The Star Wars-inspired multiplayer title HoloGrid: Monster Battle – an augmented reality (AR) title that held a successful Kickstarter last year then arrived in virtual reality (VR) form for Samsung Gear VR this April – created by Tippett Studio will now be made available to owners of Tango-enabled smartphones.
Inspired by the holo-chess scene in the original Star Wars and developed in partnership with the very personal responsible for the visual effects of that scene, Phil Tippet and his production studio Tippett Studio, HoloGrid: Monster Battle is a hybrid of board game, collectible card game and videogame. Featuring monsters designed by Phil Tippet, the gameplay of the title resembles other videogame/board game hybrids such as Blizzard’s Hearthstone
The augmented reality (AR) version of the title uses the technologies provided by the Tango platform, such as motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. By utilising those technologies, HoloGrid: Monster Battle can accurately scan the environment and place the game board in a way that looks like it is really there.
The CEO of developer HappyGiant will be discussing HoloGrid: Monster Battle and AR and VR technologies with attendees at Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2017 this week as part of a session titled ‘Augmented Reality and the Future of Board Games’.
Available to play as single-player or with two-player multiplayer, either locally or with players from around the world. HoloGrid: Monster Battle is available from the Google Play Store for Tango-enabled devices such as the ASUS Zenfone AR or Lenovo Phab 2 for $4.99 (USD). The Gear VR version is currently available at a discounted price of $2.99.
VRFocus will bring you further news on HoloGrid: Monster Battle and other AR titles as it becomes available.