[ExI] Crowd Pong (was: simulation as an improvement over reality)

[J. Stanton]

Mike Dougherty wrote:
> I had an idea for a crowd controlled pong paddle where time-dependent
> directive of each player is summed to create the action of each
> paddle.  If we both choose to make the left-side paddle move "up" (and
> there are no erroneous counter-controls or griefers) then we get a
> swift response to our collective goal.  Otherwise the amount of
> negative influence puts drag or some other sense of restraint against
> immediate satisfaction.  I imagine most would be enjoy the opportunity
> to positively defend their side and grief their opponent.  As you
> mentioned, there is no reason why the game must be only 2 paddles in a
> rectangle - the number of paddles could be a function of the number of
> players and the room/board could be any N-gon [N > 2]

Reality has beat you there by almost 20 years.  Someone at Lucasarts (I 
think Loren Carpenter) did this at Siggraph 1991, with each side of the 
theater audience controlling a paddle.
http://stage.itp.nyu.edu/history/timeline/cinematrix.html