Maniacs

One light. Two very different risks.

Look to aim the flashlight independently of movement. Illumination freezes shadow enemies, but sustained light can awaken petrified ones. Limited batteries and gaze-activated puzzles make attention part of the survival loop.

From webcam input to gameplay.

I connected GazePointer’s webcam input to independent flashlight aiming in Unity, then tied that input to enemy responses, gaze-duration puzzles and battery use. Profiling and playtest feedback guided iteration.

Inside the prototype.

More freedom. A precision trade-off.

Players completed a tutorial and play session with conventional or webcam-based gaze controls, followed by a five-point survey and interviews. The team’s survey summary covers 34 responses, 17 per condition.

Gaze input received higher exploration and challenge ratings; conventional controls were rated more accurate. These descriptive findings made calibration and clearer feedback priorities for the next iteration.

Toward more accessible input.

Could a low-cost webcam lower the cost of gaze-assisted play for people who find hand controls difficult? This prototype explores that question; it does not establish that webcam tracking can replace dedicated eye trackers.

Next, I would test calibration, lighting tolerance and input recovery, compare accuracy and usability with dedicated hardware, and evaluate hybrid gaze/controller input with players who have limited hand mobility.