Camilo Medina is a skilled developer who began his journey with Niantic 8th Wall in July 2023 at the Niantic Developer World Tour in Paris. Immediately captivated by 8th Wall’s cross-platform capabilities, Camilo found the platform’s tools perfect for creating and deploying immersive AR experiences. With expertise in game design, coding, and marketing, Camilo brings a dynamic skill set to his projects. His passion for coding—particularly in developing mechanics that make digital objects interactive in real-world settings—is evident in his innovative AR work. We spoke with Camilo about his journey with Niantic Studio, recent projects, and his vision for the future of AR.

How did you first get started with 8th Wall, and what initially drew you to the platform?
I started developing with Niantic 8th Wall during the Niantic Developer World Tour in Paris. At the event, I built my first experience with guidance from a skilled instructor in an inspiring workshop. From that point on, I was drawn to the powerful features 8th Wall offers, especially its metaverse deployment capability, which enables developers to create an experience once and deploy it across multiple platforms.

What would you say is your area of expertise?
I enjoy being involved in every stage of creating an experience, from game design and prototyping to promotion and marketing. However, my true passion lies in coding. I love the challenge of developing innovative mechanics, especially those that bring virtual objects to life in the real world, creating a richer and more immersive experience.

You recently built a couple of games using Niantic Studio; how was that experience?

Building with Niantic Studio for the first time was a pleasant surprise. Studio transformed my workflow for creating web-based games. Previously, I used the fully code-based cloud editor, but as I explored Studio, the transition proved enjoyable and truly impactful. Studio has significantly improved my workflow, saving time in prototyping, testing, and development.

My familiarity with other game engines made adapting to Studio smooth. The excellent workshop sessions by the 8th Wall team, coupled with their support, allowed me to start exploring and building my first Studio projects with confidence.

What are you most excited about with Niantic Studio?
What excites me most about Niantic Studio is its status as a complete web-based game engine. One standout feature I particularly love is the live sync, which allows me to see real-time changes in the editor. Observing how mechanics perform and making adjustments during runtime directly in the editor has streamlined my development process by providing immediate feedback.

What are your major goals in the AR space?
My main goal in the AR space is to inspire developers to create experiences that push the limits of this technology, offering true value in real-world contexts.

What’s a recent project that left you feeling inspired?

I recently developed an AR experience called Face Hero using Niantic Studio. It’s an immersive rhythm game where players match facial expressions in time with the beat, similar to Guitar Hero but focused on gestures. Players must mimic various expressions, with successful matches keeping the volume up while missed beats lower it.

Face Hero uses Niantic’s AR Face Effects, with facial expression detection and tracking. It includes a custom facial controller that detects and responds to expressions, while a JSON file specifies event triggers based on the rhythm. As players advance, they receive rewards, like fun visual objects that attach to their heads. If a player starts losing the rhythm, a cartoon bird appears to encourage them to improve.

Face Hero was recognized as a winner in the Innovative Gameplay category of the Niantic Studio Create & Play Developer Challenge!

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