Augmented reality has been trending lately, with news including a partnership between Microsoft and the NFL to bring football games to living rooms through the HoloLens augmented reality device.
Now, an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign has been launched for a game that utilizes augmented reality to transform smartphones into guns for next level laser tag.
Father.io has been described as the world's first real-life massive multiplayer first-person shooter, according to its Indiegogo page. It utilizes an app, compatible for both iOS and Android, the smartphone's camera, and an Interceptor attachment, which is just about as big as a keychain and weighs only about 30 grams, or roughly an ounce.
The Interceptor allows for players to shoot and be shot through a combination of infrared emitters and receivers, with shots hitting as far as 50 meters (164 feet). Shots fired can be detected at angles of almost 90 degrees vertically and horizontally.
Father.io offers two game modes, with the first being the massive multiplayer mode, which functions similar to a king of the hill match.
Gamers have to join one of the two factions: Humans or Evolved, and fight to take control over areas that each cover 50 square meters (2 square miles) of real terrain.
Claimed areas produce resources for gamers, which can be used to buy weapons, ammo and gadgets, in addition to making investments in area infrastructures. Gamers will also be able to gain advantages from real-world buildings in claimed areas, such as universities granting research boosts and hospital granting faster health regeneration.
Areas claimed by the opposing faction can be reclaimed through raids, contests and conquests.
The second game mode is Quick Match, where gamers can choose either team-based or free-for-all deathmatches. The campaign includes other modes as stretch goals, such as capture the flag game.
The game is set in a futuristic world where Humans are locked in battle against the Evolved, which are cybernetic life forms created by the Father.io virus. The virus took control of Ethereus, a super-cloud computer that ushered in technological singularity.
Father.io also features different character classes that has its own different abilities, strengths and weaknesses that will contribute to their faction's cause.
Gamers who would be interested in joining the battle can donate to the Indiegogo campaign, with a limited stock of Inceptors going for only $20. The campaign has already reached its initial goal of $50,000 with a month left and with the first batch of Interceptors targeted to be shipped out over the summer this year.
