Flap Flap Flap! was a game created during the 2015 edition of the LvlUpGameJam in Fribourg, Switzerland. Developed within a strict 48-hour time limit, the project had to meet two key requirements:

1. The game's main theme had to be "before/after".
2. It had to incorporate Microsoft Kinect, a motion-sensing device capable of real-time gesture recognition.

Our team of four - Oana Lacroix, Maurizio Rigamonti, Swan Keller, and myself - came up with the following concept: the screen was split into two sections, representing the before and after theme. On the left, players controlled a pterodactyl (before), while on the right, they controlled a seagull (after). Both birds moved simultaneously - if the pterodactyl flew forward, so did the seagull. The pterodactyl had to escape a hungry T. rex at the bottom of the screen, while the seagull dodged incoming obstacles falling from the top of the screen.

The challenge lay in controlling both birds at the same time, requiring players to carefully coordinate their movements using the Kinect's motion-tracking technology. The result was a fun, fast-paced game that tested both reflexes and multitasking skills!

This is where gesture recognition came into play. The Kinect sensor tracked the player's movements, allowing them to control both birds simultaneously:
• Tilting the body left or right made the pterodactyl and seagull move horizontally.
• Flapping their arms propelled both birds forward.
• Remaining still caused the birds to gradually drift downward.

The challenge was all about finding the right balance:
• Too low? The pterodactyl risked getting caught and eaten by the hungry dinosaur.
• Too high? The seagull wouldn't have enough time to dodge incoming obstacles.

To add even more tension, the dinosaur would occasionally lunge forward, trying to take a bite out of the pterodactyl! This forced players to react quickly, tilting their bodies to escape - while still being mindful of the seagull's positioning. Watching people frantically tilt, flap, and twist in front of the screen was absolutely hilarious and made for some fantastic game jam moments!

Working on Flap Flap Flap! was an absolute blast, and the experience brought our team closer together. One year later, in 2016, nearly the same team reunited for another LvlUpGameJam project: Hokuto no Neko. This time, we didn't just participate - we won two awards!