AR games use real-world locations for gaming, often requiring the player to use their phone’s screen and camera to interact with the game in real-time.
AR games, or augmented reality games, involve overlaying digital elements onto the real world, creating an interactive experience for players. These games leverage the technology of smartphones and tablets, utilizing their screens and cameras to merge digital content with the player's physical surroundings.
In AR games, players typically use their device's screen as a window into the augmented world. By pointing the device's camera at a real-world location, the game overlays digital objects, characters, or information onto the live video feed displayed on the screen. This allows players to see and interact with virtual content as if it were part of their real environment.
The interaction in AR games can involve various activities like capturing and collecting virtual objects, battling virtual creatures, solving puzzles, or exploring virtual worlds overlaid on real-world locations. Players may have to physically move around their surroundings to discover and interact with different elements within the game.
These games often rely on GPS technology to accurately map the player's location and determine their position within the game's digital overlay. This allows for precise integration of game elements with real-world surroundings and enables location-based gameplay mechanics.
AR games have gained significant popularity with titles like Pokemon Go, which utilizes real-world locations as "PokeStops" and "Gyms" where players can collect items and battle. Other examples include Ingress, Minecraft Earth, and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.
Overall, AR games bring together the virtual and physical worlds, creating an immersive and interactive gaming experience that encourages players to explore and interact with their real surroundings while engaging with digital content on their device's screen.