Drift, SplatterBugs offer augmented reality gaming on iPhone
updated 08:55 pm EST, Wed December 9, 2009
Games use iPhone camera to create backgrounds
HIT Lab NZ has launched two new 'SlapDown' games for the iPhone, Drift and SplatterBugs. The games use the iPhone's camera to place the action in the user's environment, what the company is calling 'augmented reality gaming'. The games depend on a 'SlapDown' card, in a technique that mimics green screen use. The SlapDown card places the game in the space that is surrounded by the rest of the iPhone image.
Drift is a racing circuit game that generates tracks based on the angles used when photographing the SlapDown card. Racing is touchscreen based. SplatterBugs uses the SlapDown card to create a roach hole in the image, and then challenges the gamer to eradicate them quickly as they try to escape.
The two new games require an iPhone with iPhone OS 3.1 or newer. Each game costs $1 and is available now on the App Store. SlapDown cards can be downloaded from the SlapDown Games website in PDF form at no charge.
