A hybrid AR/ARG (Augmented Reality / Alternate Reality Game) companion app, built to accompany a touring exhibition on Fusion Energy. Developed in Unity with ARFoundation. Featuring illustration elements by the talented Will Scobie.

Back in 2018 I was approached by Fine-tuned, a company working with a broad range of research institutions, artists, galleries and corporates, to participate in a project pitch from an established European consortium of nuclear fusion research institutes.

We successfully won the initial contract with our design proposal for a hybrid AR/ARG (Augmented Reality / Alternate Reality Game) project, receiving funding to create the above prototype companion application for their touring exhibition on Fusion Energy

The application is downloaded by visitors either in advance or on arrival at the exhibition’s venue where they are then sent on a treasure hunt of sorts to locate various scannable QR code markers.

An accompanying narrative unfolds via the apps built in messenger client, where player to player chat is blended with scheduled, scripted messages from virtual characters who’s provided clues lead the hunt.

On discovery and scanning of each marker, users gain the ability to cast and explore a matching AR portal. Once cast, each portal contains an illustrated diorama, hidden amongst which are a number of selectable information points.

By examining portals from varying angles, users can play with the parallax effect of the content contained within, finding a clear line of sight to target a specific info point, thereby retrieving new clues to feed back into the ongoing group chat.

Developed in #Unity3D using #ARFoundation, the portal aesthetic had to accommodate the inherent technical constraints involved in targeting typical mobile hardware but the combination of some modest particle effects, along with the careful layering of Will’s illustrated elements, delivered the desired result.

Roles: Designer, Developer.