Untamed ARena
Battle with your Untamed Dinosaurs in Augmented Reality! Scan your physical Untamed dinosaur toys and bring them to life in AR to battle against opponents and friends in your real-world environment. A FREE augmented reality mobile game that combines physical collectibles with digital gameplay.
Problem
Traditional collectible toys provided limited interactive experiences. Collectors wanted to bring their physical toys to life and engage with them beyond static display, creating a bridge between physical collectibles and digital gaming experiences.
Solution
Developed an augmented reality mobile game using Unity3D that allows players to scan their physical Untamed dinosaur toys and use them to battle in AR within their real-world environment. Integrated Azure PlayFab to manage player data, inventories, and game progression, creating a seamless experience between physical and digital gameplay.
Role & Ownership
Game Developer & Backend Integration Specialist
- Designed and implemented game UI systems in Unity3D
- Developed ability and visual FX systems for combat mechanics
- Integrated Azure PlayFab for player data management and inventory systems
- Created AR toy scanning functionality using ARCore/ARKit
Architecture
- Unity3D game engine with C# for cross-platform mobile development
- ARCore (Android) and ARKit (iOS) for augmented reality features
- Azure PlayFab for backend services, player data, and inventory management
- Real-time battle system with visual effects and abilities
Technical Challenges & Tradeoffs
AR toy recognition and tracking
Implemented computer vision techniques to accurately scan and recognize physical toys, then map them to their digital AR counterparts with proper scaling and positioning in the user's environment.
Cross-platform AR performance
Optimized visual effects and rendering pipeline in Unity to maintain smooth performance across both ARCore and ARKit platforms while delivering high-quality AR experiences.
Player data synchronization
Leveraged Azure PlayFab's cloud services to manage player inventories, battle statistics, and progression data, ensuring reliable sync across devices and sessions.
Deployment & CI/CD
Deployed to Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Azure PlayFab manages backend infrastructure with automatic scaling for player data and matchmaking services.
Outcomes
- Successfully launched cross-platform AR game on iOS and Android
- Created engaging bridge between physical collectibles and digital gameplay
- Delivered smooth AR experience with real-time visual effects and combat
- Established scalable backend infrastructure for player data management
Lessons Learned
- AR technology requires careful performance optimization for mobile devices
- Backend-as-a-Service solutions like PlayFab accelerate development and reduce infrastructure complexity
- Physical-to-digital experiences create unique engagement opportunities
- Unity's cross-platform capabilities are essential for mobile AR development