Did you ever think you would be able to jump inside a video game? Would it be possible to even control the virtual landscape from the opposite screen? For the longest time, aspirations of creating this type of immersive technology has inspired designers and developers alike to build a solution that blends two worlds together and to construct something truly captivating. And it has only been a few years since the majority of the public even knew what Virtual (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) was or meant. Games like Pokémon GO caught the attention of many excited players and consumers due to the use of AR and how it affected play depending on real world locations. While Pokémon GO became one of the biggest games in 2016, it would just be the beginning of how developers and designers craft the next category of immersive technology: Holographic Augmented Reality (Holographic AR).
Holographic Augmented Reality (Holographic AR) redefines the ways we interact with technology through the use of natural interfaces and immersive virtual environments. By combining both real world elements and the machine interface, Holographic AR emboldens users to reimagine themselves within a new environment they can interact in. In Pokémon GO, you watch yourself move within a virtual environment that matches how you move in the real world, and AR brings excitement in catching a Pokémon you observe through a screen. Holographic AR allows you to directly see yourself within the virtual space and interact within it by mirrored actions from the real world. Holographic AR provides both an entertaining and educational experience that responds to the user’s actions, such as detecting different hand movements and body gestures and responding to them within that simulation.
As Holographic AR Creation Tools are becoming more accessible to a wider age group, a young generation of students are gaining heavy interest in immersive technology and are beginning to create their very own Holographic AR game the way they envisioned it.
Integem, Inc. encourages young students to create their very own Holographic AR games by assisting them in the programming and development process. Students from grades K through 12 can learn now to create their very own holographic AR games, and Integem’s developers encourage them to get creative with their inventions and inspire innovation! With the help of Integem’s Holographic AR technology, they assisted two different students design and develop two innovative holographic AR games, Bubble Game and Hide and Seek.
https://youtu.be/YPj08zBJYlo
Bubble Game
Creators: Tina Ye & Integem, Inc.
Developed with: iCreator Language & iPlayer Holographic AR Platform
Target Group: 3 – 5 years’ old
Description: A Holographic AR game that uses the player’s head and body movement to interact with virtual objects and friends!
Why You Will Love It: This game is cute, bubbly, and a great way to have fun! For younger children, it is a great way to help them improve cognitive, motor, and responsive skills! It encourages full body movement and helps burn energy.
The Bubble Game is a Holographic AR game created by a student named Tina. The focus of the game allows the user to interact within their surroundings through the use of various head, hand and body motions. At the beginning, the player is transported to the high skies among the clouds and mountain tops, along with their penguin companion named Jenny, whom encourages fun and play. Jenny brings out a beach ball and hits it towards the player, with the intention for the player to use their head to hit the ball back to Jenny. By following the direction of where the ball is traveling on screen, the player needs to move their body in a way that their head can touch the incoming ball to bounce back to their companion.
With success, the ball will traverse its way back to Jenny, who will echo the same motion of hitting the ball back and repeat the cycle of tossing back and forth, with the ball becoming larger each time. By detecting and smoothly responding to player motion (their head), the game orchestrates a highly immersive play session with a virtual companion through exciting and endearing exchanges.
After a few back and forth exchanges, the beach ball, now larger in size, engulfs the player completely inside and soars upwards to continue the next few rounds of play. Now the game setting appears as if the player is continually flying upwards, passing by numerous clouds and air balloons. A bubble with an animal inside will appear in proximity to the player, which they are then prompted to pop by moving left, right, up, or down to control the beach ball’s movement. By taking a single step to the left, they move their ball left onscreen, similar to moving right as well. To move the ball downward, the player will need to bend downwards. To move upward, the play will need to bend downwards and immediately spring back up. When the bubble is popped, the player is rewarded and their animal friend is set free.
A new bubble with a new animal friend appears momentarily afterwards in a new location, and the process repeats. Players become more engaged interacting within the virtual space by making all types of various movements and accomplishing goals to progress further into the game.
After popping many various bubbles, the player is congratulated for accomplishing all rounds of play and is given the chance to take some pictures with their new friends; Jenny the penguin will appear right next to the player, and the friends in bubbles will appear surrounding them. A countdown commences, and the player can pose in any way with Jenny. After posing for a few more pictures, the player and Jenny are transported back to the ground, and the Bubble Game experience ends.
The Bubble Game engages players to not only use their physical movements to interact within an interactive space but encourages them to become excited and have fun with their virtual friends. Players see themselves in a cute, positive world and can observe how accurately their physical movements correlate between the two worlds. Body movement detection appear seamless as the Holographic AR game responds to these simple actions without complication or strain for the player to move in an abnormal manner. Tina created a total of eighty-eight stages for the Bubble Game to give players an extended interactive experience. She designed a fun, immersive space that invokes charm, excitement, and brings to life an engaging world she envisioned.
Full Demo Available!
For Inquiries: Integem Solutions
Hide and Seek
Creators: Student & Integem, Inc.
Developed with: iCreator Language & iPlayer Holographic AR Platform
Target Group: 3 – 5 years’ old
Description: A Holographic AR game that teaches ‘hide and seek’ maneuvers. It encourages energetic movement and simple trivia to engage the younger audience within a playful atmosphere.
Why You Will Love It: This game provides a fun experience for young kids and teaches them how to move about their environment! It helps them with their motor skills and how to respond in any situation!
Hide and Seek was designed and developed by a high school student and Integem, Inc. The game is set within a colorful farm land engulfed in fruits and vegetables, and in the center lies a warm pot of stew. With the player standing in the midst of a colorful, happy world, the game encourages excitement and fun along with establishing a kid-friendly virtual space.
A random fruit or vegetable appears next to the player, and they are encouraged to ‘hide’ from the vegetable by ducking behind the pot. If successfully hidden, the object will pass to the other side, and the player will get the chance to punch the fruit or veggie away, winning the round.
If the player does not make an attempt to hide, the fruit or veggies will snatch them away and transport them far up into the sky. The player will need to complete a random movement (examples: jumping up and down, doing a chopping motion, etc.) in order to escape and get back to the ground. Once they have completed their task, the option is given to continue (stand still) or quit the game (jump up and down).
Hide and Seek employs fun and an enjoyable, interactive experience, especially for younger, energetic children that want to engage in a simple yet trivial game. By testing simple body motions, like ducking, jumping, and chopping, as well as softly challenging the reflex/response time (how long it takes for the player to hide), this can be both a fun learning experience for young kids to test their motor and responsive skills. The atmosphere is bright and welcoming, a positive space for kids to enjoy watching themselves hide behind food or playfully fight against it.
Full Demo Available!
For Contact Inquiries: Integem Contact
Interested in creating your own Holographic AR games? Come to Integem Holographic AR Summer Camp to learn!
