BobaQuest: Tales of Flavor! An Interactive AR Storefront
Inspiration
'BobaQuest' draws inspiration from the ubiquity of strip malls in urban landscapes, envisioning a transformation of these spaces into vibrant hubs of exploration. The goal is to break the monotony of everyday storefronts, infusing them with life through augmented reality and fostering collaboration among businesses within these complexes.
What it does
'BobaQuest' leverages augmented reality to turn strip malls into dynamic quest hubs. Each storefront becomes a portal for an adventure, creating a more engaging urban experience. The project encourages collaboration among businesses to boost foot traffic, turning the entire complex into a collaborative tapestry of quests, offering diverse prizes beyond individual enterprises.
For our first quest, we are tasked with finding Boba Bob's magical friends. Upon completion of a quest the user is rewarded with discounts to businesses involved in the complex "Guild".
How I built it
The project was crafted through the exploration of Google's Geospatial Creator in Adobe Aero, Motion Design, narrative scripting, and meticulous design of boba-themed characters, puzzles, and rewards. It was a key focus for me to try and break boundaries in just how organic some of the assets were.
Challenges I ran into
As a solo developer, challenges included managing assets within the recommended polycount, maintaining smooth deformations, and finding a delicate balance between visual appeal and technical constraints. The aim was to create an immersive experience while optimizing performance.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
Successfully transforming the mundane perception of strip malls into dynamic quest destinations is a significant achievement. Encouraging businesses to collaborate on quests and enhancing the overall urban experience demonstrates the project's potential impact on community engagement and foot traffic.
It took a lot of trial and error to develop a low poly milk animation which helped accent our Boba Buddies. This specific asset has helped me break a barrier in my AR Motion Design workflow.
What I learned
The development journey deepened my understanding of AR technology on an implementation level, storytelling nuances, and the delicate art of balancing visual richness with performance optimization. Learning to navigate the challenges of solo development was a key takeaway.
What's next for BobaQuest: Tales of Flavor!
Looking ahead, 'BobaQuest' envisions expanding the collaborative tapestry of quests, encouraging businesses to create grander adventures with more diverse prizes. The goal is to further elevate the urban experience, making 'BobaQuest' a staple in transforming how people perceive and engage with their local strip malls.
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