Asterist

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, USC, Game Development Award

Project Type: Mobile AR App

Genre: Astronomy

Field of Science: Generalist Science

Stage: Development

Synopsis:
Asterist uses mobile device GPS technology in traditional stargazing apps to allow users
to trace together real stars in the night sky, creating personal constellations that are
anchored within the astronomical passage of time. Each created constellation can host a
singular curated story through player uploads of different media like writing, music, and
pictures through the app’s creative tools. They can create constellations representing
aspirational hopes, memorials for loved ones, commemorative moments, journal entries,
and creative writing. Players will see their creations again according to the celestial
sphere calendar, as their drawings are now anchored to existing stars.
Players can then share their constellations and stories with others, gathering a
personalized night sky full of a collection of stories from friends and others.

To our knowledge, no existing mobile game offers accurate star-viewing features and
affordances for players’ creative expression. Furthermore, there is no journaling app with
these mechanics that encourages the anthropological practice of creating one’s own
personal history or folklore by hosting uploaded digital memorabilia. Yet, for centuries
and throughout the world’s cultures, meaning-making storytelling based on astronomical
phenomena has propped up cultures’ survivability—which calls for a digital equal today
(Journal of Skyscape Archaeology). Through our game, players will simultaneously
explore current-day astronomical phenomena as they practice self-guided art therapy
exercises.

Using real-time astronomical accuracy, our advisory and production team has carefully
curated a set of stars to be made available for players to use as drawing points. This is so
that the rate at which player-generated drawings appear has appropriate timing to be
enjoyed like an anniversary or other commemorative event.