Mustaverse Studio

Pokemon Go sparked a global phenomenon, allowing players to search for virtual Pokémon in the real world using augmented reality (AR). It was not just a game but a completely new gaming experience. In Taiwan, there was a surge of players capturing rare Pokémon at popular landmarks. This enthusiasm showcased people’s love for games and demonstrated the potential of AR gaming. As a dedicated player myself, I joined the frenzy, exploring gyms with friends during that period. As a game developer, I naturally became interested in how this hit game was created. Today, we can delve into the details and learn how to use Unity in conjunction with Online Maps to create a Pokemon Go-like product.

Pokemon Go Map Implementation

Creating GPS-based games requires map data. Google Maps provides rich map data that developers can access using the Google Maps API. With this data, developers can build a virtual game world that includes buildings, parks, roads, and more.

The implementation of map-based reality games involves using the Online Maps plugin in Unity to access map data from various sources, including Google Maps and other cloud-based services. One key feature is the Location Service, which uses GPS to locate the player in the real world, allowing them to find NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) based on their real-time position.

During the development process, developers can also input latitude and longitude coordinates to enable the Simulate mode, which provides a cheat feature of teleportation. You can be in Taiwan one second and instantly teleport to the United States the next, allowing you to freely scatter your NFTs around the world. Just be cautious when selecting the testnet to avoid gas fees bankrupting you!

Map Markers

In addition to its map data capabilities, Online Maps provides a convenient feature for adding map markers to enhance the gameplay experience. These markers can be in the form of 2D images or even 3D models, allowing developers to customize the appearance of objects placed on the map. By leveraging this functionality, game developers can create a more immersive and visually appealing world for players to explore.

For instance, let’s consider the scenario where a 3D car prefab is used as the marker to represent the player’s location on the map. As the player moves around in the real world, the car marker will update accordingly, providing a dynamic representation of their position. This concept is reminiscent of using Google Maps for navigation, where a small car icon indicates the user’s location as they traverse the map.

In the context of the course material, the previous two weeks focused on teaching participants how to create 3D voxel-style animals in Unity. Interestingly, the skills acquired during these lessons can be directly applied to the creation of map markers. Rather than using the default markers provided by Online Maps, developers have the opportunity to replace them with the 3D animals they created. This introduces an exciting avatar concept, allowing players to see their customized creatures roaming the virtual map.

Conclusion

Creating games similar to Pokemon Go requires map data, location services, and virtual objects. Using the Online Maps package, developers can build their own virtual game worlds. Our team are plan to apply the techniques we’ve learned to develop Poseidon’s Demise, a web3 AR game focused on ocean conservation. The game tells the story of Poseidon, the sea god, losing his powers due to ocean pollution and being unable to control the mutated creatures in the ocean. Players take on the role of a half-human, half-god hero and use GPS to locate and capture these ocean creatures, restoring the beauty of the oceans. We hope to contribute the earnings from the associated NFTs to real-world ocean conservation organizations, making a positive impact on the world. If you’re interested in AR map games, I recommend exploring these products and embarking on your own AR map game journey. For more details, you can refer to the slides: Link to Slides