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Sword Art Online Film About MMORPG Inspires Real-World AR App
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The upcoming Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale anime film centers on “Ordinal Scale,” an augmented-reality (AR) MMORPG. Although the game lets people play while conscious, it soon creates new dangers for Kirito and fellow players. Hopefully Aniplex put some safeguards in place so the same problem doesn't arise in the real world. The company recently released an official iOS and Android AR app for the film.
In the latest bout of life inspiring art inspiring life, the app allows user to take pictures of characters with AR camera functionality. Similar to Pokémon Go, people can track down characters at more than 1,000 places and "markers" in 30 prefectures in Japan. Users can utilize GPS to help them find the characters and then take an AR picture. People can use their captured characters and monsters as "camera frames" to take more original AR pictures. The app offers more than 150 kinds of camera frames.
Users will receive a stamp each day they use the app. For every three stamps they collect, people can choose another camera frame to receive. The app rewards users who complete books of 15 stamps with character wallpapers. Once they complete a stamp book, users can start a new one the next day.
The app also includes the latest news about the film, including theater and ticket information. A calendar keeps track of related events for the anime.
TYPE-MOON and FGO Project launched the similar Fate/Grand Order AR smartphone app earlier this month. Players can visit certain areas of Japan to "summon" Servants through AR technology.
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale will open in Japan on February 18 in 150 theaters. Aniplex of America announced earlier this month that the film will open in United States theaters on March 9.
The company describes the movie's story:
In 2022, the world of virtual reality was upended by the arrival of a new invention from a genius programmer, Akihiko Kayaba, called NerveGear. It was the first full-dive system, and with it, came endless possibilities to VRMMORPGs.
In 2026, a new machine called the Augma is developed to compete against the NerveGear and its successor, the Amusphere. A next-gen wearable device, the Augma doesn't have a full-dive function like its predecessors. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality (AR) to get players into the game. It is safe, user-friendly and lets users play while they are conscious, making it an instant hit on the market. The most popular game on the system is “Ordinal Scale” (aka: OS), an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma.
Asuna and the gang have already been playing OS for a while, by the time Kirito decides to join them. They're about to find out that Ordinal Scale isn't all fun and games...
Source: Anime! Anime!
