matanuki

This project is an experiment in 3D interface and behavior. When you click on the planet, it will spawn a little mushroom. As the plant grows, it will drop spores that grow more mushrooms. Moving the mouse to the edges of the screen will spin the planet, causing the spores to land on other parts of the sphere or fly out into space. So you’re sort of in control, but not in control.

Click on the image to view. This piece requires the Unity Web Player, I promise it won’t make spiders and ninjas flow out of your monitor if you install it.

All of the textures used in this project were sourced from original scans of handmade paper. I enrolled in a papermaking course last year and in addition to learning how to turn plants into writable surfaces, I walked away with a huge catalog of organic and exotic textures. I love the depth and variation they can add to a digital work.

My classmates told me this project reminded them of a Super Mario game. Guess I was channeling Miyamoto when I put the visuals together.