How to make Augmented Reality (AR) Maze Games

Are you ready to take your art making practice to the next level with augmented reality? In this course, you will learn how to create an immersive maze game using real world physics in augmented reality. With the Unity game engine and Vuforia, you’ll learn how to design and build a 3D maze, control a ball navigating through the maze using physics, and make the experience available in augmented reality.
This course is suitable for intermediate creators who have used the Unity game engine before, but it is not necessary to be an expert. The steps are easy to follow and will give you a good foundation for how you can use AR to enhance your art and bring it to life.
In this course, you will:
• Design a maze image
• Build the 3D maze design in Unity
• Add a maze controller using physics
• Expand on the augmented reality features with the maze
By the end of this course, you will have created an immersive and interactive augmented reality maze game that you can share and play with others. Follow along with the step-by-step instructions and start bringing your art to life with augmented reality today!

What are augmented reality games?

Augmented reality games are a type of video game that combines elements of the real world with virtual, computer-generated elements. These games typically use a smartphone or other device equipped with a camera and augmented reality software to display virtual objects or characters in the player’s real-world environment. Augmented reality games often involve players interacting with these virtual objects or characters by moving around, pointing their device at different objects, or using other input methods. Some examples of augmented reality games include Pokemon Go, Ingress, and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

What games uses augmented reality?

There are many games that use augmented reality technology, including:

Pokémon Go: This popular mobile game allows players to catch virtual Pokémon in the real world using their phone’s camera.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: This game, developed by Niantic (the same company behind Pokémon Go), allows players to explore the wizarding world and cast spells in the real world using their phone’s camera.

Ingress: This mobile game, also developed by Niantic, involves players capturing “portals” located at real-world landmarks and battling other players for control of these portals.

The Walking Dead: Our World: This mobile game allows players to fight off zombies in the real world using their phone’s camera.

Minecraft Earth: This mobile game allows players to build and explore Minecraft worlds in the real world using their phone’s camera.

AR Sports Basketball: This mobile game uses augmented reality to create a virtual basketball hoop that players can aim for in the real world.

Is AR Better than VR for games?

It’s difficult to say definitively whether AR (augmented reality) is better than VR (virtual reality) because both technologies have different applications and purposes.

Augmented reality involves superimposing digital information or visuals onto the real world, while virtual reality involves creating a completely immersive digital experience. Both technologies have their own benefits and limitations.

Some potential advantages of augmented reality include:

It allows users to interact with digital content in the context of their physical environment, which can be more intuitive and engaging.
It can be used in a variety of settings and does not require a specialized VR headset or equipment.
It can be less disorienting than VR, as users can still see and interact with the real world around them.
On the other hand, some potential advantages of virtual reality include:

It allows users to fully immerse themselves in a digital environment, which can be more immersive and engaging.
It can be used to create highly realistic, interactive experiences that are not possible in the real world.
It can be used to simulate real-life scenarios and environments, which can be useful for training or educational purposes.
Ultimately, whether AR or VR is better depends on the specific needs and goals of the user or application. Both technologies have their own unique capabilities and can be used to create engaging, immersive experiences in different contexts.

What is an Augmented Reality (AR) Maze Game?

An augmented reality (AR) maze game is a type of video game that combines elements of virtual reality with the real world. In an AR maze game, the player uses a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to view the game world through the camera. The game superimposes virtual objects and obstacles onto the real-world environment, creating a maze that the player must navigate in order to complete the game. The player interacts with the game by moving through the physical environment and using the device’s controls to interact with the virtual objects in the game. AR maze games can be played in a variety of locations and settings, making them a unique and immersive gaming experience.

How to make Augmented Reality (AR) Maze Games?

To make an augmented reality maze game, you will need the following:

1. A computer with a 3D modeling software such as Blender, Maya, or SketchUp.
2. A game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
3. A mobile device with a camera and AR capabilities, such as an ARCore- or ARKit-compatible smartphone or tablet.

To make an AR maze game, you will need to:

1. Design the maze using 3D modeling software. You can create a maze with walls, corridors, and other elements such as traps, enemies, and collectibles.
2. Export the maze from your 3D modeling software as an .FBX or .OBJ file.
3. Import the maze into your game engine and set up the game logic and mechanics. This may include creating a player character, setting up enemy AI, and defining the objectives and rewards for the player.
4. Use the game engine’s AR tools to set up an AR image target, which will act as a trigger for the AR maze to appear on the player’s device.
5. Build and test the game on your mobile device, using the AR image target as a reference point to place the maze in the real world.
6. Fine-tune the game’s difficulty, balance, and mechanics as needed, and test it on multiple devices to ensure it works well across different hardware and software configurations.
7. Publish the game to an app store or other distribution platform, and promote it to potential players.

Design a maze image:

In this step, you will create a design for your maze on paper or digitally. This will be the blueprint for your 3D maze model.

Import the Vuforia Engine for Augmented Reality in Unity:

Vuforia is a toolkit for creating augmented reality experiences in the Unity game engine. You will need to import this toolkit in order to use it in your project.

Setup the maze design as an Image Target:

An image target is a real-world image that serves as a trigger for an augmented reality experience. You will set your maze design as an image target so that it can be recognized by a device’s camera and trigger the augmented reality experience.

Build the 3D Maze Design from the image:

Using the blueprint of your maze design, you will create a 3D model of the maze in Unity. This can be done using modeling software or within the Unity editor.

Add a maze controller:

To make the ball navigate the maze, you will need to add a maze controller to your project. This can be done using physics components in Unity, such as a rigidbody and a collider.

Expand on the augmented reality features with the maze:

In this step, you will add additional features to your augmented reality maze experience. This could include adding animation, sound, or visual effects to the maze or the ball.

Augmented maze game course wrap-up:

In this final step, you will review what you have learned and reflect on the process of creating your augmented reality maze. You may also want to consider how you can further improve or expand upon your project in the future.

Augmented Maze Quiz

This quiz will test your understanding of the concepts and techniques covered in the course, which teaches how to create an immersive maze game using real world physics in augmented reality. In this course, you learned about designing and building a 3D maze with Unity and Vuforia, using physics to control a ball navigating through the maze, and expanding on the AR features of the maze. Let’s see how much you remember about the course with this quiz!