With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally taking place after a crazy delayed year, Google have released their custom Google Doodle to commemorate the games.
A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Googles homepage intended to honor holidays, events, achievements, and notable historical figures of particular countries. This week however, Google have taken their doodle one step further and incorporated an animated series of interactive games for users to play. The Independent states that “the Doodle, which is called Doodle Champion Island Games, has seven mini-games created by Japanese animation company Studio 4°C. Users can take part in the Olympic event-themed 16-bit games and contribute their scores to one of four teams, which will be tracked by Google.”
In order to design a doodle with recognizable characters and an entertaining timeline of interactive events, designers at Studio 4°C had to execute their own research.
“First, we identified stories and folktales from all over the country with characters that are highly recognized,” said the studio. “Next, we connected those folktales and characters with each of the sport events included in the game. In the design process, each event champion was selected from those unique stories. “The team mascots and the characters in the city such as Kappa, Yatagarasu, lion dance, were also chosen as they are very well known across Japan. Each character’s design was based on their original story image, but then adapted for the game.”
Users can participate in Olympic activities such as synchronized swimming, ping-pong, and figure skating. Interaction is also accessible and easy for everyone with its simple keyboard arrows and spacebar usability.
Since 2008, Google has held an annual ‘Doodle for Google’ competition open to students in grades K-12. Students are invited to create their own Google doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google Homepage as well as win some great scholarships and tech packages for schools as prizes. Once the entry period is closed and judges have narrowed the field to the 54 best Doodles, the public are invited to vote online.
This competition sparks creativity and inspires young students to get involved, it’s also a great way to honor holidays, events and people.
Sources:
https://news.yahoo.com/google-doodle-launches-series-games-154029864.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
https://doodles.google.com/intl/en_us/d4g/faq/
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