USA TODAY International Edition
‘Harry Potter,’ AR games bring magic to smartphones
Info is superimposed on your environment
You see them walking around your neighborhood: smartphone users with device in hand, seemingly focused intently both on the screen and the world around them. Every so often, they stop, tap or swipe, and then move on.
Welcome to the world of augmented reality (AR) gaming.
When seen through the lens of your smartphone’s camera, these games fuse the virtual with the physical, by superimposing digital information on top of the environment you’re in.
The most popular AR game example so far is “Pokemon Go,” which transported animated characters and items onto your sidewalk or beside you in a park. It’s incredibly immersive, fun, and often social.
So, what’s new, you ask? Here’s a brief look at some new AR games and a couple of high-profile titles debuting soon for both iOS and Android. All games are free to play but offer optional in-app purchases.
‘Jurassic World Alive’
Dinosaurs have escaped from Jurassic World and are stomping through cities like yours.
This is the premise of Ludia’s “Jurassic World Alive,” a popular geo-location AR game loosely based on the Jurassic World feature films. To date, the game has been downloaded more than 17 million times worldwide.
It’s your job as a member of the Dinosaur Protection Group (DPG) to explore your surroundings and find these prehistoric beasts, use a virtual drone to collect DNA samples, and then create hybrid creatures in your lab to take down these dangerous threats in epic battles – you can also wage head-tohead dinosaurs battles with others.
You are also on the hunt to find supply drops on the map, as those earn rewards such as in-game currency and battery life for your drone.
New features were added in late June, including Sanctuaries, which allow you to feed dinosaurs (with hapless goats!), as well as other new ways to interact with them. You can also play with other gamers; working cooperatively, you’ll earn more DNA and build up your dinosaur collection.
‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’
Niantic, the same studio responsible for “Pokemon Go,” has recently partnered with WB Games San Francisco (as part of Portkey Games) to launch “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,” a mobile game inspired by the J.K. Rowling books and iconic movies.
As a new recruit of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, you’ll tasked with aiding witches and wizards from across the globe to solve the mystery of The Calamity – the appearance of magical artifacts, creatures, people and other “Foundables.”
You’ll glance at a map that shows you where Foundables are, at various realworld locations, prompting you to cast a variety of spells to capture and return them to the wizarding world. Along the way you’ll find virtual Inns that replenish Spell Energy, ingredients used to brew new potions, and keys that unlock new locations.
While you can play alone, Wizarding Challenges are real-time cooperative multiplayer battles against dangerous foes. You’ll team up with other witches and wizards, and fuse your complementary abilities to overcome tougher threats.
‘Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs’
While it’s less about walking around and collecting items, “Rovio’s Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs” – the 19th game in the Angry Birds franchise – uses your smartphone or tablet’s camera to bring the bird-flinging fun to the real world.
The green pigs have once again stolen bird eggs, and so you’ll need to destroy their fort using your trusty slingshot and brave birds – each with its own abilities – to destroy the wooden fortress. You’ll first lay down the game “board” onto, say, a kitchen table, desk, or outside on the ground (you can even make the game larger or smaller to best fit your space). Then it’s time to walk around the 3-D structure to find the best place to attack, such as a TNT box, before swiping your finger down the screen to stretch back and release the slingshot.
The new island environment includes jungles, deserts and snowy hideouts. Unfortunately, it’s not available for Android gamers just yet.
More augmented reality fun coming soon
There are two more hotly anticipated AR games on the horizon:
❚ Due out sometime this summer, “Minecraft Earth” will be a free-to-play augmented reality title that lets you see, build, collect and play Mojang’s Minecraft masterpiece – but the 3-D digital bricks, people, animals and items will be layered on top of the real world around you, like holograms. The game can be played solo or with friends, in tabletop mode or with a much larger fullsize view. Players can sign up for the closed beta now at earth.minecraft.net.
❚ Launching at some point in 2020, Netflix and Next Games will debut “Stranger Things,” a location-based, puzzle role-playing AR adventure that will challenge you to explore The Upside Down, hidden all around in your daily travels to work, school, and at home.
Announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo a couple of weeks back, you’ll be able to work together with other players to overcome “emerging evils.” Details are scarce at this point, and Netflix declined an interview with USA TODAY, but this game might satiate demanding fans of the supernatural TV series.