A repurposed installation of the tiger virtual characters to be installed in the big screen media display, outside Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, PAX East Game Conerference. March 2 - 9, 2013    (Vimeo video of the big screen)

Recent work focuses on integration of virtual ”human-like” and ”animal-like” agents that naturally interact with real world participants in mixed and augmented reality environments. Developed upon existing and ongoing research into intelligence in virtual agents as characters in games, interlocutors in theatre or simulation there is potential for co-evolution of narratives. Agents with modest abilities to sense, and interpret symbolically actions of participants allow autonomous interaction between the humans and virtual animal-like agents within a framework of a mixed reality performance. This ”location based entertainment” form allows narratives, animation, and cinematic presentations to occur in real world locations.

form allows narratives, animation, and cinematic presentations to occur in real world locations.

The form is interactive, audience participative and moves away from passive entertainment, placing viewers within the “fourth wall,” immersing them into experiential performances. Wearing head mounted display systems observers freely walk around environments and view animal-like agents from various angles. Through voice and gesture recognition, interactions are natural and integrate autonomous characters that respond and interact with non-ascribed behaviours in mutually inclusive and affective dialogues through narrative paths withoutpredetermined outcomes. The installation is a somewhat humorous look at “animal training” and applies this to the “training” of virtual animals.

Animation Contribution: Ian Connell, Li Hua