Bonprix is the twisted re-creation of a supermarket’s self-checkout as an exciting arcade machine. The goal of the game is to shop as expensive as possible, within a limited amount of time.

During the game, players have to quickly scan as many items as they can with the installation’s built-in barcode scanner. A screen above the scanner shows which random piece out of a stuffed shopping basket has to be “bought” next. There’s a great variety of products available: cheap things, like an old Baguette, or tasty Spaghetti Bolognese in a can, but also expensive luxury items, like a glamorous Louis Vuitton bag and precious Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. Every two seconds, the product on the screen gets a discount and its price drops. But Bonprix is all about the total sum on the final bill, so you better buy fast and avoid the discounts if you want to fight for the highscore!

At the end of the game, each player is rewarded with a happiness-inducing dopamine-high, caused by a perfectly simulated shopping-spree and a printed receipt proves the player’s hard earned score in Euros and Cents.

Created by: Kati Hyyppä & Niklas Roy

Stuff used:
– old palettes
– cardboard
– old convertible laptop
– LED strips
– handheld barcode scanner
– various shopping items
– barcodes
– custom arcade
– thermal receipt printer
– Arduino Leonardo

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Photo credit: Manuel Braun