HUNTER IS HERE!
AR MOBILE GAME
HUNTER IS HERE!..
…is an augmented reality (AR) companion app to the hit scavenger hunt series The LOOK Book! Available on iOS and Android, the app brings the beloved mascot to life in 3D for the first time, and provides markerless AR for children of all ages. This was an especially exciting and enjoyable project for the Nor’easter team, allowing us to combine our passions for design, development, animation, and even a personal passion for history. We’re proud to say this has become a living project, with two new quizzes added in July and more on the way!
STRATEGY:
The team behind The LOOK Book was “looking” for a way to engage its audience beyond the scavenger hunt itself, and had expressed interest in the augmented reality medium. While our initial build featured marker-based quizzes, we decided that mobility and ease of use would be better served with a markerless experience, which has just been launched in July 2020. The AR quizzes engage children with a dynamic, colorful, fun experience while teaching them history simultaneously.
GAMEPLAY:
Any flat surface - like a table or desk - will allow users to place Hunter’s 3D environment and begin the games. Users can tap Hunter to learn a few facts about the chosen quiz’s subject matter, and then test their knowledge with the interactive quiz. Users can now select from four quizzes spanning two different books. The app also features a link to The LOOK Book’s website so interested users can learn more about the series and buy the books if they haven’t already.
THE PROCESS
Character Turnaround
The LOOK Book already had an existing design for Hunter used on their plush toys, so we began with an exploration of the character that bridged the gap between the existing toy and a more cartoonish look & feel. This culminated in a 2D character turnaround.
Building the Basics
Once Hunter had an approved 2D design, we quickly worked to translate him into a 3D form. This was handled in 3ds Max, and began with rudimentary shapes and blocks we affectionately named the “bar of soap” phase.
Refining the Form
Alas, we were not contracted to create a bar of soap. So once the basic form was together, our next step was to refine the character model and create a rig. For anyone not familiar, a rig is essentially a skeleton applied to the character that allows us to apply animation.
Applying Textures
With the model and rig complete, we went about our next task - “unwrapping” the model. This process creates a 2D mesh that the colors, textures, and other details can then be applied to.
An Owl is Born
With textures applied and several animated actions produced for gameplay, it was finally time for our 3D Hunter to leave the nest and enter the world of AR! In addition to Hunter’s creation and the programming of the quizzes, the team produced a 3D forest environment, recorded voiceover for Hunter’s questions, and developed a cohesive approach to sound design to tie the experience together.
DOWNLOAD THE APP…
…on the App Store and Google Play today.