"Hide and Seek": The Masterplan

For this module, we had decided to take on interactive games design using Augmented Reality.
The idea is basically like "Hide and Seek".
Unlike regular games, augmented reality allows developers to come up with ideas that will force the players to interact and move around and the game interacts with the environment that the player is in as well.

When the user launches the AR app, objects will appear and the player has to move around the objects to look for the character. One character is found, players will have to tap onto the screen and bring the character back into the device.
An animation of the character will be triggered once the character is being tapped on, players will then have to tap on the character again before he runs off.

The concept will be similar to Total Immersion's "Interactive games book";

The only difference between our game and Total Immersion's is that our game will take place in the environment that the player is in.


Software Research:

There are 3 software among the many AR software that we is possible to be used to develop this idea.

1) Metaio

   Metaio works alongside Junaio, therefore the Junaio app has to be downloaded and available on the mobile device to scan and launch the AR.


2) D'fusion

    D'fusion is the running software of Total Immersion. This is the software used to produce the
    interactive game book.

3) Vuforia
    Vuforia is a product of Qualcomm Technologies. Below an example of AR that was developed using Vuforia.

Besides that, AR t-shirts by "Chestburster" are also made possible by Vuforia. 

Software comparison:

Metaio

Advantages: Metaio can be downloaded for free. Uploading and publishing on Metaio Cloud is also free.
Disadvantages: The trial version has limited functions and does not offer much flexibility and freedom for the developers. It also takes a long time to load the 3D object and needs a QR Code. Markers feature that can be used are only image detection, environment tracker and 3D object tracker. (very limited compared to the others).


D'Fusion

Advantages: Has multiple options and is free and gives more room to explore AR. Some of the interesting features of D'Fusion are motion detection, face tracking and many more that is not available on Metaio.
The markers are detected and animation is played very quickly compared to Metaio, and it does not require a QR code.

An example of  face tracking feature by D'fusion. 

-Amirah Shukri-