experience previously ran on two computers:
- Scratch handles the user input and sound generation.
- DJSez handles the game mechanics, graphics, and music

Both programs now run on the same computer, with Scratch only handling the user input and DJSez managing all the graphics, music, and sound.

2) Streamlining DJSez

DJSez would sometimes provide poor performance after extended periods of game play, and at specific points during each game. After re-writing and simplifying much of the graphics, DJSez is now able to reliably play video, music, and 2D-graphics on-time with solid frame rates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Hardware Disconnections

Occasionally the computer would respond with an error the same way as if the USB cable to the Jam-O-Drum were unplugged then plugged back in. We replaced USB-related components in the Jam-O-Drum and switched the computer the Jam-O-Drum connected to. The problem still occurs, but less often.