Course: Media Design 2 (WiSe 2025/26)
Program: Media Systems / Media technologies
Supervisor: Prof. Ralf Hebecker
Project Period: October 2025 – February 2026
¶ Lights & Tunnels
Abstract: Lights & Tunnels is an experimental exploration game developed with the Godot Engine, specifically designed for touchscreen computers and interactive installations. The project investigates how players can learn and navigate a complex space without written instructions, relying instead on light, color, and spatial memory. By phasing out visual aids, the game forces players to internalize a "light language" to find the exit.
Team: Pascal, Sebastian, Ciyawasch
¶ Table of Contents
- 1. Project Overview & Goals
- 2. Core Mechanics & Specification
- 3. Player Flow & Learning Process
- 4. Prototype & Visuals
- 5. Hardware Setup & Materials
- 6. Findings & Reflection
- 7. Team & Credits
- 8. Sources & Repository
¶ 1. Project Overview & Goals
Lights & Tunnels serves as a study in implicit learning. The main objective is intentionally simple: Find the exit. However, the path is obscured by darkness, and the "rules" of the world are communicated solely through environmental lighting.
- Genre: Experimental Exploration / Puzzle
- Platform: Touchscreen Installation (Optimized for horizontal displays)
- Core Tech: Godot Engine, GDScript, Touch-input mapping.
¶ 2. Core Mechanics
¶ 2.1 Light as a Language
Each color represents a specific directional instruction. These meanings are never explained through text or UI, requiring the player to decode the environment through trial and error.
Forward 🟡
Backward 🔴
Turn Left 🟢
Turn Right 🔵
¶ 2.2 Darkness and Visibility
Darkness is a mechanical constraint. Light defines safe paths and decision points, acting as both a guide and a resource for navigation.
¶ 3. Player Flow
- Entry (Implicit Tutorial): Starting in a dark environment where colored lights and arrows appear together to establish associations.
- Learning Phase: Repetition through touchscreen interaction reinforces the color–direction relationship.
- Interpretation Phase: Arrows are removed. The player must rely on memory. Mistakes lead to disorientation, reinforcing the learning process.
- Completion: The player successfully navigates the final maze using only color cues to confirm the exit.
¶ 4. Prototype & Visuals
The visual style utilizes a top-down perspective featuring dark, tunnel-like spaces and high-contrast lights. The interface is intentionally minimal with no permanent HUD, text overlays, or icons.
¶ In-Game Gallery
¶ 5. Hardware Setup & Materials
For the interactive installation, the following hardware components were used to ensure a seamless tactile experience:
- Touchscreen Display: A high-sensitivity infrared touch panel for intuitive finger navigation.
- Mini-PC: An Acemagic Mini-PC (Intel Inside) mounted behind the display to run the Godot build.
- Setup Style: Horizontal tabletop orientation to encourage exploration and shared observation.
¶ 6. Findings & Reflection
The project successfully demonstrated that players can adapt to a non-verbal instruction system within minutes. The most significant challenge was balancing the "Darkness" level; too much darkness led to frustration, while too much light trivialized the memory aspect. Future iterations could include dynamic soundscapes to further reinforce directional cues.
¶ 7. Team & Credits
| Name | Matrikelnr. | Role | Responsibilities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian | ***4332 | Programming | Project lead, Godot logic, and core mechanics. | |
| Ciyawasch E. | ***4121 | UI & Touch | Touch interaction systems and UI implementation. | |
| Pascal N. | ***6415 | Game Design | Asset implementation, sound design, and documentation. |
¶ 8. Sources & Repository
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/53854/LightsAndTunnels
- Engine: Godot Engine (v4.x) - https://godotengine.org/
- Methodology: Principles of "Show, Don't Tell" in Game Design.
- Assets: All visual and audio assets were custom-developed for this project.
© 2026 HAW Hamburg - Lights & Tunnels Project - Documentation