Introduction
Hi everyone! I'm excited to share my latest open-source project: a unique Unity-based game that uses a smartphone as a motion capture sensor. If you've ever wanted to try out motion capture without expensive equipment, this project is for you! In this blog post, I'll walk you through the project's features, how you can get started, and even guide you on how to build the game yourself.
What Makes This Game Special?
This game isn't just another Unity project. What sets it apart is the use of your smartphone as a bodynode, which acts as a motion capture sensor. No need for expensive equipment – your phone captures your movements in real-time, transforming the way you interact with the game. This brings an exciting and immersive dimension to gameplay, and it’s completely open-source!
Key Features:
Smartphone Motion Capture: Your phone becomes the game controller, capturing body movements.
Open Source & Customizable: The code is open to the community. Tweak it, build on it, and make it your own.
Easy to Clone & Build: With a few simple steps, you can get the game running locally.
Step-by-Step: How to Clone and Build the Game
Here is a video showing all the steps in the details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnTQerN64lU
The video is italian, so please use the automatic translation available on YouTube.
1. Clone the GitHub RepositoryFirst, you'll need to clone the game’s repository from GitHub. Head over to https://github.com/ManuDev9/BnGameEvoslashOpen and clone the repository to download the project files to your local machine.
2. Fix Any Dependencies & Links
Once you've cloned the repo, there are a couple of things you may need to fix before building. I've detailed these in a step-by-step on the README file in the repo and on YouTube tutorial link to walk you through fixing broken links and ensuring everything works smoothly. Key steps include:
Restoring the necessary packages (body-nodes-host and body-nodes-common) .
Ensuring all linked assets are properly connected (SwordPlayer, SwordController)
3. Build the Game in Unity
Once you've made the fixes, open the project in Unity. Make sure you have the correct Unity version (specified in the repository), and from there, simply hit "Build" and you should be good to go. If you run into any issues, don't worry – I’ve covered potential troubleshooting in the tutorial.
The Bodynode: How Your Smartphone Becomes a Motion Capture Sensor
One of the most innovative aspects of this project is turning your smartphone into a bodynode. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Install the bodynode app on your smartphone (available https://github.com/ManuDev9/body-nodes-sensor/tree/master/android/BodynodesSensor/release).
Step 2: Connect your phone and your computer on the same Wi-Fi.
Step 3: The app reads your body movements in real-time and sends this data to the game.
The motion capture data lets the game mirror your movements for a truly interactive experience.
Why I Open-Sourced This Project
Open-sourcing this project is my way of contributing to the developer and gaming communities. Whether you’re a developer, game designer, or just a curious gamer, I want to provide a foundation for anyone who wants to experiment with motion capture without the hefty price tag. You can use the code as a base for your own projects, improve it, or simply play the game.
What's Next?
I have plans to expand this project, adding more features like multiplayer support and advanced motion tracking capabilities. If you’re interested, I’d love to see your contributions on GitHub or hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Join the Community
If you’d like to contribute, report issues, or just follow the project’s progress, head over to the https://github.com/ManuDev9/BnGameEvoslashOpen/tree/main and feel free to fork, star, or raise issues. You can also subscribe to my https://www.youtube.com/@bodynodes4054 for more tutorials and updates on this project.
Conclusion
Thank you for checking out this project! I hope you enjoy building and playing it as much as I enjoyed developing it.
Are you ready to dive into the world of motion capture? Clone the project now and start building your own motion-controlled game. Let’s push the boundaries of motion capture game development together!
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