Tag: ar gaming

RoomAlive creates virtual objects that people can interact with in the physical world.

The augmented reality gaming system can turn a full living room into a virtual play area, which was recently demonstrated in a proof-of-concept video that was released by Microsoft Research.

RoomAlive utilizes a projector and a collection of depth cameras.

This is how the AR system maps the room, as well as the furniture and the people inside it. The pixels that are mapped can be used for input or output, which enables people to touch, dodge or shoot virtual content.

In the recent video about RoomAlive, it demonstrates how the system is set up and shows diverse simple game concepts in action. The people demoing the system are shown playing a whack-a mole like game that uses a gun and another game with traps that pop out of walls. Furthermore, according to the video, the system is linked to Unity, which gives developers the opportunity to design games around Microsoft’s augmented reality technology.

The narrator in the video says that “The system automatically creates a unified model of the room by combining the depth maps from each pro cam unit. In addition to the 3D model, our system automatically extracts the surfaces in the room, identifying vertical and horizontal surfaces in the floor plan.”

Microsoft’s augmented reality gaming system adapts content to any room.

The information provided in the video states that users of RoomAlive can touch, stomp, dodge, shoot and steer content that is projected seamlessly into the room, as if it were a natural part of the physical environment.

Furthermore, a unified model of the room is created by the system that does not require the intervention of the user. This is made possible because the projector-depth camera units are self-localizing and individually auto-calibrating.

The RoomAlive augmented reality system is still in the research stages and there has been no word yet on when this unique gaming experience will be available for consumers to obtain and enjoy. Furthermore, while there is no question that this is indeed a fascinating device, it is likely to be a costly product since it requires more than one high-end projector to work.

Blippar demos ar game on Google’s wearable tech.

The augmented reality company has dedicated itself to finding a way to combine the digital world with the physical world and recently took another step forward toward its goal by running one of its AR games on Google Glass for the first time.

A simple game using Glass demonstrates the first steps of gesture interaction.

According to The Next Web (TNW), Blippar used Kung Food for the test. A pretty basic game that is not unlike the popular mobile game, Fruit Ninja, Kung Food revealed what playing a game on Glass could be like one day. To play, all that is required is the Blippar Glass app and a poster that is used for the game. Players use the “mouse” button on the side of Google Glass as the blasters controller. The object of the game is for players to slash at food that flies at them in 3D space to stop it from “splattering” their face.

Since the game is played with Glass, both of the player’s hands are free, which is a key point for playing the game and illustrates the start of gesturing interaction using this head mounted wearable device. Blippar CEO Ambarish Mitra said that the augmented reality gaming technology is still in its beginning stages. In the company’s short demo, the Glass device overheated within a matter of minutes of continuous use.

Although earlier this year, in February, Blippar demonstrated its AR app using Glass at Mobile World Congress, this is the first time that is has been demoed as a gaming platform.

Blippar is not limiting its augmented reality technology to gaming.

“Our ambition is to build a browser where you just look at things and you get spontaneous information, whether that’s some [sort of] utility or something entertaining… When we think of mobile we don’t define mobility and restrict it to your mobile device itself. Mobility is a lifestyle choice,” Mitra said.

The company’s vision extends beyond augmented reality mobile entertainment. It wants users of mobile devices to have an optional layer of information available to them whenever they need or want it, whether it is looking at products to obtain additional information or to play a game when they are looking to amuse themselves for a few minutes.