ARAsteroids
Augmented reality arcade game
An augmented reality reimagining of the classic arcade shooter. Asteroids materialise in your real-world environment and you have to blast them out of existence. Built as a native mobile AR experience, the game merges physical space with interactive gameplay, and served as the basis for MSc research comparing immersion in screen-based and AR versions of the same title.
- World-tracked AR gameplay anchors asteroids to real surfaces using plane detection
- Players shoot and destroy asteroids that appear and move through their physical space
- Real-time physics simulation for asteroid fragmentation and debris
- Progressive difficulty system with combo multipliers and score tracking
- Comparative user study on immersion, delivered as an MSc dissertation awarded Distinction
Challenge
Grounding fast-paced arcade gameplay in the real world. Asteroid trajectories needed to feel physically plausible while remaining fun and readable against any real-world background.
Approach
Used plane detection and environment understanding to anchor gameplay to real surfaces, and designed high-contrast visual effects that remain legible regardless of background complexity.