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Deep Sea game uses sound—not graphics—and a gas mask thingy

Wraught Audio Designs showed off their rather eccentric-looking entry for the Independent Propeller Awards titled Deep Sea, at SXSW 2011. Described as an “underwater audio simulation”, the gamer is blinded by a gas mask-like contraption, thus no visual graphics are involved. Using a joy stick, the gamer can only go off of the sound coming from the gamer’s noise-canceling headphones.

According to [Joystiq]:

The game is simple: you use recorded audio direction from an AI character, and directional audio cues, to locate enemies underwater, then “ping” them with your sonar to target them. You’ll get feedback from the AI commander character when you ping: things like “It’s far to the left,” essentially.

Those who played it at SXSW described Deep Sea to be rather terrifying and suffocating, as the game deprives you of your sight and your hearing beyond the headphones. It certainly sounds like a claustrophobics’ nightmare.

Not sure how well this game would do as a stand alone on the market, but the concept has potential if done right on consoles as a peripheral. Although, a little work is, umm, needed on the design.

Posted by allenaoki time