Syfy’s over-the-top Sharknado series will soon release its fifth installment—Sharknado 5: Global Swarming—and to build the hype, Syfy has partnered with AR Glimpse to create a free augmented reality mobile app. The game, titled Sharknado: ShARkmented Reality, will allow users to “impose a virtual Sharknado on their surroundings, armed with various virtual weapons—such as a chain saw—to defeat the sharks.” New levels will unlock more sharks and weapons.
“We’re always looking at what’s next,” said Matthew Chiavelli, Syfy’s Senior Vice President for Digital. “We saw this concept as a great fit for Sharknado. I’d be lying if I didn’t say Pokémon GO was an influence.”
In the video demo over at The Hollywood Reporter, the cityscape looks digitally rendered, but I don’t know if that was just for the sake of the demo—the first demos for Pokémon GO also used digital environments for the sake of demonstration. If the real gameplay mostly takes place in a digital environment, though, I’ll be disappointed. I want to be spinning Sharknados while I’m trapped on the subway. Chainsawing Great Whites while I’m waiting in line at the grocery store. Half the fun of these augmented reality games is watching how they interact with the world around you.
Either way, bring me my sharks! Starting today, the game will roll out on iOS and Android platforms.
(Via The Hollywood Reporter; image via Syfy)
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