How to Hack IKEA Products into Smart Game Controllers
Your obsession with IKEA might have just received a major XP boost. Artist Marc Dubois has figured out how to transform simple IKEA products into controllers for some beautifully designed video games. All you need for Open Controller is a smartphone, a few cheap IKEA gadgets and you’re ready to get started. Yup, that’s really it. Check it out:
By using the gyroscope and camera that most smartphones come with, Dubois used household items to hack the game controllers in the video. It’s a super innovative and surprisingly simple take on gaming, not to mention that it features some gorgeous design and sleek graphics.
For example, in one game (which was already designed with a sphere in mind) you strap your phone to a corkboard, then secure it between two bowls. You then roll the bowl to rotate items on screen and get them to fall onto targets. Pretty genius if you don’t mind parting with your phone for long enough to play.
You can also place your phone in a translucent cone (you shine light on it, your phone detects it and you grow flowers) or a box that you navigate around a maze. No answer yet on what to do if you receive an important text in the middle of the game, but honestly these look fun enough to maybe encourage you to ignore your chats for at least a few minutes.
The controllers and compatible games and apps are still in testing, so we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes peeled for when this idea becomes a reality we can play with as well. ‘Til then, we’ll be scouring the web for our new favorite IKEA hack: the techy kind.
Would you play any of these IKEA hacked games? If so, let us know which ones in the comments!
(h/t GIFs)
