Considering...

Right now I'm thinking up the gameplay of this game. I'm researching types of patterns (magic square) and pattern variability (as described in the article you can't view because you can't get shockwave) for more ideas.

Here's a list of ideas and options, which I will narrow to a selection that I will develop into the approach:
-physical interface, movable blocks/"beads" are the controls
-virtual interface, same idea
-audio: -- pre-determined strains -- synthesized -- two games, one that synthesizes (like idea #1) and one that organizes it into patterns (like idea #3) -- pattern determines what is played at the moment -- pattern determines sequence of audio(X) --
-the pattern: -- a grid made up of identical images, the images can be rotated, and switched with adjacent square -- more ideas pending...

This list probably makes no sense to anyone except me.

capstone idea #3

I feel like I'm approaching a more original and encompassing translation of this bead game. Essentially, the game is about patterns; how information repeats itself in other forms (i.e. a piece of music compared to a mathematical formula).

I've been doing a bit of rummaging online for other implementations of the bead game. In doing so, I stumbled upon this. It's an essay accompanied by an interactive illustration of its subject: patterns in Bach (that's a very simplified overview).

What really has me interested is the variable square pattern; the essay describes how patterns can be invariable or variable, overly abstract or "memorable." These qualities affect how we perceive things--ranging from ugly to beautiful. Perception of what is ugly and beautiful, while argued to be subjective and conditional, nonetheless have very objective universal standards, as the aesthetics of patterns illustrate.

The Actual Idea:
To create a changable(/multi-user) pattern, incorporating music that is directly affected by the changing patterns in an experiment to see how visual aesthetics relate to audio aesthetics.

capstone idea #2

After looking around for other people's interpretations of the Bead Game, I've noticed a trend in using music (http://www.cityarts.com/glasbeadweb/)rather than translating the game literally. While I'm not convinced entirely that creating a music interpretation is pointless, I do think a different concept might be appropriate...

Therefore I've come up with another concept for this game, albeit less developed. It is to create a type of editable "encyclopedia" that actively draws links between items of information (much like wikipedia) and draws conclusions. Exactly what types of conclusions it draws, and what form these conclusions/meanings will take, I'm not sure.

I've also not nailed down the form of this project; I'm entertaining the idea of making it more of a performance/process, based outside of the computer. It would make sense as a closer-to-literal interpretation of the game, plus I'm just sick of the computer.

capstone idea #1

My capstone idea is based off a game alluded to, but not described, in the book "Das Glasperlenspiel" ("The Glass Bead Game"). I would like to create the rules and gameplay based on the little information given in the story.

Basically, the book describes the game as a sort of "sacred language" that uncovers meaning from comparing bits of information, like an encyclopedia that actively searches for connections between information and draws conclusions. The game is somewhere between prayer and study; it attempts, impossibly, to find the place and meaning of everything.

The description of the game bares every sign of being a metaphor, not meant for literal interpretation, but still...

My first idea is to interpret this metaphorical game metaphorically as a type of evolving musical process composition, which I've created a rough idea for (and will link to as soon as I find free hosting, or as soon as cordova comes back).