Using Interlocking Building Blocks as a Game Interface
Sebastian Lieb, Fahri Mazrek, Thorsten Thormählen · Games Research and Practice · 2025
In this article, we explore the application of a novel tangible computer-human interface in the context of a puzzle video game (Figure 1 ). The interface consists of interlocking building blocks embedded with microcontrollers, equivalent in size to standard 4x2 LEGO blocks. We built upon this hardware by integrating addressable LEDs, added an orientation sensor, and solved critical power supply issues, achieving real-time digitization and significantly increasing the number of blocks supported by the system. To demonstrate the interface’s capabilities in a case study, we developed a puzzle game where players manipulate virtual lasers by arranging the digitized blocks. We conducted a user study comparing our tangible interface with traditional mouse-based interaction and evaluated user performance and satisfaction. Results indicate that the tangible interface improves task performance and provides a more immersive and engaging experience.