Optical illusions have been brought into recent video games to enhance gaming experiences. However, a large corpus of optical illusions remains unused, while few games incorporate illusions seamlessly. To mitigate the gap, we propose a workflow to guide game designers in applying optical illusions to their video games, i.e., in making more illusion games. In particular, our workflow consists of 5 stages: (1) choosing a game object, (2) searching for a matching illusion, (3) selecting an illusion mechanic, (4) integrating the selected illusion into the game, and (5) optionally revealing the illusion. To facilitate our workflow, we provide a tag database with 163 illusions that are labeled by their in-game visual elements and desired effects. We also provide example editing interfaces of 6 illusions for game designers. We walk through our workflow and showcase 6 resulting illusion games. We implemented these 6 games (with and without illusion) and conducted a 12-participant study to gain a preliminary understanding of how illusions enhance gaming experiences. To evaluate our workflow, we invited 6 game designers and 6 experienced players to follow our workflow and design their own illusion games, where 3 experienced game designers completed 2-week in-depth developments. We report their games, qualitative feedback and discuss reflection on our workflow, database and editing interfaces.

A 9 GHz low phase noise class-C voltage controlled oscillator (VCOs) with an 8-shaped transformer configuration using 0.18-μm CMOS technology is presented. By utilizing the 8-shaped transformer, the proposed class-C VCO can be operated at reduced dc power consumption while maintaining circuit performance in terms of phase noise and limiting EMC (Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) issues when the symmetrical structures are considered. Consuming a dc current of 5.5 mA with the supply voltage of 1.8 V, the class-C VCO exhibits a frequency tuning range of 1.4 GHz, a phase noise of -117.4 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency away from the 8.94 GHz carrier, and a figure of merit up to 186.4 dBc/Hz.