Umbra: Tree of Life was developed to explore and highlight the interaction potential of dual-sided projection surfaces. The two players stand on opposite sides of the projection screen, creating a vivid playspace that integrates the players’ shadows with the projected game. Rather than rely on avatars to represent the players in the game world, Umbra: Tree of Life represents the players through their shadows.

2 Microsoft Kinects located adjacent to the projectors track players’ motions. The shadow caused by player position in front of the projector matches with the kinect skeleton tracking in the game world, resulting in the shadow-as-avatar effect. While players face each-other in competition to collect fireflies on-screen, their only awareness of the opponent’s actions come from studying the screen to watch for shadows and the resulting effect in-game....

Umbra: Tree of Life’s gameplay is exhilarating to both participate in and watch. Because of the semi-transparent surface, audience members and bystanders witness a mirrored but symmetrical game on both sides of the screen.

The mechanic of disrupting light to create shadows supports the core story of a world of darkness, where light is scarce and precious. Players play as the chieftain of a tribe of shadow people, fighting to win the allegiance of a magical tree capable of producing fireflies. These fireflies are a vital and rare resource, the last of a dying breed. Shadow people must carry fireflies with them during the endless nights in lanterns, for without the light of the fireflies, shadow people melt into the darkness.

Most fireflies perished during the battle with the evil Penumbra, a shadow warrior who grew corrupt and sought to make his shadow absolute through consuming the light of all of the fireflies. Acquiring the allegiance of the magical Tree of Life is absolutely critical to return mobility and freedom to your tribe before Penumbra’s return.