Use Case Overview
The recent years’ resurgence of board gaming hints at a preference among adults toward analog gaming as a means of social connection and escapism from the digital world. This creates a huge global market, worth around $19 billion and estimated to double over the next years. However, the intimate vibe and player interactions come with a cost — board gaming requires co-location. But what if you could use latest tech to keep the social interaction component while bringing together players that are on-site alongside those unable to join in person?
Below is an idea for a product that relies on both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to offer immersive experiences shared by people who are both physically present and playing remotely. Utilizing the key advantages these technologies offer, board game publishers could augment their physical tabletop games with digital elements. Contextual insights, interactive gameplay, and special effects would enable them to create customizable gaming experiences that are immersive and promote face-to-face interaction and social bonding.
This is a conceptual demonstration created by Nomtek. It is intended to inspire by illustrating the potential benefits of utilizing Apple Vision Pro - a new, fascinating technology whose positive impact will be large but is yet to be discovered. It is also intended to show Nomtek's engineering competences and application delivery capabilities.
Source: Midjourney
Source: Midjourney
Features
Augmented reality board games can come in all shapes and sizes, e.g., dungeon exploration, intergalactic conquest, or good ol’ farm management, letting people play alone or engage other players.
Flexible pass-through
Making the most of the pass-through technology, this app could overlay digital elements, like special effects, game stats, and virtual characters, onto the physical tabletop game.
Remote & in-person multiplayer
While the pass-through mode lets the players present at the table see each other, those playing remotely are represented by customizable 3D avatars.
Gaze and hand-tracking for advanced interactions
Owing to the tracking capabilities, players are able to interact with physical and digital elements of the game, and play against opponents.
Source: Midjourney
Value for gamers
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Overcoming physical boundaries
Players unable to physically join can still have an exciting gaming night by playing in VR and AR. Gaming in spatial technologies also makes it to find a last-minute replacement even among out-of-town friends.
Interactive and dynamic gameplay
As players can see virtual creatures roam across the board, witness magical spells cast in real-time, or interact with hidden treasures, the game can introduce dynamic gameplay mechanics whereby game events could unfold in response to player interactions.
Customization and personalization
Augmented reality board gaming could offer multiple customization opportunities that would allow players to create their own expansions, personalizing avatars, and adjusting rules to suit their preferences, making for a more varied and tailored gaming experience.
Source: Midjourney
Value for publishers
Publishers of board and video games can benefit from augmented board gaming by capitalizing on existing franchises, expanding and solidifying their fan base, and increasing the value and replayability of their products.
Additional franchise monetization
Game publishers further capitalize on existing franchises, reusing already-developed elements, like fictional worlds, characters, and storylines, in an entirely new setting.
Turning digital into physical
Video game publishers could create their own augmented board games, or partner with an established board game publisher, to acquire a new generation of tech-savvy fans for the franchise, as well as driving the existing fan base to a new medium.
Expanded game content
Publishers could also create expanded game content, such as downloadable expansions, additional game modes, or user-generated content, to let players access new challenges, storylines, and gameplay experiences, extending the longevity and replay value of traditional tabletop board games.
