AV Projects
Bitmap Banshees – Psychedelic science-fiction slash-B-grade horror frogger reality
Created and Directed by Anita Fontaine and Geoffrey Lillemon with W+K Amsterdam, Bitmap Banshees is a VR experience set inside a dystopian Amsterdam, where a gang of biker banshees have taken over the city and are out to get you. Players navigate a psychedelic-science-fiction-slash-B-grade-horror-frogger reality, and try to survive the cursed banshees for as long as they can. Cycling around the virtual city players collect ‘carrotty’s’ – secret weapon collectables in the form of supernatural carrots, to throw at advancing banshees to disable them and prolong one’s life in the game.
The installation, which is housed in W+K Amsterdam’s public gallery space, includes a custom bike which acts as the gaming interface. Created from half an exercise bicycle, half an old Amsterdam bicycle and a bunch of wires and sensors – the physical bike allows users to cross dimensions and pedal inside the VR world. Wearing a modified VR headset, players sit on the interactive bike to pedal and steer inside the game world, and ring the bike’s special bell to unleash a defending carrotty’s blast.
“We tapped into the year 2097 in Amsterdam, where living life in VR is a daily grind. The Bitmap Banshee’s are digital avatars reeking havoc inside this warped future. ‘They’ – the Banshees, forced us to make this game as a teaser of what’s to come, as we enter a new hyper- reality filled with avatars capable of crisscrossing dimensions.” – Anita Fontaine and Geoffrey Lillemon
The experience was created using Unreal 4 engine for the realtime gameplay with Marc Winklhofer of Vuse. Modeling was completed in Zbrush whereas general 3d work was done in 3D Studio Max. Two Arduinos talk to Unreal engine and use input from a hacked together bicycle using potentiometers, rotary encoders hall effect sensors. An xbox controller and capacitive touch sensors were incorporated with the help of the creative technologist David Neevel.
Bitmap Banshees will be exhibited in W+K Amsterdam’s gallery until the end of the year. For those unable to visit Amsterdam, the game will be available online in the coming months.
Bitmap Banshees Trailer from Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam on Vimeo.
Project Page | Anita Fontaine | Geoffrey Lillemon | W+K Amsterdam
Credits: Created and Directed by – Anita Fontaine, Geoffrey Lillemon at W+K Amsterdam / Producer – Annatruus Bakker / Creative Technologist – David Neevel / Art Buyer – Maud Klarenbeek / Composition and Sound Design – Chris Taylor / Designers – Emma Mallinen, Malia Killings / Web Design – Pelle Kimvall / Business Affairs – Kacey Kelley / Special thanks to – Mark Bernath, Eric Quennoy, Blake Harrop, Kelsie Van Deman, Lizzie Murray, Claire Beesley, Johnny Sens and Raymond Ruig. Collaborators: Developer – Marc Winklhofer / 3D generalist – Realexis Christofides, David Bakker / Bike Stylist – Kik Scheele / Soprano/ Vocalist – Jenufa Gleich
Follow us on Facebook
AV Projects
The Sharjah Light Festival is back with 11 nights of colourful displays
The festival kicks off next month
There’s a dazzling projection art event coming to Sharjah.
Sharjah Light Festival is returning for 2022 with 11 nights of colourful projections and music. If this year is anything like previous festivals, our eyes are in for a treat.
The colourful festival is the first and only of its kind in the region and has been running for over ten years. It attracts thousands of visitors to up to 20 locations in Sharjah each year. The designs are inspired by local culture, stories and traditions.
The 2022 Sharjah Light Festival goes from February 9 to February 20 and is organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.
The festival brings a kaleidoscope of creative lights and colour to Sharjah’s architecture. Diverse locations are featured during the annual show, with light and sound spectacles that transform them. (Have your camera ready.) The festival uses energy-saving lighting technology and all the lights and projectors used have passed certification for environmental compliance.
-
AV Projects3 years ago
World-Class Projection Mapping Artists Will Illuminate NY At This Epic Light Show
-
AV Projects3 years ago
The Sharjah Light Festival is back with 11 nights of colourful displays
-
Artists10 years ago
Lumen Interview: Igor Pajed from Media Apparat
-
AV Projects3 years ago
Burj Khalifa has a new dazzling light show
-
Latest News4 years ago
Christmas Sale for VJ Loops & VJ Software 2021
-
AV Projects3 years ago
Love Light Festival to return to Norwich in February 2022
-
Video Mapping9 years ago
Video Mapping Loops – Solution for Video Mapping
-
VJ-ing4 years ago
TOP-5 VJ Loops for Halloween
-
Latest News4 years ago
8th international festival of art, theater and new technologies “The Wonders of Possible”
-
AV Projects4 years ago
Cutting-edge projections by teamLab at Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
-
Video Mapping3 years ago
“1minute Projection Mapping”- One of the most Impressive Projection Mapping Competition
-
Software9 years ago
VJ Software & Video Content: Blackfriday Sale 2020