Trigger, the world’s most veteran creative agency for extended reality (XR) experiences, has teamed up with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) to launch the latter’s PGA Jr League Safari Par-Tee mobile app, it was announced on Friday.
The interactive mobile game will allow children and their families to play AR-powered golfing games collaboratively, using animal avatars to overlay real-time 3D (RT3D) Adventure Park Golf Courses in real-world environments.
The app was developed by Trigger via Niantic’s popular augmented reality developer kit (ARDK), Lightship, allowing gamers to scan their surroundings using a mobile device to overlay immersive, interactive, and entertaining golf courses in real-world landscapes, both at-home and outdoors.
Niantic’s technologies were featured in the AR game Pokémon Go with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in 2016, becoming the firm’s most popular release to date.
The game involves challenging AR-powered courses that build skills for young learners such as adapting to difficult golfing environments, avoiding obstacles, and improving their golf swing. Players can also join their families and friends in shared immersive spaces to team and competitive gaming.
Those interested in downloading the app can visit the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Augmented Technologies for Next-Gen Gaming
To build the expansive immersive experience while accommodating users across age and skillsets, Trigger built the PGA Jr League Safari Par-Tee game with the following technologies:
- Niantic’s Lightship ARDK provides users with industry-leading AR experiences to overlay virtual environments in the real world in fixed locations, allowing users to interact with the game at all angles. Gamers can also align with avatars during multiplayer matches
- AR plane detection locates the best flat surfaces to host the game’s AR golf courses for optimal freedom of movement and interaction
- AR multiplayer networking syncs local players in real-time for shared gaming experiences using a player’s device capabilities.
- Standard multiplayer networking provides user connections over WiFi and LAN for quick, low-latency multiplayer experiences.
Jason Yim, Trigger’s Chief Executive and Creative Executive Director, said that real-world Metaverse gaming would become a “core mechanic” to drive fun, education, commerce, and utility.
“Gaming in the real world Metaverse is a core mechanic that can drive not only fun, but education, commerce, and even utility. We’re excited to partner with the PGA in building this mobile app and to help them achieve their goal of engaging with youth golfers through gamification and augmented reality”
Trigger has developed a massive portfolio of immersive experiences over its 13-year history, namely for enterprises, sports, retail and commerce, and entertainment, to prepare companies for the Metaverse.
We’re so excited to share our 2022 sizzle showcasing the most innovative & engaging #XR content in the industry, spanning sports, entertainment, enterprise & eCommerce. There’s nothing we haven’t built—from #apps, #WebAR, #social lenses & #games!
➡️Link: https://t.co/8t2ItXyQqn pic.twitter.com/TkFGHOpzi1
— Trigger – The XR Agency (@TriggerGlobal) March 10, 2022
To date, Trigger’s list of clients includes LEGO, Verizon, Disney, the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Google, Nike, Sony, Google, Molson Coors, and many others.
The firm has also inked exclusive early development partnerships with Niantic, Snap, Qualcomm, Meta, and the Global XR Content Telco Alliance, as well as premier partnerships with 8th Wall and Unity.
The news comes as similar companies, including Izumi World, have tapped AR to develop similar gaming experiences for global audiences to boost the widespread adoption of play-to-earn models and develop the next generation of AR experiences for users.
