Posted on by Kevin Joyce

ARKit Game Orbu Marks Dream Reality Interactive’s Debut

Dream Reality Interactive has today launched its debut augmented reality (AR) videogame, Orbu. Developed using ARKit, Orbu is available now for iPhone and iPad, downloadable via Apple’s App Store.

Orbu screenshot

With a unique art style inspired​ ​by​ ​Zen​ ​gardens,​ ​​Orbu ​is​ ​an​ ​AR video​game​ ​based upon​ ​slingshot mechanics. Players​ ​transform​ ​their​ ​real-world surroundings​ ​as they attempt to guide​ ​their​ ​Orbu​ ​creatures​ ​–​ ​Tanuki​ ​(raccoon​ ​dog),​ ​Noko​ ​(turtle)​ ​and​ ​Konkon​ ​(fox)​ ​–​ ​through​ ​a series​ ​of​ ​obstacle​ ​courses,​ ​leading​ ​them​ ​to​ ​their​ ​spiritual​ ​homes.​ ​Moving​ ​around​ ​the​ ​play​ ​areas –​ ​indoors​ ​or​ ​outdoors​ – players must ​find​ ​butterflies,​ ​feed​ ​fish​ ​and​ can ​unveil​ ​new​ ​secrets​ ​as they progress.

​“Working​ ​with​ ​ARKit​ ​has​ ​enabled​ ​us​ ​to​ ​open doors​ ​to​ ​new​ ​dimensions,” states Albert​ ​Bentall,​ ​Creative​ ​Director​ ​of​ ​Orbu. “​It’s​ ​like​ ​watching​ ​a​ ​magician​ ​do​ ​a​ ​trick​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​but​ ​instead​ ​of pulling​ ​rabbits​ ​out​ ​of​ ​hats​ ​we​ ​make​ ​fish​ ​jump​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​floor.”

Fronted by David Ranyard, formerly of Sony London Studio – the team responsible for the popular PlayStation VR Worlds – Dream Reality Interactive announced its launch in early 2017. Following a few months of silence it was revealed that the studio had raised finance from a number of high-profile investors, including Phil Harrison, the co-founder of PlayStation and President of Sony Worldwide Studios.

Ranyard,​ ​CEO​ ​of​ ​ Dream Reality Interactive,​ ​said​ ​“Augmented​ ​Reality​ ​has​ ​enormous​ ​potential​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​new experiences​ ​for​ ​players,​ ​especially​ ​on​ ​mobile.​ ​We​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​game​ ​where​ ​people​ ​could step​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​busy​ ​lives​ ​and​ ​relax​ ​in​ ​beautiful​ ​Zen​ ​gardens.​ ​Guiding​ ​the​ ​Orbu​ ​creatures through​ ​obstacle​ ​courses​ ​is​ ​a​ ​fun​ ​distraction​ ​from​ ​modern​ ​life.”

Orbu screenshot

Orbu is the studio’s first AR title, however Dream Reality Interactive was also involved in the development of Hold the World, a Factory 42 production for Sky featuring Sir David Attenborough as a VR hologram.

Available to download now, Orbu is compatible with iPhone​ ​X,​ ​8​ ​and​ ​8​ ​Plus,​ ​7​ ​and​ ​7​ ​Plus,​ ​6s​ ​and​ ​6s​ ​Plus,​ ​SE;​ ​​ ​iPad​ ​(2017,​ ​9.7)​ ​and iPad​ ​Pro​ ​(12.9​ ​and​ ​10.5), priced at ​$2.99 USD,​ ​£2.99 GBP​ ​and​ ​€3.49 EUR. VRFocus will keep you updated with all the latest details on Orbu and future AR/VR releases from Dream Reality Interactive.