From atmosphere-altering speakers to autonomous chess boards, artificial reality (AR), also known as augmented reality, has already made its mark on the gaming industry. Thanks to the unprecedented success of games like Pokemon Go, many gaming companies have experimented with AR-related technology. Several technological changes have led to exciting breakthroughs, with a number of innovative AR gadgets now available.
These days, AR gaming products fulfill a variety of functions. There are haptic body vests such as the Teslasuit and the Woojer Vest, which can provide physical feedback from a video game environment. These vests give players a way to feel an explosion in a game like Call of Duty or a tap on the shoulder in a survival horror game.
An AR game named Phantom Chess makes it possible for two people to play a physical game of chess regardless of the physical distance between them. Using tracking technology and a mechanical chessboard, players can make a move on one side of the world while a board on the other side of the planet mimics that same play.
What is AR?
With such a diverse range of applications, AR gaming will likely continue to influence the gaming industry in any number of ways. So what exactly is AR? How does one differentiate between AR and virtual reality (VR) products?
Strictly speaking, AR enhances a real environment by superimposing virtual elements. These elements can affect all five senses traditionally associated with the human body, such as vision, hearing, and sense of touch. AR can either construct or destroy by adding to the natural environment or masking it.
The truth is many AR/VR hybrid gadgets exist, but if we’re talking about AR devices in particular, the majority of them tend to focus on improving the end-user experience. Whether it’s a body vest, feedback gloves, smart glasses, or a geotracking video game, the aim is always to increase the ‘immersion factor’ for the user, irrespective of whether that immersion involves the real world or a virtual one.
AR vs VR
Unlike AR’s real-time interaction with tangible reality, VR replaces the real world, substituting it for a completely virtual one. VR asks the user to ignore their physical environment, while AR needs that very same environment to function.
Lack of spatial awareness can be considered a hazard for VR users, evidenced by the wealth of VR mishaps that have gone viral on the internet in recent years. Nonetheless, VR devices have grown extremely popular recently, with multiple products achieving record sales profits.
When it comes to hybrid devices, any gadget that contains an element of reality can be classified as an AR-related product. For instance, the Oculus Quest 2 can map a real-world environment before being used, making it incredibly easy to avoid walls, electronics, and other obstacles while in-game. It uses AR to solve a VR problem, allowing the Quest 2 to be categorized as a hybrid device.
AR gaming in the future
With many potential avenues for change, it’s impossible to predict what the future of AR gaming holds. For the moment, hybrid devices are the way to go if gaming is your passion. While games like Pokemon Go and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite have had plenty of time in the spotlight, the novelty they once provided has largely subsided.
For AR games to succeed, from both a consumer and developer perspective, they will need greater incorporation of engaging elements. A great example of this success is Nintendo’s latest Mario Kart game, made for the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit gives players a real, miniature go-kart to race. By using actual toys connected to streaming cameras, player karts are represented in the video game. You can race around the kitchen with a bunch of friends or use your living room to face off against NPC characters.
Though currently small in number, AR games continue to grow into a video game genre worthy of distinction. By merging reality with a fun concept, gaming companies will eventually create more compelling AR games. After all, games don’t always have to be novel; they just have to be fun.
Hybrid gaming is likely the way of the future, with very little standing in the way of its progress. VR and AR gaming are here to stay, and they’re changing the face of the gaming industry as we know it.