Games on the Surface - An exploration of the game design space for the Microsoft Surface

Abstract

The Microsoft Surface is a multi-touch tabletop computer which often is used as a photo or map viewer, or as computer aid while playing board games. Multi-touch games, such as those on smartphones and surfpads do not exist in great amounts on any tabletop yet. In this thesis we analyse and test which game mechanics suits a machine such as the Surface. Several games are designed, created and analysed with regards to how well they fit the Surface's way of user interaction. All games created can be played by several players at the same time and they also all uses the interactions provided by the Surface.