Trashcan Dream: Creating a game with air pump controllers
This is an artist page by Wenxiao Ding and Sihan Zhang. This project was part of the Fantastic Arcade x CATS+ 2024 cohort.
Overview
TrashCan Dream is an alternative controller game that follows a humble trash can with a dream—leave the gritty streets of New York and see the ocean. After thirty years of urban life, filled with the sights and sounds of city dwellers, the trash can finally decides to break free and follow its whimsical dream.
Created by Wenxiao Ding and Sihan Zhang, this game explores themes of urban monotony, personal ambition, and the bittersweet clash between dreams and reality. With an air pump controller, players interact with the game by guiding the trash can through challenges as it chases its dream.
The Team
Wenxiao Ding: Game Design & Production
Wenxiao Ding is a multidisciplinary visual designer and game designer whose work merges interactive storytelling with cutting-edge technology to explore themes of resilience, identity, and urban life. With a background in interaction design and art, Ding specializes in creating immersive experiences that span VR, motion-sensing installations, and mixed media.
Sihan Zhang: Programming & Technical Development
Sihan Zhang is a creative technologist and game developer based in New York. She experiments with emerging technologies to create engaging and inspiring interactive experiences. She is interested in exploring the connections between memories, everyday objects, and urban environments. Her diverse work includes VR/AR storytelling experiences, alt ctrl games, interactive installations, and more.
Inspiration
In a city that’s always moving, trash cans sit quiet and unnoticed, yet they witness countless stories and moments. TrashCan Dream emerged from a fascination with these unsung “characters” of the urban landscape. Through the trash can’s journey, we wanted to reflect the dreams of ordinary people striving for more, even when life throws unexpected hurdles. The project also hints at environmental themes, suggesting that while we pursue personal goals, we must consider the impacts we leave behind.
Building the Dream
Creating TrashCan Dream involved exploring the trash can’s journey through several symbolic levels. Each level presents a unique urban “character” and challenge:
- A Pizza Quest: A friendly mouse asks for help retrieving a slice of pizza. The trash can knocks the pizza down in exchange for the mouse’s directions to the beach. A small step, but it’s the start of the dream.
- The Musician’s Tune: In the next level, the trash can meets Jessica the street musician, and joins her in creating music out of trash. Together, they perform to earn enough money for the journey. This rhythm-based section brings out the joy of collaboration—even if you’re just a trash can.
- Battle of the Seagulls: Nearing the beach, the trash can must fend off seagulls to stay on course. Equipped with three balloons (its “lives”), it fights through to finally reach the shore, only to find…a bittersweet reality.
Each level reflects a milestone in the trash can’s journey, touching on themes of friendship, resilience, and the unexpected realities of reaching a dream.
Making It Interactive
For game controllers, we wanted to create something that would connect the physical world with the virtual environment to complement our story. Since our main character is a trash can flying with balloons, we decided that air pumps would be an ideal choice. It makes sense that players can control the trashcan's movement by pumping air into the balloons. Plus, using different types of pumps allows us to incorporate varied movement styles. Ultimately, we chose two blood pressure pumps and a foot pump as controllers, enabling players to engage their whole body while playing.
We used a Teensy board with different types of sensors to convert the player's movement into electrical signals. We attached a pressure sensor to the foot pump to detect if a player is pressing down. We connected air pressure sensors at the end of the tubes for the hand pumps. Each player's squeeze produces a measurable change in air pressure, which the sensor detects in real-time. Teensyduino then processes the signal input and converts it into key presses, enabling game control within Unreal Engine.
The controllers underwent several iterations to improve durability and user experience. We replaced the alligator clips with conductor cables and securely mounted everything inside a container to ensure no components were exposed. This final design not only made the setup sturdier but also captured the story's playful spirit, making each action in the game—whether knocking over pizza or battling seagulls—feel personal and memorable.
Presenting at Fantastic Arcade
At Fantastic Arcade TrashCan Dream took on a new life when we shared it with players who could try the air pump controller in person. There’s something about watching people discover the joy and humor in guiding a trash can that makes it all worthwhile. The feedback was heartwarming and motivating, as many viewers saw themselves in the trash can’s dreams and setbacks. The event allowed us to connect with a community that appreciates alternative games and immersive storytelling.
What's Next for TrashCan Dream
We’re excited to continue building TrashCan Dream’s story, possibly adding new levels, more interactions, or even a multiplayer element. This project has shown us that even a trash can can touch people’s hearts, and we’d love to take that connection further. TrashCan Dream reminds us that no dream is too small—even if you’re just a trash can on the corner of a busy street.
