About this project
Rock Vibe makes it possible for blind and sighted gamers to play a Rock Band-like game on their computers. At the end of the project, several 2-player systems will be donated to schools and centers for the blind.
A little background history
In 2008 I created Rock Vibe with 2 other colleagues as a school project at UC Santa Cruz. The original game allowed blind gamers to play a version of Rock Band on their PCs by responding to vibrations on their arms.
Rock Vibe tested well with its users and was successfully presented and published at two conferences, including ASSETS SIGACCESS 2009 held by the Association for Computing Machinery and Games Beyond Entertainment 2010 in Boston. Game testers and people who've experienced Rock Vibe at conferences say that they would like to see the game fully developed.
How you can help
Today, the project needs funding for R&D, so I can improve the software and hardware to make it more user friendly, which should take about 12 months to complete. The funding will be used as follows:
- Find the best type of vibrating motors.
- Figure out where the vibrating motors should be placed on the body when playing with the Rock Band 3 guitar and drum kit.
- Test different types of electronic wearables to find out what gamers like best, such as gloves, belts and vests.
- Pay for custom PCB and enclosure manufacturing.
- Purchase new tools and update old software.
- Time. I work a lot and need to code every level manually.
- Purchase and test more Rock Band instruments. I've tested the Standard 3 guitar and drums on a Mac so far. PS3 and XBox versions are needed.
- Travel with the game to different schools and centers for the blind to test the game and get more user feedback to make the ultimate Rock Vibe.
- Run LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of game tests with TONS of participants, sighted and blind.
- Present the game at conferences.
- Donate systems to schools, centers for the blind and families. Preferably, I'd like to install and demonstrate the game in local locations because that's more helpful than providing a manual.
- Make Rock Vibe a 2-player game.
Why this project is important
Once completed, this game will be the first of its kind to be available, and it will totally change the face of gaming! Today, there are no games like this for people who are blind, and many of the games that have been developed for them have no appeal to those who are sighted. Donating to this project will allow you to potentially be a part of a gaming revolution!
Final outputs of the project
- A wearable electronic device that connects to a user's computer and allows the gamer to feel vibrations on her body when she needs to hit a key or drum on a Rock Band 3 instrument, MIDI controller or computer keyboard.
- Rock Vibe software for Macs and PCs.
- A library of song levels, but players bring the music. Players can also stream online music using YouTube and other services through Rock Vibe if they don't own the music (This feature is in development).
- Several full systems will be donated and installed at schools and centers for children who are blind. The number donated depends on the total amount of funding.
Your support is greatly appreciated!! And, you can also support Rock Vibe by spreading the word.
Song Restrictions
Since songs are manually coded, I need a good starting point for coding them:
#1: Songs must be easy to find. I know you love that one-of-a-kind bootleg live track from that great obscure band (so do I!), but I need purchase power. Please ensure I can easily purchase MP3s of your suggestions.
#2: Songs should feature guitar and/or drums.
#3: Find the song on ultimate-guitar.com and look for the words "Guitar Pro" listed next to the song. If it's there, I can probably code it.
If for any reason I run into issues while coding a song, I'll contact you and ask for another suggestion.
If you're in a band, have the rights to your music, can provide fairly accurate guitar/drum tab and MIDI data, and would like to have your song included in Rock Vibe, please get in touch. I'd love to hear from you. It'd be great to feature some bands on the Rock Vibe website and share your music with gamers.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
78
Backers
$15,002
pledged of $32,000 goal
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on January 20.
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The satisfaction of knowing how awesome you are!! Also, you can access all of the project updates here on Kickstarter + get the Keeping Time application download that helps you keep track of time while you're on your computer.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
USA only - A personalized thank you card in the mail, complete with a happy doodle and message in my handwriting. I hope you can read it + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $7 or more Pledge $7 or more
Outside USA - A personalized thank you card in the mail, complete with a happy doodle and message in my handwriting + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
USA & International -- Your name will be featured in the thank you section of the upcoming official Rock Vibe site + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
USA & International -- A digital download of the Rock Vibe software with schematics and instructions to build your own electronic wearable + a thank you on the official website + a personalized thank you card in your mailbox + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
USA only -- A nicely packaged CD with the Rock Vibe software, printed schematics and building instructions + a thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
International -- A nicely packaged CD with the Rock Vibe software, printed schematics and building instructions + a thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $65 or more Pledge $65 or more
USA & International -- Add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + a nicely packaged CD with the Rock Vibe software, schematics, building instructions and operation manual + a thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $135 or more Pledge $135 or more
USA only -- Pre-assembled version of Rock Vibe + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $148 or more Pledge $148 or more
International -- Pre-assembled version of Rock Vibe + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $195 or more Pledge $195 or more
USA only -- 2-player pre-assembled version of Rock Vibe + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $210 or more Pledge $210 or more
International -- 2-player pre-assembled version of Rock Vibe + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
USA & International -- Add a vocalized welcome message of your choosing that plays after the Rock Vibe application launches + 2-player pre-assembled version of Rock Vibe + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $515 or more Pledge $515 or more
USA & International -- Three 2-player pre-assembled Rock Vibes + Add a vocalized welcome message of your choosing that plays after the Rock Vibe application launches + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $550 or more Pledge $550 or more
USA & International -- Discuss and suggest features on the phone or via Skype + Three 2-player pre-assembled Rock Vibes + Add a vocalized welcome message of your choosing that plays after the Rock Vibe application launches + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
USA & International -- Ticket to conference or expo where the game is presented and dinner. Available events are subject to the project's acceptance at various conferences. + The following has an EDD of Feb. 2013: Discuss and suggest features on the phone or via Skype + Five 2-player pre-assembled Rock Vibes + Add a vocalized welcome message of your choosing that plays after the Rock Vibe application launches + add a song to Rock Vibe (Please see restrictions) + software, schematics, building instructions on CD + thank you on the website + personalized thank you card in the mail + Keeping Time application download.
Project By
Connected as Rupa Squiddleyspooch (120 friends)
I have been programming and building art and electronics since 2002. In 2008, I started Rock Vibe, an electronic musical game for people who are blind, with 2 other colleagues, and it proved to be very successful. Throughout the project, I served as the team leader, programmer, and designer of the game. I am now planning on taking the game to the next level by creating a 2nd, more intuitive fully functioning game that can be enjoyed by those with or without sight on their computers through tactile and sonic feedback.
