Boosters Launches into Spatial Computing

The spatial computing device, Magic Leap 1, allows players to interact with digital content as it moves around the room. This is Wētā Workshop’s second foray into spatial computing, following the-award nominated Dr. Grordbort’s Invaders.

 In Dr. Grordbort’s Boosters, it is the player’s task to pilot a rocketship carefully (or with wild abandon) around their environment, collecting asteroid gubbins along the way and racking up a high score.

 The experience was developed by a small core team of five people over seven short weeks - an intentional change of pace after spending several years developing their previous title, Dr. Grordbort's Invaders.

To maximise the capabilities of the Magic Leap 1, Dr. Grordbort’s Boosters needed to appear as realistic as a toy-like rocket can be. Lead Game Designer & Producer, James Everett says, "Boosters demonstrates the detail required to make virtual content gel successfully with the real world. We focused our efforts on dynamic lighting, creating scorch marks on surfaces, spatial audio and more. Our aim was to present the player with the most immersive experience possible.”e Magic Leap 1 knows its environment by scanning the intended play area and creating a virtual mesh throughout the room. Previously, the Magic Leap 1 would scan an area before the player launched Dr. Grordbort’s Invaders. But with Dr. Grordbort’s Boosters, the device continuously scans its environment while the game is actively played. No longer bound by a preselected area, this dynamic scanning enables players to walk down the street, flying a rocketship through their neighborhood (best done at dawn for optimal lighting).

Wētā Workshop's Interactive Division is a purpose-built games studio developing a huge range of games, interactive experiences, and technical solutions for New Zealand and abroad.