Projection Mapping with

Richard Grover

We sat down with Richard Grover to talk about what sparked his passion for projection mapping and how he transforms ordinary spaces into immersive visual experiences. Want to see it in action? Watch the full video below.

                             

Q: What is projection mapping?

A: Projection mapping involves using a projector to shine images or animations onto objects or surfaces in a specific way so it can line up and react to the surrounding environment.

Q: How did you first get involved with projection mapping?

A: This project was my first real opportunity to work with projection mapping, though I’d seen it used at amusement parks and always wanted to try it myself.

Q: What has been your favorite projection mapping project so far?

A: My favorite project was one created for the largest aquarium in the state. We made a game that lets people summon bubbles with their hands to clean trash out of a fish tank. We tested that with guests and kids absolutely loved it. That’s my favorite project.

Q: What technical challenges did you face?

A: It’s very difficult to make something react to people so quickly. It actually runs at 60 frames per second, which means that the time it takes to see a person on the ground to shining an image on the ground is less than 16 milliseconds. It took a lot of engineering work to get it that fast.

Q: What are your goals for the future of projection mapping?

A: My goal is to develop full games people can play on the sidewalk. Imagine walking by and joining a tower defense or rhythm game outdoors. I want to create games that encourage physical activity and social interaction. To me it’s the ultimate form of entertainment.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of making these experiences?

A: You know, when you make something and you spend so much time perfecting it to every detail and every animation, the best payoff is when you see people use it. When you see it light up their face, especially if it’s a group of kids, that’s very hard to beat. It’s part of what it is to be an experience maker. To have this vision in your head of what everything is going to look like at the end, to finally seeing that come to life and witness other people enjoying it, is the best payoff.

Neumont System Update: Introducing Neumont University 

A Name That Fits 

Neumont continues to evolve. As part of that ongoing evolution, we are returning to the name that best represents who we are: Neumont University. Restoring the title “University” reflects the academic scope we now provide and positions us to continue preparing the next generation of technology leaders. 

From College to University: What It Means for Neumont 

The return to Neumont University highlights the range of opportunities we offer, from intensive undergraduate study to graduate-level programs, uniting our enduring strength in computer science with a forward-looking focus on Artificial Intelligence. Students can now pursue a path that begins with certificates, advances through bachelor’s degrees, and extends into post-baccalaureate study. This continuum ensures Neumont adapts with the industry and equips students for success at every stage of their careers. 

“Neumont’s curriculum, academic system, faculty, and pedagogy have shaped thousands of students over the years, giving them the knowledge and tools to excel in today’s workplace. The name change to Neumont University reflects the exceptional academic standard set by the institution at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I’m optimistic about the future of technology and enthusiastic about the future of this great institution. Go Llamas!” – Aaron Reed, Ph.D., Ed.D., President 

New Version: Same Mission 

Neumont’s mission remains unchanged: improving lives through education. We continue to provide intensive, career-focused computer science and technology-aligned education that prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing field. Thousands of Neumont alumni are already shaping the future of technology by innovating, creating, and realizing their own dreams. This transition is more than a name; it is a promise that Neumont University will continue to inspire, lead, and prepare the next generation of technology leaders. 

“Overloaded” Wins Neumont’s 2025 Summer Game Jam

What was the initial idea that inspired your game?
”We started out not really knowing what we were going to do for the theme, ‘It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.’ It was a difficult theme for this game jam,” explained Jacob. “But as we were brainstorming, an idea stuck: a gun that gets overloaded. From there we took off with ideas, it became about recoil, movement, and the chaos that follows when your shotgun launches you backwards across the arena.”

“If you’ve seen Big Hero 6, it was a similar scene but taken to a larger, more theatrical scale,” added Chase.

Can you explain the core concept of your game?
”The game centers around a chaotic robot-fighting arena called the Robo Ring. Players control custom-built robots that are thrown into battle, where the main objective is to survive as long as possible while taking down other robots. One key element is a discovered ‘bug’ that allows players to reload past their normal ammo capacity, giving an unexpected twist to the battles.” Bennie said.

What makes the experience stand out?
”Beyond the fighting, the game leans heavily into atmosphere,” explained Chase. “From the voice acting to pulsing lights and sound effects, the arena is meant to feel alive and immersive. The energy is designed to feel part underground fight club, part concert, making the action as much about the sensory experience as the gameplay itself.”

How did you decide what to keep or cut?
”Our instinct was to over-scope,” laughed Jacob. “We wanted to add as much as we could, you’re talking upgrades, announcer voiceovers, crowd ambience, explosions, because it gave the game personality, even though not all those elements were necessary for the core gameplay. The only feature we cut was a spiked defense upgrade idea.”

How did you split roles?
The team fell into natural roles: Chase handled back-end programming, Jacob focused on gameplay mechanics, Bennie created the art assets, and Kian worked flexibly across tasks. “We stepped outside our comfort zones, like doing silly voice acting for the announcers,” Bennie added.

Which software did you use, and how did it save you time?
”We built everything in Unity and used Krita for all the art assets. The main thing that sped up our process was Chase developing the Cobra Package. It’s basically a bundle of reusable systems for Unity that helped streamline development.”

What challenges did you face?
”The hardest part was syncing everything,” Chase said. “From tutorials to audio cues, it was about making sure the player felt like bugs were actual features.” Overall, the challenge was balancing what the player knows versus what we know as the developers.

Any funny moments and breakthroughs?
“A common thing for us is not sleeping on the last night” Jacob said. “We usually work in the same room so we can bounce ideas around quickly. My apartment ends up as the home base, even though the room is small, we bring in folding tables and just cram ourselves in there for days. One of the funniest parts was the voice acting. It was goofy and chaotic, but also one of the highlights. We hadn’t done much voice acting before, so it felt fresh and let us decompress while still adding personality to the game” Chase said.

If you had more time, what would you add?
”More upgrades,” the team agreed. “Spikes, shields, healing feedback, making the tanks more customizable and readable for the player.”

What are you most proud of?
”The polish,” said Jacob. “The lights, explosions, and announcer banter gave it a unique vibe. But really, it was how well we worked together.”

When asked for advice for future game jammers, Jacob summed it up:
”You have to enjoy it. Passion is what pushes you through the crashes, bugs, and long nights.”

Overloaded is available to play at the button below.