
Android is a mobile computing OS that is used by millions of people from all around the world, and Augmented Reality is a phenomenal new technology that combines real-time images with virtual programs. As a result, there are several great Augmented Reality games for Android users.
Augmented Reality (AR) is the next big thing in the world of smartphones and advanced mobile computing. This is a term that encompasses several different processes and functions, and the ultimate objective of Augmented Reality is to take your real world and embed it into your device in some manner. This technology was created in 1992 by Tom Caudell, a worker for Boeing, and since then it has been adopted by several technology manufacturers who have implemented it in some innovative ways.
When AR technology is used in smartphones and tablets, the component that comes into play the most is the camera of the device. The individual points the camera at an object in the real world, and the technology takes this picture and then integrates it with an application or game of some sort. What this means for the user is that he is walking around pointing his camera at real objects, and subsequently enjoying a virtual world that is taking up real form factors of people and things around him.
The concept of Augmented Reality can be best understood with the help of an example. Google Sky Maps is one of the most useful AR apps available on Android. With the help of this app, you can point your camera at the sky in the night, and the app will tell you the exact names and the positions of the constellations that you see. Hence your reality is getting integrated with technology, and this is enriching the lives of users from all around the world.
Best Augmented Reality Games Released on Android
Fortunately, the world of Augmented Reality is not just restricted to applications meant for utility and productivity. The world of entertainment and games is also increasingly adopting AR as a tool, and the ultimate beneficiary of this is the user and the general public. Android OS, which is Google’s very own open source native OS for mobile platforms, is one of the most widely used platforms all around the world. The large number of apps and games for this platform (greater than 250,000) play no small role in the popularity of Android. With that in mind, here are some great Augmented Reality games that Android users can adopt.
DroidShooting
Fans of FPS (First Person Shooter) games can rejoice, as this is definitely one of the best one for the Android that uses AR. You point your camera at the real world around you, and then you can pick several different weapons to shoot these objects and people. The game gets interesting because targets keep popping up from every conceivable direction, and they bear an uncanny resemblance to what you see in real life. Another Android game called iSnipeYou is also similar to this particular AR game for Android.
Parallel Kingdom
This is a great cross-platform game that allows Android users to compete against iPhone users as well. Falling in the category of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games), this Augmented Reality game uses the GPS on your phone and creates a map based on your real location that you must explore while completing some interesting quests.
Sky Siege
This game takes your real world, and turns it into a full-fledged air battle site. There are helicopters and enemies swarming in on you from all directions, and these will appear on your phone’s screen with the real-time image in the phone’s camera as the background. The 3D assisted graphics are impressive, as are the choices of weapons at your disposal, and the varying levels of difficulty as well.
SpecTrek
Another great shooting game that uses the GPS and the camera on your phone. The purpose here is to hunt down ghosts as they pop up on your phone’s screen with a real-time background, so you actually feel like you are hunting down ghosts in the real world.
Zombies, Run!
If you are a fan of zombie movies and can’t wait for a real-life zombie apocalypse to strike, you will love this game. The game uses the GPS on your phone, pinpoints your exact location on Google Maps, and creates zombies at various spots on your map. The aim is to reach your destination without running into any of these zombies. You can decide the intensity and the nature of these zombies to make your work harder, and it is easy to see why many people would love this game. Another concept game called ARhrrrr! also involves Augmented Reality tools for shooting down zombies in a real world map.
You should also know that the best Augmented Reality games for the Android are much fewer in number than those available for iOS. This is because most developers still prefer iOS as their platform of choice, because of Androids open sourced nature. But as time goes by, we can definitely expect to see more AR games available on the Android platform.