Periscopes, Toy Chickens, and Robots: Unique Student Projects at TGS2026
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, student booths became a showcase for highly unconventional engineering solutions. Instead of standard gamepads, visitors encountered periscopes, toy chickens, 'doggy paddle' controllers, and even functional robots. These projects, developed as part of academic programs, highlight both the technical potential of young creators and a drive toward extreme immersion in gameplay.
Robotics and Large-Scale Engineering
One of the most striking exhibits was a robot from Kokusai Riko College. Following the success of their cockpit exhibit last year, the college presented a highly detailed machine featuring a red chassis and articulated limbs. The robot is equipped with a display showing an avatar that scans visitors and 'diagnoses' their aptitude as pilots. The construction is a complex hybrid of a wooden frame and over 200 3D-printed parts, with a 120 kg base designed specifically to ensure stability.
Unconventional Input Devices
Students from the Aichi Institute of Technology presented a series of devices that translate physical actions into game mechanics:
- «Deep Sea Periscope»: A game where players use a real periscope to scout for enemy ships. By rotating the lever, players use accelerometers to track movement and scan the ocean.
- «Swimming Dog»: A controller featuring handles that mimic the motion of a dog paddling in a pool. Players must rotate the handles to control movement and steering.
- «Sumo Push»: A wooden box device equipped with springs and buttons. Players must time their 'pushes' (tsuppari) to counter opponents in a sumo wrestling simulation.
- «Don't Let Them Take the Turkish Ice Cream!»: A device based on the spinning motion of a stick used by Turkish ice cream vendors to playfully delay customers.
- «One Stitch, One Body»: A platform that requires players to perform rapid, rhythmic jumps to simulate the needle of a sewing machine.
- «Chicken Shooting»: An ingenious controller based on a toy chicken. Pressing the toy's belly triggers a sound that translates into a laser beam in-game.
These exhibits highlight a key aspect of TGS2026: the opportunity to witness the industry through the lens of pure creativity and bold experimentation that often defies standard gaming conventions.
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