Research Group for Applied Software Engineering
Forschungsgruppe für Angewandte Softwaretechnik

iPhone Praktikum 2010 - Team BMW

 

Mission Statement

Create a multiplayer in-car game on the iPhone that uses information from the vehicle to positively influence the attractiveness of the game to the vehicle passengers!

Video

BMW introduces the next level of automotive consumer electronic device integration by supporting Apple's new iPod Out functionality. The new feature allows applications on Apple devices to be controlled and experienced with the iDrive interface concept:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj0SRzd40s4

 

Client

BMW Group
Identifying potential and encouraging growth. Knowing what we represent. Recognising where our strengths lie and making the best use of every opportunity. Following a clear strategy. Goals we have attained are in essence the point of departure for new challenges. This is the philosophy that inspires every individual at the BMW Group. It influences the company's structure and it plays a vital role in the decision-making process. Our corporate ethos finds its expression in the uncompromising pursuit of the superlative. The result? Outstanding brands with an unmistakable profile. Automobiles and motorcycles which fascinate people all over the world and which win legions of new admirers every day. And a degree of success which sees the BMW Group go from strength to strength.

 

With the three brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the BMW Group has its sights set firmly on the premium sector of the international automobile market. To achieve its aims, the company knows how to deploy its strengths with an efficiency that is unmatched in the automotive industry. The strategic objective is clearly defined: The BMW Group is the leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility.
(Source: BMW Group company profile)

 

Client Contact

There are two persons at BMW responsible for the client contact:

Mehrnoush Rhamani

 

Jeff Zabel

 

Team

The BMW iPhone 2010 Team consists of six developers, one coach and two instructors.

 

Developer

Conor Haines

 

Vlad Popa

 

Neven Popov

 

Nils Vißmann

 

Stephan Wolf

 

Suneetha Yenamala

 

Management

The management of the team was the job of the coach Stephan Krusche which was supported by two experienced instructors from the chair:

Coach: Stephan Krusche

 

Instructor: Dennis Pagano

 

Instructor: Damir Ismailović

 

Artefacts

In this project an interactive and collaborative question game was developed. The points each player gets for a correct answer or loses for a wrong answer are determined dynamically with the help of a ball game. After all players have answered the question, the ball game appears and for a specifc time (e.g. 15 sec.) the balls are bouncing due to real physics. The balls are also influenced by the car, mostly by speed, acceleration and steering wheel angle. The ball game is composed out of four different fiels which determine the number of points a player gains or loses.

Paper Prototypes

At the beginning of each round a question is shown to all players. Each player can answer by touching one field. Then the answer is locked and cannot be changed.

 



Directly after all players have answered the question (the correct answer was not shown yet) the ball game appears.

 



All balls are moving due to real physics in the ball game field. Only the hotplayer (orange border) can control his ball and bounce the others. The game is also influenced by the car. For example a change of the steering wheel angle to the left causes that the balls are moving to the right.. If one ball touches a diamond or the driver uses the turning lights, the hotplayer changes. So it is possible for each player to control the balls and the number of points for each player.

 



The driver is not able to control the iPhone, but can influence the ball game by shooting a rocket to a specifc player.

 



All balls in the environment of the explosion are bumped away.

 



At the end of each round the correct answer is shown to all players and the positive or negative points are assigned. The whole game ends after some rounds (e.g. 10) or if one player reaches a specifc number of points (e.g. 1000)