A euphoric exploration game controlled by your voice for PC, Mac, and Linux.
"Kids pile into a tool-shed where the game is set up. This is what I always imagined South by Southwest would be: Music, tech, and Austin's famous weirdness brought together. I just never thought I'd find it in a tool-shed."
- All Things Considered, NPR, March 12 2013
"SoundSelf is a trip, and an entirely pleasant one that will have many more features added in the coming weeks. But I look forward to what this construction will mean for future game development, as it presents an entirely new window to view what games are capable of."
- Indie Statik, March 24 2013
"Transcendental meditation. Shrooms. SoundSelf. Whatever works, man."
- Destructoid, March 18 2013
"a fascinating experiment in creating not an intellectual gaming experience, but a physical one. "
- Gamasutra, March 22 2013
"Coolest thing I played at GDC."
- Patrick Klepek (Giant Bomb), March 29 2013
About SoundSelf
SoundSelf is a sensual exploration game about the intrinsic pleasure of playing instead of the rewards of winning. You use your voice to explore a hypnotic world of sounds and visuals that feel like they are emerging directly from your body. Each tone will navigate you through strobing tunnels-of-light, impossible shapes, and into a meditative trance. The result is an elegant symmetry of image, sound and body that takes advantage of loopholes in the way you perceive to facilitate a new experience of yourself and your world. Each play-through lasts one extremely intense hour.
There is no right way to play SoundSelf: Play with different sounds and the game will dance with you, or sustain long tones and SoundSelf will take you deep into your own sonic universe. Play alone, or share the experience with friends - no two players will have the same journey, and no one player will experience what many will together.
Play the Prototype for Free
Download Mirror 1:
http://wraughk.com/SoundSelfBuild/SoundSelf-2013-04-04.zip
Download Mirror 2:
http://evanbalster.com/soundself/SoundSelf-2013-04-04.zip
Prototype Requirements (the final game will be more light-weight):
- Windows 7 or 8 / Mac OS X 10.6 64 bit
- Intel i5 cpu or better
- Headphones
- Microphone (can just be your webcam's mic)
Stretch Goal:
$36,000: Deep-playa installation at Burning Man!
Burning Man has been a continuous source of inspiration to the SoundSelf team. Taking this as a deep-playa structure to Black Rock City would give us an opportunity to "pay forward" that inspiration to the next generation of interactive art projects, and also provide a unique platform to experiment with SoundSelf as a shared collaborative experience.
Cost Breakdown
We currently have a working prototype of SoundSelf that explores the hypnosis sensation, but has a limited amount of content and only feeds off of the player's voice in superficial ways. It is the result of one year of research and experimental development, and it's already an unusual and powerful experience.
$18,000 in development funds is enough for us to complete SoundSelf to our satisfaction by early 2014. Additional funds would allow us to create more content to support longer, more intricate experiences, and experiment with more intricate interactivity. Even more development funds would allow us to add some exciting new features.
About the Creators
Developer
Robin Arnott is the sound designer for Antichamber, and creator of "that creepy gas mask game" Deep Sea.
Software Engineer
Evan Balster is a programmer whose current workings include current workings include an opensource audio engine and a system for dynamic body language and kinematics.
Artistic Director
Topher Sipes is an illustrator, graphic designer, hoop dancer, and the creative director of Artheism.
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Experiment: The biggest risk is that SoundSelf won’t be what you expect. We’re exploring relatively uncharted territory in game development and, while we have a trajectory in mind and an exciting new prototype, the game evolves and changes with each new play test, new player and new experience. The greatest risk is also the best reward: that SoundSelf will surprise you.
Costs: In considering our costs and timeline, we’ve built-in a buffer to ensure unexpected challenges don’t take away from the quality or timing of your rewards or our development. This means, barring significant and disasterous events, you will get your rewards on time.
FAQ
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Aside from supporting full VR 3D, we'll be experimenting with alternative uses of head-tracking that will be more subtle than rotating perspective in game.
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I accidentally enabled charging extra for shipping out of the US for the $30 level even though there's nothing to ship. If you just tick the "ship within the United States" box, it won't charge you the extra $5.
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We have in common with music visualizers use of mesmerizing abstract imagery - so this comparison isn't surprising. But where visualizers enrich your music or hang out in the background, SoundSelf's voice-based interaction lulls you into a full-body hypnotic trance by slowing down your breathing and taking advantage of some loopholes in the way you perceive and analyze audio/visual sensation.
1,180
Backers
$36,766
pledged of $29,060 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Mar 7, 2013 -
Apr 7, 2013
- 2 created · 39 backed
- Robin Arnott 1042 friends
- Website: facebook.com
Pledge $10 or more
10 backers
Supporter pack: A growing collection of digital material inspired by the game, including still images, an album, and a feature length video, all released throughout the production process.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $15 or more
661 backers
Gamer pack: A copy of the game for PC, Mac and Linux once the game is released. PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2014Pledge $30 or more
358 backers
Creator pack: Early access to the game and a development forum - share your experiences to guide the evolution of SoundSelf! AND a growing collection of performance and creation software tools adapted from new technology developed for Soundself (see left for more details) PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Add $5 to ship outside the USPledge $60 or more
59 backers
Fashion pack: The SoundSelf unisex t-shirt, screen-printed by hand in Austin AND a Kickstarter-exclusive pin PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $100 or more
19 backers
Producer pack: A one-of-a-kind image generated by SoundSelf with a sample you provide - chant by yourself or with friends - printed on 3 decals AND your name in the credits PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $10 to ship outside the USPledge $150 or more
15 backers
Maker pack: A one-of-a-kind image generated by SoundSelf with a sample you provide printed in the colors of your choice on a tee-shirt OR hoodie PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $12 to ship outside the USPledge $250 or more
6 backers
Sparkly Pack: A one-of-a-kind visualization of your voice realized as a unique 3D bronze or gold plated pendant with a hemp or leather strap PLUS all of the above.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $12 to ship outside the USPledge $400 or more
0 backers Limited (20 of 20 left)
Special Snowflake Pack: EITHER a voicemail greeting as unique and bombastic as you are hand-crafted by SoundSelf's creator OR an interpretive digital portrait of you by SoundSelf's artistic director PLUS everything above
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $12 to ship outside the USPledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Last-Day-Pop-Up-Pack: Choose the color of Robin's hair for two months PLUS everything in the Sparkly Pack.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $12 to ship outside the USPledge $600 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Artist and Musician Pack: BOTH the customized voicemail greeting AND the digital portrait of you PLUS everything in the Sparkly Pack.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $12 to ship outside the USPledge $1,000 or more
4 backers Limited (2 of 6 left)
Patron pack: A one-of-a-kind digital painting inspired by the game and created for you by Topher, SoundSelf artisitic director, printed on canvas PLUS the Artist + Musician pack.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013Add $20 to ship outside the US
