Dual Coincidence is likely the world’s most complex electromechanical game

Compared to today’s video game systems, pinball machines may seem quaint and simple. But that’s not the case, as New York artist Andy Cavatorta’s “Dual Coincidence” installation is perhaps the most complex electro-mechanical game ever made.

Working out of a Brooklyn studio, Cavatorta describes himself as “a sculptor working with sound and robotics.”

He holds a Master of Science degree from the MIT Media Lab and has previously worked as a musician and software engineer.

Most of his time is now spent working with clients who ask him to design and build functional art. In one of his high-profile projects, he created an instrument for Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk. biophilia album.

The Dual Coincidence was built for the Museum of the Bank of Mexico (Museum of the Central Bank of Mexico) to illustrate a principle of economic conditions called the Dual (or “Double”) Coincidence of Desire. In this barter system scenario, two parties each happen to possess the goods or services sought by the other party.

The five-player game incorporates five pinball “playfields” that spread out like spokes from a central hub. That hub is called the Exchange Matrix and uses six rotating carousels to move balls from one playfield to another. Above the Exchange Matrix, modules display each player’s score via edge-lit acrylic panels and play music via 25 tuned metal chimes.

“I chose pinball because I think everyone knows how to play pinball, even if they’ve never played it,” says Cavatorta. “Also, the museum itself is full of touch-screen interactives, and I wanted something very physical and tactile.”

In Andy’s initial concept of the game, the five players represent members of a small community, each with a specific role. One makes shoes, one grows corn, and one drives a delivery truck. On the playfield, you collect balls that represent the goods you offer.

to do so keep However, as you play, you will periodically need some of the goods offered by all other players. The game alerts you to this fact by lighting up the “Trade Now” button on the playfield.

“I grow corn and at some point I will need new shoes,” explains Cavatorta. “And now I have to trade some of my corn, which is represented as pinball, with someone who makes shoes. You may not need it. [corn] at the same time as me. They will eventually, but I have to get them to stop producing what they are doing. ”

double match teeth It’s possible to play this way, but due to setbacks like Covid-19, global microchip shortages, and the massive earthquake in Mexico, we’re still waiting for the full feature set. There is a possibility that

Either way, it’s still an incredibly complicated setup. According to Cavatorta, Dual Coincidence includes 17 computers (running about 12,000 lines of code), six servo motors, 10 optical sensors, 12 rotary encoders, 35 inductive sensors, 75 It incorporates switches, 115 solenoid actuators and 704 channels of lighting.

All in all, it cost about US$300,000. If you want to play it yourself, it is on permanent display at the Bank of Mexico Museum in Mexico City.

“We want strangers to talk to each other. We want there to be this unpredictable social element where people’s personalities come into play,” says Cavatorta. “I actually wanted this to be a little chaotic. I have an interesting experience that I can say something about. ”

You can see the game in action in the video below.

Artist Website: Andy Cavatorta Studio