At Apple’s special event, Apple revealed some exciting apps and videogames that Apple users would be able to download with the coming of iOS11. When Apple launched their ARKit, developers flocked at the opportunity to use augmented reality (AR) to the future Apple devices.
Alti Mar from Directive Games demonstrated competitive multiplayer AR game The Machines live on stage whilst Apple showcased other AR apps like Warhammer 40K: Freeblade, Major League Baseball’s At Bat app where you can learn about your players on the field or find star constellations in the sky with Sky Guide.
Watch the video below to see how you can chase pigeons in Pigeon Panic, see the capabilities of remote support from experts through Remote AR app, interact with AR objects using your hands instead of tapping the phone in Manomotion or play God in God simulation gameARrived.
One of the difficulties with virtual reality (VR) is that it’s difficult to relay an experience or videogame to audiences, because it is so fully immersive. Without mixed reality or a green screen, it’s difficult to imagine or picture it. However, when it comes to augmented reality (AR), it becomes a lot easier to visually explain what’s happening.
VRFocus managed to get hold of Oleg Chumakov, CEO of Luden.io at Gamescom and got a first-hand experience with his AR videogame ARrived, a God simulation game, similar to the videogames Black and White or Populous.
Chumakov showed ARrived in a room lit by daylight where the floor had two different colours. Apparently this made it easier to calibrate the room for tracking. When you start ARrived, four little men appear on the floor of an iPad, and you then get to choose to be either a good or bad boss by clicking on happy or evil emoticons on the left or right of the screen respectively. Chumakov chose good for the purpose of this demo and the four men celebrated this act by dabbing (a dance move). You can create land for them by adding more trees and clouds. You can move these objects around to your liking around your room, and they will stay in the exact same spot no matter where you move in the room.
Small icons appear above the men as you choose various options for them to eat and drink, indicating they should either eat or drink. Icons also appear above the men to indicate how they feel, a snowflake appears above their heads and they start shivering indicating they’re cold. You have to start a fire in order to warm them and happy icons will appear above their heads to show their gratitude. Chumakov used his sleeve to block the camera to show how lighting works in-game, but it also resulted in slight mis-tracking when he removed his sleeve. After the tracking re-adjusted itself, magic clouds (what look like blue portals) appeared dropping items from the sky to the floor.
Chumakov explains that when at home, you have to physically move around the house and room in order to find more magic clouds. The objects are used to create a totem are not random, they’re based on objects around the room you’re located in whilst playing. Chumakov explains that under the totem dinosaurs will start appearing. As the game continues you can find other tribes and another god. There is no real ending to the game, however if you do meet another god whilst playing the little figures can either choose to follow you or not follow you according to how well you played.
For this version of ARrived, the game is five minutes long. The reason for this is the intense processing power AR needs to work. It will suck the battery life and the device will heat up playing it. It also means that you can’t turn off the game and expect to come back to it and continue playing. AR is still in its infancy. Chumakov explains that as new hardware comes out you’ll be able to spawn the objects and humans in various locations. He also mentions that women are included in ARrived, but unfortunately the mechanic broke just before the conference – but they will be in the finished videogame upon release.
Since the launch of Apple’s ARKit, a number of companies have been testing out the possibilities provided by the new augmented reality (AR) toolkit. One of these is Luden.io, who will be demonstrating its upcoming AR god simulator ARrived.
During early demonstrations , the developer behind VRobot referred to the title by a different name of AR Tribe, but since then it has gained considerably more polish. The core gameplay is that of a sandbox god simulator, sharing similarities with classic title Black and White. Players will need to guide and care for their chosen tribe, able to choose from various options to improve the life of the miniature AR people presented on the tabletop before the player.
Current artwork and video footage of the alpha build of the videogame reveals a cartoonish, stylised artwork style, with various style of character, from primitive seemed men with clubs to shamanistic figures. Early footage has shown level areas with flowing waterfalls and an active day and night cycle, with fireflies appearing during the night phase.
Luden.io will be demonstrating a build of the title for attendees at PAX West, which is due to take place in Seattle from 1st-4th September, 2017. It is currently unknown what point in development the title has reached, but most are expecting an alpha build at this point.
A launch date and price point for ARrived has yet to be confirmed.
VRFocus will bring you further information on ARrived and other ARKit projects as it becomes available.
Since the announcement of Apple’s augmented reality (AR) app ARKit more and more developers have been showcasing their creations. Earlier this week Luden.io revealed the first alpha footage of its project ARrived, a god like simulator. Now VRFocus has some concept art for you to look at, detailing the some of the environments and characters.
Most of the artwork can be seen in the alpha footage, with the various tribes people who’ll look up to players for guidance when building their civilisation.
From bearded guys with clubs and shamans, to levels with waterfalls a nighttime scenes with fireflies dancing around, these concept ideas give a good understanding of how the videogame has grown and progressed.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of Luden.io and ARrived, reporting back with further updates.
Last month VRobot developer revealed its first early results of using Apple’s ARKit, showcasing a god simulator called AR Tribe. Well today the studio has unveiled further details about what it’s been up to over the last few weeks, with a new video showcasing the title in alpha form as well as a new name, ARrived.
As you can see from the video below, ARrived looks a lot more polished than its predecessor, with the graphic and lighting greatly improved – there’s even a day/night cycle where fireflies appear. The characters also respond to where the player is, turning their heads and waving no matter where they move to.
ARrived is a god simulator where players have to look after and guide their tribe, just this time it’s using AR, so these digital folks are in the real-world as well. The videogame will allow players to choose from a range of options to improve the prosperity of their tribe whilst at the same time the tribe comes to them for advice.
As it’s still in early development the team hasn’t yet stated when ARrived will be launching. As ever, VRFocus will continue its coverage of Luden.io, reporting back with further updates.
