The world of gaming is constantly in flux, and new technologies and platforms pop up all over the place. Probably one of the most interesting developments to have happened in the last several years is the rise of augmented reality, and right in the middle of it has been Apple’s ARKit. With ARKit, it’s now possible for developers to create immersive and interactive experiences in augmented reality on iOS devices. In such a way, a wide variety of games based on ARKit emerged. This article tells what ARKit games are, how their mechanics work, what the most popular titles are, and what we can expect in the future of gaming.
What is an ARKit Game?
Simply put, ARKit games are video games that utilize the power of Apple’s ARKit platform to merge the virtual with reality. Employing the camera, motion sensors, and processing power, these are interactive experiences that appear as if part of your physical environment. This opens a complete new world of gameplay possibilities.
How ARKit Games Work
ARKit enables these experiences by utilizing the following technologies:
Camera:
ARkit makes use of a camera to capture the real-world surroundings; this acts as a background where virtual elements would be placed.
Motion Tracking:
By tracking the position and orientation of the device, ARKit ensures that virtual objects appear to remain stationary relative to the real world as the player moves around.
Scene Understanding:
ARKit makes the real-world environment plane and surface estimations. These can allow for the precise and realistic placing of virtual objects.
Light Estimation:
This makes an approximation within a scene by evaluating the ambient lighting. This, therefore, helps virtual objects to look natural within the real world because their look and shadows are appropriately adjusted.
Key Features of ARKit Games
Some distinguishing features found in ARKit games include the following:
Immersive Gameplay:
ARKit games are able to merge virtual objects into the player’s physical world. Sometimes it even draws a line between the digital and physical worlds.
Interactive Environment:
ARKit allows players to interact in a more physical way with virtual objects and environments, thus giving a greater degree of immersion and interaction in general.
Location-based Gameplay:
A few ARKit games utilize GPS data in integrating real-world locations into their style of gameplay. This truly creates unique and context-aware experiences.
Social Interaction:
This can be used to enable the process of social interaction, hence allowing friends and family to share in the experience and create some sort of community.
Popular ARKit Games
The ARKit has given birth to a multitude of games that have been designed keeping in mind various tastes and gameplay styles.
Action and Adventure Games
The ARKit has provided a very viable platform for developing action and adventure games by enabling the developers to present their work in an immersive and interactive manner.
Examples:
- The Machines: A game of strategic combat wherein players build and control armies of robots in their physical world.
- Knightfall AR: An augmented-reality experience where, in a living room at home, one can clash with knights and dragons.
Puzzle and Strategy Games
The ability of ARKit to make surroundings interactive has made it an instant favorite in developing puzzle and strategy games.
Examples:
- ARDefender: This is a tower defense game where, using the real world, players make strategic placements of towers to deflect waves of enemies.
- ARMarble Run: This is a physics-based puzzle where players create marble runs on real-world surfaces and guide marbles through a course with twists and turns.
Casual and Social Games
Indeed, ARKit has been used to develop quite a number of fun and engaging casual and social games, including examples such as
- Kings of Pool: A famous mobile pool game using which users may play with friends in real-world locations.
- ARuler: A light and handy utility through which players can measure real-world objects by using their iPhone’s camera.
Future of ARKit Gaming
The future of ARKit gaming holds immense promises, and the industry is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the next few years.
Advancements in AR Technology
Continuous improvements in the field of AR promise an ever-innovative game with ARKit. Better, more powerful hardware and improvements to the software will further permit developers to craft experiences even more realistic, responsive, and complex.
Expanding Applications
The ARKit games are slowly finding their applications other than traditional gameplay. From educational tools, training simulations, and interactive shopping to personalized fitness applications, ARKit is likely to change many industries.
Greater Accessibility
As AR technology gets more available and at a reasonable price, one can expect ARKit games to reach a wide variety of audiences. With the increasing adoption of iOS devices and the continued development of ARKit, the barrier to entry to AR gaming will be reduced to a full minimum.
Conclusion
First, the games using ARKit bear testimony to the scintillating possibilities of augmented reality. The way virtual and real worlds merge seamlessly in an ARKit game promises unparalleled levels of immersion and interaction. And as technology continues to get better, more innovative and engaging ARKit games will emerge that will really push the edge of the envelope concerning gaming and change our interaction with the world around us.
