Haber Dasher steers alien invaders with a massive co-op hat controller
The 2023 Game Developers Conference will once again feature Alt.Ctrl.GDC , an exhibition dedicated to games that use alternative control schemes and interactions in new, exciting, and clever ways. Ahead of GDC 2023, Game Developer will be talking to the developers of each of the games that have been selected for the showcase.
Haber Dasheris a sensible controller for well-dressed pals, having two players use a giant hat to help an alien blend in on Earth.
Game Developer spoke with alternative controller creator and gargantuan headgear enthusiast Erin Truesdell about the challenges that come from making a colossal hat into a controller, how they designed a game around two people navigating a world using a hat as a controller, and the effect this controller has on potential players the moment they see it.
What’s your name, and what was your role on this project?
My name is Erin Truesdell, and I’m the developer of Haber Dasher, both the game and the controller. I’d also like to give shoutouts to my doctoral advisor, Dr. Brian Magerko, for supporting this endeavor, and my research assistant, Marianna Madera, for being an absolute rockstar. This project wouldn’t be what it is without them.
How do you describe your innovative controller to someone who’s completely unfamiliar with it?
It’s a really, really big hat. For two people.
Seriously, though, one of the things I really like about this controller is its simplicity. There are no buttons to figure out or complicated combos to learn. Just wearing and tilting a truly enormous hat.
What's your background in making games?
I’ve been making games since I studied game design as an undergraduate. I’ve since been fascinated with all manner of weird and off-the-wall
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