Are you ready to explore a new level of augmented reality gaming? Look no further than Eggscape, the latest shopping mall attraction developed by Buenos Aires-based artist German Heller. Step into a world where you can control your very own cartoon eggs, facing off against robot invaders on the Quest Pro.

With Eggscape, operators set up a few colorful letters and decorate them with model buildings. Visitors put on a Quest Pro or Quest 2 headset and steer lovingly animated egg creatures through the AR game. The game features a Jump-n-Run format, where visitors hop across virtual streets, dodge obstacles on platforms, and fight robot attackers. Players can also enter into boxing matches in a giant mech ring. Up to four participants can enjoy the game together. They bend over the eight square levels of the miniature city and guide their goggle-eyed charges to the finish line.

AR games for the shopping mall

Eggscape is made possible by “pass-through AR.” The Quest 2 and Quest Pro are not just VR headsets, as they support AR games with local multiplayer. Front-facing cameras capture the real environment, combining it with computer graphics. However, this is only possible in black and white with the Quest 2.

The goggle-eyed cartoon eggs master boxing punches and throw boosted robots across the field. | Image: 3DAR

The anticipated Meta Quest 3 consumer headset, planned for the end of 2023, could make playing in color even more affordable than the $999 Quest Pro. So far, Heller’s company, 3DAR, has not announced any planned support. 3DAR targets very different operators with its compact “Eggscape Deck.”

“We are looking for partners who want to place it in shopping malls, adventure centers, arcades, and so on,” said Heller. “We’re working on a lot of new levels to expand it, and in time, it will be in online stores, but that will take a while.”

If you’re interested in this exciting new gaming experience, according to the instructions, the entire Eggscape package fits in one box. It only takes one person to set everything up, cash in, and run the entire operation. As an additional source of revenue, there is an intuitive tutorial as well as various merchandise such as figurines, stickers, and T-shirts.

Since the structure of the game has changed a lot in the past few years, the team is currently working on a fresh trailer that should better convey the concept in its current form. In it, the rotund heroes punch invaders, drive vehicles, operate machines, control helicopters, or have to prove themselves in a fitness class.

Colorful AR fun as trade show highlight

Eggscape has already caused a buzz, being selected as a clear highlight at Amusement Expo 2023. Its cute, professional implementation reminiscent of diorama classics like Super Mario 3D World has garnered attention from arcade and amusement parks enthusiasts all around the world. VR youtubers Skeeva (Between Realities Podcast, UploadVR) and Zimtok5 (F.Reality Podcast) called the AR game a clear highlight of the show for amusement parks and the arcade industry.

At the trade show in Las Vegas, trial players were already able to dive into the current implementation. A standard run lasts 15 to 30 minutes, during which the co-op players often bend over the colorful miniature backdrops next to each other to hop their AR characters across the square playing fields together. Sometimes the space above and beside the physical squares also becomes part of the playing field, such as when balancing over floating islands or walkways. Eggscape also won the “Special Jury Prize” at Venice Immersive 2022.

German Heller, the CEO of 3DAR, is no newcomer to augmented and virtual reality. His company has already enriched the storytelling of the young medium with several VR experiments, including the co-productions Paper Birds and Gloomy Eyes.

Eggscape’s price and release date have not yet been set. Interested parties can contact 3DAR via the official website.

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Editor Notes

If you’re looking for a truly unique gaming experience, look no further than Eggscape. This entertaining AR game developed by German Heller is rapidly gaining popularity and is already a hot topic among arcade and amusement parks enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to spend quality time with friends or family or just looking for a fun solo activity, Eggscape is the perfect combination of technology and entertainment.

To stay up-to-date with the latest VR technology news and reviews, make sure to visit VR Game News.

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