A geiger counter prop that detects bluetooth devices and produces clicking sounds and indicator light
The Geiger Counter project is a deliberate spin-off from the StAlkErS Personal Dosimeter system, built using the same underlying Bluetooth proximity technology but repurposed for an entirely different in-game role. Where the dosimeter penalises players for entering hazardous zones, the Geiger counter rewards exploration, curiosity, and careful searching.
Visually, the device leans hard into expectation. A bright yellow handheld unit, large toggle switch, audible radiation clicks, and a simple green, amber, red LED scale make it immediately readable to players with no briefing required. In the hand, it behaves exactly as players expect a Geiger counter to behave, even though it is not measuring real radiation. Instead, it scans for hidden Bluetooth “gamma sticks” placed near objectives.
In play, the Geiger counter enables hide-and-seek mechanics. Players use it to locate buried alien artefacts, identify leaking barrels within clusters, or detect irradiated NPCs inside camps. As signal strength increases, clicks accelerate and LEDs escalate, allowing players to hone in on a target with increasing confidence.
The build itself intentionally prioritises function over realism. It is clearly a 3D-printed prop, lightweight and handled with care, but robust enough for repeated field use. By reusing proven dosimeter technology and reframing it through a different interaction model, the Geiger counter became a flexible, trusted tool for guided discovery rather than danger avoidance.
An in game radiation dosimeter detection system for the StAlkErS Filmsim events.
Read more