Enjoy Gaming has launched the DSi title, System Flaw, calling it the “first augmented reality game to be released.” That claim immediately raises my eyebrows – while ‘augmented reality’ may be an imprecise buzzword that gets thrown around a lot these days, I’d say that Treasure World already meets my personal criteria moreso than System Flaw appears to, simply by nature of its level of immersion. That is to say, just by watching Enjoy’s unembeddable trailer, the game looks rather fun. Fun, but not explorative. Fun, but not especially reactive to your surrounding environment. It doesn’t appear to give any incentive to get up and discover you world, the incentive seems to be merely in rotating and pointing.

Still, the game looks at least somewhat enjoyable. It’s essentially a shmup where you shoot oncoming alien invaders by moving the DSi around to target them. A live view of your surroundings is presented, as well as a radar to show where the pesky critters are hiding. System Flaw is available now for $30.

System Flaw

3rd November 2009

FIRST AUGMENTED REALITY GAME ‘SYSTEM FLAW’ LAUNCHED

System Flaw is the first augmented reality game to be released. Exclusive to the Nintendo DSi, System Flaw – an innovative 3D action shooter from new publisher Enjoy Gaming – makes full use of the DSi camera as an integral part of the gameplay.

The mission is to hunt down alien invaders – the Flaw – who are only visible through the DSi, and the radar tracker screen gets the player gyrating and spinning from room to room or running outside in pursuit! Developed by Visual Impact, System Flaw features 100 levels of enemies which seem to appear right out of the real-time environment of the gamer. The game has also generated great interest before its launch being awarded the “Best Innovation” nomination by Agence Française pour le Jeu Vidéo.

With its US launch this week and UK and Europe scheduled for February 2010, System Flaw is the first game to come from new family-oriented publisher Enjoy Gaming. “It’s a unique take on portable excitement,” says Paul Tresise, managing director of Enjoy Gaming. “With 360 degrees of optical flow, and motion technology not yet utilised in handheld gaming, System Flaw is a revolutionary gaming experience and a great first product for Enjoy Gaming.”

For more information, go to www.systemflaw.com.