Will the new iPhone and Augmented Reality change the way we tabletop? The future may already be here with two key previews from Apple yesterday.
Apple has brought many innovations to life. From mobile music players to phones, TV’s to watches, Apple has continuously changed the way we see and use technology.
They have inspired many others to keep innovating and changing, pushing many aspects of our lives to embrace and utilize technology for many different tasks.
Tuesday, September 12th, the annual Apple Special Event announced many neat things and features to be released. One new feature might hit close to home, though, with the augmented reality addition to iOS 11 on the iPad, plus included in the iPhone X and iPhone 8.
Pixel Toys’ Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade mobile game was featured as part of the AR demonstration, showing how the Knight can be brought to the real world to battle with its enemies (such as the Helldrake) while others are watching. Another option involves baseball apps for viewing player stats in real time, and even seeing the night sky with star overlays, rather than a generic sky map.
Checkout these previews of the Freeblade Game for Warhammer 40k using AR on the new iPhone
iOS is the world’s largest augmented reality platform. Games and apps now offer fantastically immersive and fluid experiences that go far beyond the screen. By taking advantage of the latest in AR technology, you can digitally redecorate your home, explore a city you’ve never visited, or even try on a new tattoo. The possibilities are endless.
The first 20 seconds of this live video from Wired Magazine that illustrates the possibilities of what this could do to/ for tabletop by showcasing the Freeblade game:
New AR games are being developed to form entire tablescapes, terrains, markers, and digital models to take tabletop gaming to a new, online dimension. Directive Games is leading the charge, using the new AR technology to the fullest extent. They demo the ability live, showing the level being made entirely on screen and even show how the game can be played.
The game play even includes moving around the table to find new tactical advantages in real time.
The new Augmented Reality feature is due to the A11 Bionic, the new CPU within the technologies that all for faster efficiency and performance. This faster, upgraded processor is complete with a neural engine, an AI built to learn by observing.
This includes recognizing people, places, objects, and doing so with 600 billion operations per second. This turbo boosted learning chip paves teh way for new augmented reality apps and games in the palm of your hand. This, plus the camera on the iPhone itself, pave the way for augmented reality.
The AR ability is one of many new technologies coming out, including new Apple TV 4K, Apple Watch Series 3, iPhone 8, iPhone X, iOS 11, and watchOS4 and all new features for each. These new items and features could easily change the way tabletop and card games are played, from cards coming to life in front of us as they are put in play to seeing our miniatures move and fire on its own. The options are limited only by our imaginations (and the apps available) to bring these new features to life.
You can see all the new features in the Apple Special Event VOD. Will their newly announced technologies change the way tabletop games are played?
The future as they say, may already be here…
About the Author: Drago
