The goal of this project is to create a low power consumption, future proof, low profile device in which I can design small games and experiences for. This idea goes back quite a few years, to my obsession with virtual pet games and GPS game design. In this project, GPS takes a backfoot; however, it still makes an appearance and in theory should be leverageable moving into the future. //Argo
When I first started designing the Nautilus Systems, I wanted to create a modular device that was capable of chaining together with itself. If a user chose to invest in multiple devices, their gameplay possibilities would expand multiplicatively and ideally we could abstract the idea of resources into a generative gameplay loop. I essentially wanted to create a virtual ecosystem, filled with predator and prey, parasite and symbiote. As these virtual creatures interacted themselves, with the player taking the role of an observer, they would develop unique habits and create unique materials.
Inevitably this idea took the backburner, as I had neither the skill, time, nor resources to create a project like this. Now though, I have time and resources, but still lack the skill. Regardless, this idea has been brewing in my head non-stop for years, and its high time I took matters into my hands.
For this project, I have decided on using a Pi Zero 2 W as a small, low cost, and versatile unit.
This single board PC should be more than enough to drive the hardware and software I plan for this project, and while in the long term it might become limiting for projects with a larger scope, I believe for this project it is perfect.
The Zero 2 itself offers 40 GPIO pins, two micro USB ports; one for power and one for data transfer, an Micro SD card slot, an HDMI mini port, and a camera connector. The board also has WIFI and Bluetooth capabilities which will prove necessary for some of our planned features.
Next up, we have the Inky PHAT, a small E-INK display that slots over the Zero 2.
