The Vision: CAPRI
CAPRI (Come At Pub Relying on Imagination) started as a pilot for a business idea designed to revolutionize the hospitality industry. Our goal was to identify a specific market gap: the "dead time" during customer waits in pubs and restaurants.
Our research revealed a critical threshold: pub-goers are only willing to wait 8 minutes for a drink and 12 minutes for food before their satisfaction drops significantly. With an average wait time of 23 minutes per party (and nearly 30% waiting over 30 minutes), we saw an opportunity to transform frustration into engagement.
We partnered with Ruin, a renowned pub in Caserta, to create Unsolved Ruins—an immersive app that guides users through a path of riddles, mini-games, and augmented reality scenes.
The Experience Path
1. Strategic Riddles
Riddles are the core of the intellectual challenge. Presented randomly, they are designed to be complex enough to encourage collaboration and teamwork among friends. To avoid frustration, a smart hint system provides clues after a few seconds if the party is stuck, ensuring a smooth and entertaining flow.
2. Haptic Mini-games
Developed with SpriteKit, these mini-games leverage the iPhone's hardware for maximum immersion. We utilized the accelerometer for intuitive motion controls and integrated haptic feedback so users can literally "feel" the game in their hands. The mechanics (like memory games) are easy to grasp but challenging to master, all while following the visual style of the venue.
3. AR Innovation
The most innovative part of the path involves AR scenes where users frame paintings or walls to reveal hidden clues.
Technical Challenge: Dim lighting in pubs is the enemy of AR. We solved this by implementing a custom light management algorithm that automatically triggers the flash and adjusts exposure in low-light environments.
Technical Innovation & Scalability
We successfully integrated cutting-edge features:
- Voice Recognition: Integrated into puzzles to allow for hands-free interaction.
- Video Playback on 3D Objects: Merging static environments with dynamic AR content.
- Scalable Architecture: The concept is replicable beyond pubs, with potential applications in museums, art galleries, and public exhibits.
The app is currently available on the App Store and fully playable for customers at Ruin (Caserta).