Juicyness

Cosy Computing

15. Juicyness

Now it is time to add what game designers call "Juicyness". Which we all need, whether or not we have an name for it. All the little bits that are going to lift the activity up from being functional to generating some feeling and satisfaction.

The wooden keyboard and mouse are part of the juicyness. They look nice and the keyboard in particular has a satisfying clattery feel. The mouse wont be used in this iteration apart for me setting up, and will be put away while things are running, but it's still in-world for anything that needs doing during the day.

I have added some LED candles to make it shriny, plus a mini desklamp to just give it a bit more illumination if needed. This can be removed, as can the candles if there is anyone who wants a go who is sensitive to flickery lights.

I have fixed terminal posts to the front of the main box, and taken leads from there to the plates on the variable boxes. I used bell-wire, which I twisted round a pencil to give it the right look. I attached crocodile clips to the ends because that gives me a bit more narrative flexibility. I can clip directly to the plate, but I could also clip to anything else I wanted. No ppower goes through these leads, they are purely story. I also put a little brass padlock on the front of the box. As well as looking finished, this may make people all the more curious to know what is inside, and feel more special if I open it up so they can see the workings.

All the parts are bolted in place on the variable boxes. The switches there have a nice clicky feel. I used a bulb rather than an LED because it looks warmer, older and avoids a recogniseable modern hobby-geek look. Which I actually am fine with, but doesnt belong in this particular narrative world.

Dymotape labels all over the place shoudl give a sense of purpose without actually explaining much at all. They're prompts, really.

So the machine elements fit together and are ready to use.