Hide & Seek

Inspiration

We are big fans of the YouTube series "Jetlag the Game", in which three creators play hide and seek across countries. In the series, one hider has some time to find a hiding spot, getting there, typically by train. Seekers try to find the hider by asking questions, narrowing down his location. They play the game manually, that is by using maps, chat services, and a physical card deck with questions and curses. What we are trying to do is to digitalize the game in one app on a smaller scale (e.g. the Uni Campus as a play zone).

What it does

Players can create a game room, in which one is the seeker. He has 15 minutes to find a hiding spot, after which the seekers can ask questions using a built-in chat. The hider collects coins, which he can use to buy curses, e.g. a smoke bomb, removing the seekers location of a map. The seekers also have coins and can by upgrades, such as a compass that points in the direction of the hider for five minutes.

How we built it

A node js backend server, running Nuxt, serving the frontend and providing a websocket end point.

Challenges we ran into

Challenges with a hardware compass due to the inaccuracy of the compass module. Syncing global game state over multiple users, and handling disconnects and reconnects gracefully.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We built a compass with a microcontroller that points in the direction of the hider, and that can be bought as an upgrade for five minutes. Furthermore, we can now have fun playing the game.