Ingress and Pokémon Go are two of the most well-known augmented reality (AR) games that Niantic – however, this week, NBA All-World, which may be the best use of AR technology yet.
For those who have played any of Niantic's previous games, NBA All-World offers a similar gameplay experience.
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After downloading the free app, which is available on both Android and iOS, players are given a starting player and can use the game's map to go to real-world locations to collect items, earn cash, or battle other players.
The key difference in NBA All-World is that, instead of visiting random locations to battle others, players must visit real-world basketball courts to climb local leaderboards and collect big-name players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George.
While it may not seem like a major adjustment, it has a significant impact on the way you play the game.
The first is that NBA All-World feels more realistic, as you have to visit local courts instead of randomly wandering around the street, as was often the case when raids were being held in Pokémon Go.
This is important given that Niantic claims that players of its other games and more conventional sports game players don't actually interact that much (just 10% according to Niantic senior producer Marcus Matthews).
Niantic sees All-World as an opportunity for players to get off the couch after years of playing basketball series like NBA2K at home.
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Because users have to physically go to real-world basketball courts to participate in battles, NBA All-World feels more “connected” to the basketball community.
This allows players to potentially participate in a pickup game while visiting a park or stadium to play All-World and take a break from the game and come back to it, claiming a place on the leaderboards or playing mini-games.
Additionally, Niantic has made an effort to incorporate the basketball philosophy into all aspects of the app, such as partnerships with companies like Adidas and Pumato offer virtual clothing or shoes that match what professional players wear in real life.
The player characters in the game are modeled after real life, so centers like Domantas Sabonis are better at blocking, while smaller guards are faster and better at stealing the ball.
Despite the fact that many gameplay elements are simple, the game offers a surprising level of depth through the ability to move, dribble, shoot, or drive to the basket.
Niantic's new game, NBA All-World, will launch on January 24th and will offer players a unique blend of real-life locations and in-game features.
The game builds on the company's experience with its other AR games and is packed with a large number of in-game locations and hot spots. However, building a new community and player base for the game could prove challenging for the developer, as it has had previous failures with games like Harry Potter AR and the Catan spinoff (both of which were discontinued).
Still, NBA All-World seems to offer the best "mix of real-life connectivity and AR" for those looking to "dive" deeper into the basketball community.
Source: engadget.com
