In 2023, I built an augmented reality arcade of 10 games for hospital waiting rooms.
SpellBound’s main mission is to improve pediatric patient outcomes in medical settings. In 2023, this meant building a line of augmented reality (AR) arcade games for hospital waiting rooms and activity centers. These games are designed to improve Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) scores and provide moments of fun and excitement during otherwise stressful moments.
The ARcade is played with through SpellBound’s mobile app. When hospitals buy our games, they receive a large AR target that patients use to open and anchor the ARcade. The process looks something like this:
1. Hospital hangs Poster on Wall
2. Patient Scans QR Code FOR Access
3. Patient plays the game!
SpellBound’s games are built with the Unity game engine and use Vuforia augmented reality. I was responsible for designing and engineering the games, and I worked closely with David Bautista, who contributed 3D models and illustrations. Each game took roughly a month to build.
The ARcade Games
Click a game to learn more.
Alien Invasion
Save the Earth! Aliens are covering the Earth in toxic goo! Grab your blaster, head to outer space, and stop them! Will you be our hero?
Players have to master the augmented reality point-and-shoot gun mechanic in order to defeat 20 waves of enemy alien ships.
During the design process, we decided it was a bad idea for the enemies to shoot at the players. These games are designed for hospitals, so thematically it seemed inappropriate. Furthermore, requiring players to physically dodge bullets seemed potentially too dangerous.
Instead, the enemies shoot goo at the Earth, and the player loses if enough goo builds up.
Players can shoot goo to remove it, so a winning strategy requires a balance between shooting aliens and removing existing goo.
AR Fireworks
Ever lit off fireworks…INSIDE? Patients can safely experiment with pyrotechnics in our augmented reality fireworks game!
Casual players can blast fireworks anywhere in their room, and players looking for more of a challenge can play a detonation rhythm game that demands speed and agility!
Painting
Unleash your inner-artist with augmented reality painting!
This is actually my fourth implementation of a painting sandbox game, and definitely the strongest. Attempts 1, 2, and 4 are augmented reality based, but it wasn’t until the 3rd iteration that I switched from using line renderers to custom textures.
This gif is from my first ever AR painting prototype, which spawned line renderers a fixed distance from the camera. The lines were anchored to the playing card, but could be drawn theoretically anywhere in the scene.
Version 2 also used line renderers, but I placed a 3D model of a blank canvas on the AR image target, and clamped all of the lines to its surface.
Version 3 was called The Art Studio, and it was a minigame featured in ARISE. This version was not AR enabled, but marked the first time that I used custom textures and changing pixel colors at runtime.
For the 4th and current version of this game, I combined the canvas approach of version 2 with the custom texture approach of version 3.
Basketball
Rule the court in this augmented reality basketball paradise!
The gameplay is heavily inspired by basketball shot games often found in arcades. Players have to make as many baskets as they can in 30 seconds, and they can score bonus points by shooting from further distances.
Swamp Soccer
Welcome to the Swamp! Our froggy-friend Hopper has challenged you to a soccer showdown! He’s the goalie, and you’ll have to kick augmented reality soccer balls past him to win!
Rockstar Realm
Rockstar Realm is the ultimate music game that lets you create, play, and explore your musical talents in either augmented reality or simple 3D. Whether you’re strumming an acoustic guitar, pounding on the drums, or playing the piano, Rockstar Realm offers a dynamic and interactive experience for music enthusiasts of all levels.
Baseball Bash
Step up to the plate, and hit baseballs at targets to score runs in augmented reality. Targets appear all around your room, and you’ll have to time your swing to hit the balls straight!
Flower Frenzy Word Games
Flower Frenzy Word Games is a delightful collection of flower and garden-themed word games designed to challenge your mind and brighten your day. With three exciting games to choose from—6-Tiles, Garden Grab, and Gridshot—you’ll have endless fun forming words and cultivating your vocabulary.
Poseidon’s Pairs
Immerse yourself in a captivating Augmented Reality (AR) card matching game where the ocean comes to life with vibrant marine creatures and enchanting aquatic landscapes. Perfect for all ages, this game blends the thrill of classic card matching with cutting-edge AR technology to create a truly unique gaming experience.
Slide Puzzle Masterpiece
A classic slide puzzle game that brings famous works of art to life! Featuring 10 renowned masterpieces, this game allows you to enjoy the timeless challenge of slide puzzles in both 2D and augmented reality modes. Perfect for art lovers and puzzle enthusiasts alike, Slide Puzzle Masterpiece offers a unique way to appreciate and interact with iconic art.
Chris Monteferrante 