The “Jishi” APP forum, a hub for board game enthusiasts in China, often features an intriguing set of images depicting the evolution of board games. From ancient stones and strokes to the complexity of Go a thousand years ago, the images showcase the journey of board games. With the recent announcement of a partnership between AR tabletop gaming platform Tilt Five and Asmodee Digital, a subsidiary of Asmodee Group, the future of board games seems poised for a revolution.
Current AR Technology: Augmented Reality (AR) integrates virtual and real-world scenes through camera image calculations, offering three crucial features: a seamless blend of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate three-dimensional spatial positioning. Current AR technology can be categorized into three types:
- Video Perspective AR: This involves recording the real-world scene with a camera and adding virtual elements to the video. Though utilized in some early VR devices, it has limitations in real-world restoration.
- Projection Display Technology: This uses projectors to project virtual images onto real objects. However, the current technology falls short of achieving highly immersive effects.
- Optical See-Through Technology: Represented by devices like Google Glass and Magic Leap 2, this type uses glasses to observe the real world and projects virtual images into the eyes, offering a more immersive experience with three-dimensional spatial awareness.
AR Board Games in Action: Tilt Five, a game-specific AR device, successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2019. Comprising glasses, an Xe game board, and a wand, it provides an immersive experience by projecting the AR virtual world onto a chessboard-like surface. Other companies, such as Mirrorscape and Ardent Roleplay, focus on AR desktop games, requiring users to download apps on portable devices for interaction.
The Future Landscape: The integration of AR technologies into board games is expanding, with companies exploring various approaches. The emergence of Tilt Five and other AR initiatives in the gaming industry signifies a promising future. While physical board games may not be entirely replaced, their coexistence with digital and AR alternatives is inevitable.
Comparisons to the Past: Drawing parallels with the advent of e-books, the team at Bolong Toys believes that physical board games won’t be entirely replaced in the foreseeable future. However, they emphasize the need for the industry to adapt to technological advancements rather than clinging to the status quo.
Conclusion: As AR technology continues to evolve, the relationship between new technology and board games is growing closer. The infusion of fresh ideas into board game design and the digitization of board games suggest an exciting future. Whether physical board games will eventually be replaced remains a question for the future to answer.
Title: The Future of Board Games: Embracing Augmented Reality
Introduction: The “Jishi” APP forum, a hub for board game enthusiasts in China, often features an intriguing set of images depicting the evolution of board games. From ancient stones and strokes to the complexity of Go a thousand years ago, the images showcase the journey of board games. With the recent announcement of a partnership between AR tabletop gaming platform Tilt Five and Asmodee Digital, a subsidiary of Asmodee Group, the future of board games seems poised for a revolution.
Current AR Technology: Augmented Reality (AR) integrates virtual and real-world scenes through camera image calculations, offering three crucial features: a seamless blend of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate three-dimensional spatial positioning. Current AR technology can be categorized into three types:
- Video Perspective AR: This involves recording the real-world scene with a camera and adding virtual elements to the video. Though utilized in some early VR devices, it has limitations in real-world restoration.
- Projection Display Technology: This uses projectors to project virtual images onto real objects. However, the current technology falls short of achieving highly immersive effects.
- Optical See-Through Technology: Represented by devices like Google Glass and Magic Leap 2, this type uses glasses to observe the real world and projects virtual images into the eyes, offering a more immersive experience with three-dimensional spatial awareness.
AR Board Games in Action: Tilt Five, a game-specific AR device, successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2019. Comprising glasses, an Xe game board, and a wand, it provides an immersive experience by projecting the AR virtual world onto a chessboard-like surface. Other companies, such as Mirrorscape and Ardent Roleplay, focus on AR desktop games, requiring users to download apps on portable devices for interaction.
The Future Landscape: The integration of AR technologies into board games is expanding, with companies exploring various approaches. The emergence of Tilt Five and other AR initiatives in the gaming industry signifies a promising future. While physical board games may not be entirely replaced, their coexistence with digital and AR alternatives is inevitable.
Comparisons to the Past: Drawing parallels with the advent of e-books, the team at Bolong Toys believes that physical board games won’t be entirely replaced in the foreseeable future. However, they emphasize the need for the industry to adapt to technological advancements rather than clinging to the status quo.
Conclusion: As AR technology continues to evolve, the relationship between new technology and board games is growing closer. The infusion of fresh ideas into board game design and the digitization of board games suggest an exciting future. Whether physical board games will eventually be replaced remains a question for the future to answer.
