Former 'Disney Infinity' developers join augmented reality studio CastAR

By Gabe Gurwin September 15, 2016

castAR - Share your 3D world as it springs to life

With Disney Infinity canceled and Disney shuttering its developer, Avalanche Software, about 300 people were left out of work, but a handful of developers have found a new home making “mixed reality” games at CastAR.

CastAR, an augmented reality developer founded in 2011, will see an additional Salt Lake City studio open, adding more than 30 employees and doubling the size of the company, though this is only a fraction of those affected by the Avalanche Software layoffs.

“Our new CastAR SLC team has creatively inspired talent that has delivered at the highest levels of quality. We’re excited to have them join us in creating a new generation of gaming through mixed reality experiences,” said CastAR president and COO Steve Parkis in a statement obtained by Polygon. “With their experience in bringing massive franchises to life through breakthrough interactive design, the addition of this team is our next bold step in launching a dynamic platform that will bring awe-inspiring mixed reality to households.”

The wording of this statement, particularly the usage of “massive franchises,” suggests that CastAR may be developing a game based on an existing license. Thus far, the company has been experimenting with technology similar to Microsoft’s HoloLens, allowing for board games to warp and evolve on a tabletop in front of players, and the company thinks it will eventually even develop virtual playing pieces. The CastAR headset will also support online play, so you can battle with strangers while you work together with your real-life friends to play the perfect move.

Just last month, CastAR hired former LucasArts executive Darrell Rodriguez as its CEO, so the Avalanche Software news seems like a perfect pairing. LucasArts also suffered a high-profile cancellation when its doors were closed, with the action-adventure game Star Wars: 1313 riding into the sunset as Electronic Arts took over the majority of Star Wars game development.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Gaming

What is Augmented Reality (AR): Augmented Reality Defined, iPhone Augmented Reality Apps and Games and More

what is augmented reality iphone apps games flash yelp android ar software and more thumbnail

As you wait anxiously in the motionless horde of cars tangled in rush hour traffic, you gather surrounding statistics through your digital LED contact lenses. Tom’s Pizzeria is five blocks ahead and was ranked four out of five stars by customer reviews. As for the woman in the beige Honda beside you, she has a Jack Russell Terrier named Charlie, is originally from Texas, and her favorite book is Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. The pack loosens up and you finish your commute home.

Three blocks away from your house though, your lenses display a Tweet from your wife, which says she’s watching a rerun of Seinfeld and is hungry for pizza. You consider turning around—Tom’s did get good reviews—but you proceed to your final destination instead, using turn-by-turn directions that appear above every intersection. No, you are not a Terminator sent here to aid Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the destruction of John Connor, however. Rather, you are just an average Joe, with less than perfect vision, living somewhere in the near future, thanks to the promise of augmented reality.
What is Augmented Reality?
In 1990, Boeing researcher Tom Caudell first coined the term “augmented reality” to describe a digital display used by aircraft electricians that blended virtual graphics onto a physical reality. As for the computer science world’s definition of augmented reality (AR) though, it’s more detailed, but essentially the same: Augmented reality is the interaction of superimposed graphics, audio and other sense enhancements over a real-world environment that’s displayed in real-time.

Gaming

What is Marathon? Bungie’s mysterious Destiny 2 follow-up, explained

A runner runs in Marathon.

This week's PlayStation Showcase featured a lot of surprises, from Square Enix's Foamstars to a full Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake. The biggest shocker, though, came when Bungie's logo flashed on the screen. The developer has been solely focused on the Destiny series for the last decade, so any new announcement would be significant news. For a moment, the sci-fi trailer looked like a teaser for Destiny 3. The truth would be far more surprising when we saw the game's title: Marathon.

Marathon - Announce Trailer | PS5 & PC Games

Computing

Samsung’s 49-inch curved QLED gaming monitor is $400 off today

Front view of Samsung's new QLED Odyssey gaming monitor sitting on desk.

You've gathered up all the necessary components to build a powerful gaming rig, and you've saved money doing it by leveraging gaming PC deals. It's time to spend that saved cash on a new gaming monitor. Why not go all out? The Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming laptop is a thing of beauty. Once you experience the ultrawide 49-inch screen, you'll be glad you dropped the cash. Thankfully you can get a nice $400 discount on it right now thanks to Samsung's monitor deals. It's still over $1,000, but let us show you why that's worth it.

Why you should buy the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor
The Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor features a 49-inch screen with QHD resolution and HDR 1000, which will let you appreciate even the smallest details of the best PC games. It also features QLED technology, which is one of the calling cards of Samsung as one of the best TV brands, bringing it into the gaming monitor space for deep blacks and vivid colors while you play. The Samsung Odyssey G9 provides the screen space of two 27-inch panels, for a more encompassing view of the action.