We’re shedding paper like a second skin in favor of digital versions of the same content, but in the gaming arena there’s still a place for collectible cards. BANDAI is the latest creator intent on pairing “AR cards” with a digital game. At the 2011 Tokyo Toy Fair the studio is showing off a sharp marriage of the two that looks to stir anime enthusiasts.
We’re not sure on the name of the game because modern Internet translation software is notoriously fickle with brands, but the pictures from the event do enough talking. In this particular title, BANDAI is harnessing the back-facing camera of the iPhone to connect with cards from the popular mangas “One Piece” and “Kamen Rider.”
Once the pairing is complete between multiple cards and one phone, users can then battle digital versions of these cards via an application. There’s also a ‘mission’ element to the design as well, though it appears as if a demonstration of that was absent from the event.
A separate source tells us that the “first” series of these games will be available by the end of next month in Japan. We’re also advised that these cards can be used with other games and on other devices and are quite popular in the region.
Of course, this isn’t a new thing — cards and games have been talking to each other since cameras started being introduced to handhelds and consoles, but it’s neat to see this kind of technology being used with iOS devices.
The Nintendo 3DS recently launched with a set of AR Cards that are host to a swathe of different mini-games. Because of the lack of quality 3-D experiences on the handheld, the cards are the de facto demonstration pieces for the two-screen device’s technology.
[Via HobbyMedia.it]
