Beamster
Beamster is a mobile AR game that blends laser tag, hide & seek, and catch me!
The Idea Behind Beamster ...
Most mobile games (and even aspects of the Metaverse) are essentially “single-player” experiences in the sense that they are designed to be played "alone", without requiring the physical presence of others.
For this project we have been exploring a new game category, which we are calling “location-based multiplayer games” (perhaps there is a better name - send us your suggestion!).
These games enable real-life interactions between players, each using their own mobile device. Unlike existing games where players capture virtual creatures like in 'Pokémon GO,' our concept involves direct interaction between players in the physical world. Imagine playing a game like 'catch me if you can', where instead of tagging the person you're chasing, you try to take a picture of them with your phone.
A key feature to make such games work is AI-supported “people identification”. This goes beyond simply recognising any person; it involves identifying a specific individual within the game context, allowing players to tag that person digitally.
To enable this, we’ve developed a “scan process": The system needs to learn about the individual before recognising them in-game. In the video below, you’ll see how we first “scan” a person, enabling the system to recognise them during gameplay, such that people can tag each other digitally within the game.
We acknowledge that the scanning process can be a hurdle, and the requirement for at least two people to be physically present adds another layer of complexity. In a time when many are increasingly isolated, our hope is that this game not only offers fun and excitement but also helps create meaningful social interactions.
By encouraging physical presence and cooperation, we aim to contribute to building stronger bonds and combating isolation—showing that games can be more than just entertainment, but a tool for bringing people together in meaningful ways.
See a very basic gameplay video below - be aware it’s experimental! When we first tried it, we were truly amazed how cool it was. Stay tuned! 🚀
@beamster6 Show them who’s boss! 💥 #videogames #fyp #viraltiktok #mobilegame #friends #gaming #shoot ♬ The Spark - Kabin Crew
News
Website live!
We are thrilled to be live with our website and a call to action "Looking for Beta-Testers!".
📍 Salzburg, Austria, Sep 10, 2024: After some time of preparation, we are happy to share a teaser video of our (we believe!) ground breaking mobile game for iOS and Android. It will still take a few weeks until we can release our game for beta testing, and therefore we created a mailing list where you can sign up to become a beta tester. As soon as we are ready, we send you a link where you can download Beamster and try it out.
🔥 Beamster 1.0 is officially LIVE! 🔥
After months of intense development, we're excited to announce that Beamster is (silent) live on the Apple App Store 🚀 and Google Play! 🚀
📍 Salzburg, Austria – October 22, 2024: Ready to play? Hit the links, install the app, and let the battles begin! 💥 We can't wait to hear what you think! Whether it’s feedback, suggestions, or epic feature ideas (new game modes? 🔥), we want to hear it all! Send feedback directly from the app using the 'Send Feedback' option, or hit us up at info@beamster.com. Also, let us know which languages you’d love to see added next in future updates!
🔥 Beamster 1.1 is live with improved Scanning! 🔥
📍 Salzburg, Austria – Nov 21, 2024: From now on, in the game waiting room, you can simply click the “Please Scan” Button to scan any player (not only yourself). You see the name of the person you are scanning on top of the screen (as shown in the movie above). Also on Android, there is a Settings screen (top right icon on the menu screen) and you can now choose your 💥 laser color 💥.Please be aware that the game is still experimental, and we're actively working to improve the overall experience 🌍
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Team
Philipp Breuss-Schneeweis, Co-Founder
Philipp is a passionate software developer with a strong focus on mobile technology (especially Android), Augmented Reality, Computer Vision, and Artificial Intelligence.
In his projects, he often brings bold new visions to life in the field of Augmented Reality, such as his work with Wikitude, the first Augmented Reality browser (2009), Wikitude Drive (2010), the world’s first Augmented Reality navigation system, the Speaking Celt (2016), an AR avatar for museums, and now, the project "Beamster."
Philipp holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, as well as an MBA from Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz, Austria. He is currently pursuing a part-time Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at JKU.
Roman Voglhuber, Co-Founder
Roman has been an enthusiastic mobile app developer since getting his first smartphone, creating various app projects along the way.
He enjoys exploring the latest technologies and uses his experience to quickly build apps with solid and reliable foundations.