"RidePods": First iPhone game with AirPods head controls
The free iOS game "RidePods" turns AirPods into a motion controller. Players control a motorbike using head movements.
The iPhone game RidePods is controlled by head movements using various AirPods.
(Image: heise medien)
RidePods" is the first iPhone game to use Apple's AirPods as a motion controller. Developer Ali Tanis has used the spatial audio technology of the wireless headphones for the game controls. Players steer a motorbike through traffic by tilting their head to the side – without touching the screen.
The game works with all AirPods models that support Spatial Audio: AirPods Pro of all generations, third and fourth generation AirPods and AirPods Max. The technology uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes built into these models, which normally track the head position for spatial sound.
The controls worked reliably in our test. Eventually, however, users could get neck pain due to the sometimes jerky movements to the left and right. However, the risk should be lower with less fast-paced games.
Spatial audio taken apart
According to a report by The Verge, Tanis had to reverse engineer the spatial audio function to realize his game. However, Apple officially provides developers with access to headphone movement data, for example for fitness tracking applications. Since the developer does not use a private API, he can also publish the game, which is available free of charge, in the App Store.
The game even works with just one AirPod in the ear. If you deactivate automatic head or ear recognition in the AirPods settings, you can also use the headphones as a handheld controller –, but this requires a lot more dexterity.
Videos by heise
Technical implementation and game functions
In addition to steering by head movement, "RidePods" also offers a setting for braking and accelerating by tilting the head forwards and backwards. However, this function does not yet have any recognisable effect on the speed of the motorbike. Players can switch between first-person and third-person perspectives and share their high scores with an integrated recording function that simultaneously records gameplay and selfie videos.
The whole thing still looks more like a technical demonstration than a fully-fledged game. The track runs exclusively in a straight line, without any bends. Nevertheless, "RidePods" shows the potential of headphone-based motion control for mobile games. As Apple apparently tolerates this possibility, more games could follow that take "RidePods" as a model.
Another developer recently demonstrated the fun that can be had with Apple's sensors. He used the tilt sensor in the screen of the MacBook to underlay the opening with the creaking of a wooden door.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(mki)
