HypeFlight: The Arcade Shooter Powered by Your Heartbeat
Play with your pulse.
HypeFlight was never meant to be a serious game. It was an idea for a playful demo that shows what happens when your heart rate and body data (your actual heartbeat and motion) become the game itself. Developed as a demo for the HypeRate platform, HypeFlight brings real‑time biofeedback into gaming through the HypeRate API, letting developers connect player biology directly to games and more.
What Is HypeFlight?
At its core, HypeFlight is a motion‑controlled biofeedback arcade shooter.
Your heart rate game data and G‑force motion sensors from your device feed into the game in real time. This integration results in a dynamic gameplay experience where players' physiological responses directly influence game difficulty and behavior. For example, an elevated heart rate may cause the game to increase the speed of incoming targets, challenging players to maintain composure.
• ❤️ Heart Rate = Difficulty: The faster your heart beats, the harder the game gets.
• 📱 G‑Force = Controls: Tilt and move your phone to pilot your UFO.
• 💥 Collisions = Game Over: One crash without a shield ends your run.
It’s our proof of concept showing how live biometric data can turn your body into a controller.
Getting Started
You only need a smartphone and the HypeRate app — no special hardware required.
Step‑by‑Step Setup
1. Install the HypeRate App. Available on the App Store.
2. Start a Heart Rate Session. Begin both a heart rate session and an IRL activity session.
3. Activate Your Free Trial. HypeRate includes a 7‑day free period before continuing as chosen in‑app.
4. Enter Your HypeRate ID. Input your ID into HypeFlight to link your data.
5. Choose Your UFO. Each UFO has different speed, handling, and armor stats.
When you’re set up, your heartbeat and movement instantly start controlling gameplay.
Controls
Your UFO is controlled entirely through motion sensors:
• ⬆️⬇️ Pitch — move vertically
• ⬅️➡️ Roll — move horizontally or rotate
• 🔄 Yaw — steer and turn
• 🔫 Fire — tilt your device downward (pitch < -0.3)
No buttons. No joysticks. Only intuitive steering and your body!
Gameplay Flow
Enemies stream in from the right side of the screen — destroy them to rack up points.
• 🔥 Higher heart rate → more enemies & faster waves.
• 😌 Lower heart rate → calmer skies & slower spawn rates.
• ✨ Power‑ups include:
• 🔫 Weapon Upgrade — increases shot strength & spread.
• 🛡️ Shield — temporary invincibility.
• ⚡ Speed Boost — improved movement speed.
• 💣 Nuke — clears all visible enemies.
Game Over occurs on collision without a shield.
Highscores let you record your name and restart instantly.
HypeFlight shows how biofeedback can bring a new kind of awareness to gaming. By using your live heart rate and movement data, the game helps players notice how their body reacts to excitement or stress. This makes gameplay not only fun but also a way to practice calm and focus. As the technology grows, it could inspire more games that adapt to each player’s body and promote healthier, more mindful play, even in virtual reality when creating a biofeedback game.
Quick Checklist
✅ HypeRate session running
✅ Correct HypeRate ID entered
✅ Motion/sensor permissions enabled
✅ Tap once if audio is muted (browser policy)
✅ Correct HypeRate ID entered
✅ Motion/sensor permissions enabled
✅ Tap once if audio is muted (browser policy)
Tip: HypeFlight adapts dynamically to your physiology. Practice steady breathing — lower heart rate reduces enemy spawn pressure.
Why It Matters
We believe biometric data is the future of gaming mechanics for intense and immersive storytelling. With HypeFlight we have showsn how heart rate and sensor data can transform interactive design. It’s casual, fast, fun and deeply personal. It's basically just you and your pulse.
As biometric integration becomes more sophisticated, this kind of responsive design makes gameplay more engaging while helping players become more aware of their emotions and reactions. Future versions could use more sensors, like skin response or brainwave tracking to make the experience even more precise. Also data like heart rate variability biofeedback are considerable. Who knows what kind of sensors the next wave of smartwatches and smart devices will give us.
Once we have it, we'll make sure you can play with it.
For Developers
Want to build your own biometric‑responsive game?
Use the same HypeRate API that powers HypeFlight and start syncing heart rate data with your project today.
Visit hyperate.io/api to learn more.
