
ARCAR : Battle Royale
Collect the Card, Rock the Game
Published Jan 14, 2025
Last Modified Jan 15, 2025
The inspiration for ACAR: Battle Royale came from the fusion of traditional collectible card games and the dynamic excitement of augmented reality. Our vision was to create a game that not only captures the thrill of competitive gameplay but also harnesses advanced AR technology to bring cars to life, enabling players to engage in immersive battles wherever they are.
We also drew inspiration from the nostalgic charm of collecting cards, like the iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! series, and aimed to modernize the experience by integrating it with cutting-edge AR features. Beyond entertainment, our long-term goal is to explore potential brand collaborations. For instance, ACAR could serve as a gamified marketing platform, where snack brands include collectible cards as gifts inside their packaging. These cards could then be scanned and used in-game, providing a unique and engaging way for companies to connect with their customers while fostering a sense of community among players.
What it does
ACAR: Battle Royale offers players an exciting and immersive gaming experience by combining collectible cards with augmented reality. Players can collect, upgrade, and battle with a variety of unique car cards in a visually stunning AR environment. By scanning physical or digital cards, players unlock new vehicles, customize their stats, and gain access to powerful upgrades.
The game emphasizes strategic thinking and quick decision-making, as players must manage their resources to overcome increasingly challenging battles. Progression through the game’s levels introduces a dynamic difficulty curve—each level adds more enemies, increases enemy health and attack power, and introduces additional obstacles, ensuring that the gameplay remains fresh and engaging.
ACAR balances simplicity and depth, offering straightforward mechanics that deliver a thrilling experience while challenging players to refine their strategies and master the game's evolving challenges. Whether competing in battles or building their car collection, players are drawn into a world where every decision matters.
How we built it
We utilize Unity 3D as the core game engine to deliver the immersive world of ACAR: Battle Royale to life. To create an augmented reality experience, we integrated Vuforia AR, which allows players to interact with virtual cars in real-world environments. For scripting, Visual Studio 2022 paired with Amazon Q provides intelligent coding suggestions, simplifying the development process and ensuring robust and accurate code.
In addition, we collaborated with AWS Party Rock, an AI-based assistant, to brainstorm concepts, refine game mechanics, and produce high-quality 2D visual assets. These assets bring visual cohesion to the game and enhance the overall player experience.
The core game mechanics, including player and enemy behavior, attack dynamics, and environment interaction, were developed using C#, to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay. We also implemented a JSON-based data management system to track car statistics, upgrades, and player progress. This system allows for seamless customization and ensures that each player's journey feels unique and rewarding.
From AR integration to game logic, every component was carefully crafted to provide a captivating and engaging experience for players of all ages.
Challenges we ran into
- Optimizing AR performance: Balancing visual fidelity with smooth gameplay on a wide range of devices.
- Data synchronization: Ensuring player upgrades and stats persist across different scenes and devices.
- Gameplay balance: Calibrating the difficulty curve and attack/health values to maintain player engagement.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
One of our greatest achievements in developing ACAR: Battle Royale was successfully integrating augmented reality technology to deliver a seamless and engaging experience. It was a challenge to ensure that the AR elements felt natural and intuitive, but the result allowed players to interact with their cars in a way that felt immersive and engaging. Another achievement we're proud of is designing an engaging progression system that rewards strategic thinking and skillful play, keeping players motivated as they level up and upgrade their vehicles. In addition, we dedicated significant effort to creating a visually appealing and intuitive user interface, ensuring that every interaction felt fluid and contributed to the overall gameplay. This achievement highlights our commitment to innovating fun and flawless gaming experiences.
What we learned
Throughout the development of ACAR: Battle Royale, we gained valuable insights into leveraging cutting-edge technologies to streamline the game creation process. By utilizing Amazon Q, we significantly accelerated our coding workflow, enhancing both efficiency and accuracy in implementing game mechanics. Additionally, we discovered the benefits of collaborating with Party Rock AI, which served as an invaluable discussion partner for brainstorming ideas, refining concepts, and generating high-quality 2D visual assets.
We also learned the critical role of iterative playtesting in perfecting gameplay balance. Frequent testing sessions allowed us to identify areas for improvement, ensuring that each level felt both challenging and rewarding without overwhelming players. Furthermore, we deepened our understanding of advanced AR techniques, mastering stable and realistic object tracking to deliver a smooth and immersive augmented reality experience. These lessons not only improved our current project but also prepared us for future endeavors in game development.
What's next for ARCAR : BATTLE ROYALE
Multiplayer Mode: Allows players to battle with friends in real-time.
Expanded Car Collection: Added more unique cars and special abilities for players and enemies.
Story Campaign: Introducing a narrative-based mode to further engage players with a boss every 10 levels.
Community Tournaments: Organize events to grow a competitive and exciting player base.
Global Leaderboards: Encourages players to rank up and prove their dominance.
Best regards from us
Muhammad Junaedi, Amazon Q, and Aws Party Rock