Jungle of the Optics is designed to run on a PC or current generation console, running on a first-person action game engine.

Fully adaptive optics engine with embedded camera
Everything in the world can be viewed at varying magnifications. Objects appears blurry if not in focus. Because players use lenses at fixed distances (as opposed to modern lenses with auto focusing), they will not be able to simply adjust objects until they are in focus (with the possible exception of microscopes). Lens behavior can be achieved through repositioning cameras in the game world or combining multiple views to achieve a blurring effect.

Taking pictures of the bandits' camp, precious artifacts, and the jungle island are critical missions in the game. Players will have the ability to take pictures as they would appear through actual lenses. Integrating a complex camera in the game that allows players to experiment with different lens and focal length combinations would be a unique, reusable technology.

Fully Interactive Simulated World
Most interactions in the gameworld operates through rule-based simulation, rather than single cased instantiations. Trees and rocks can be broken into smaller pieces, or put together with glue. Lenses interact with one another realistically. Further, the presence of lenses and light makes possible several unplanned interactions; therefore, all flammable objects may catch on fire in the game, and light can be manipulated by reflective surfaces.



Copyright 2002, MIT.