PaperToss3D

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  Before the throw

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  Mid-throw in action

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  Game ends - Leaderboard

Inspiration

We took inspiration from the classic Paper Toss iOS game that was hugely popular in the early smartphone era. The simple yet addictive gameplay of throwing crumpled paper into a trash bin made it a timeless classic. We wanted to bring this nostalgic experience into the modern AR world using Snapchat's Lens Studio.

What it does

PaperToss3D is an AR game where players throw virtual paper balls into a trash bin placed in their real environment. The game features:

• Tap to place a bin using your rear camera
• Swipe up to throw the paper ball with realistic physics
• Wind system that pushes the ball left or right requiring players to adjust their aim
• Streak counter that tracks consecutive successful throws
• Leaderboard integration to compete with friends on Snapchat

How we built it

We built PaperToss3D using Snap's Lens Studio with JavaScript scripting. Key components include:

• World tracking for bin placement using the rear camera
• Custom physics system with gravity and projectile motion for realistic ball trajectory
• Touch input system for detecting swipes and calculating throw direction
• Wind mechanics that add challenge and variability to each throw
• Collision detection system that tracks when the ball enters the bin
• Snapchat's Leaderboard component for score tracking and social competition

Challenges we ran into

• Getting the camera direction correct in Lens Studio as camera looks down negative Z axis
• Tuning the physics to create a satisfying parabolic arc
• Making collision detection reliable when the ball moves fast between frames
• Balancing wind strength to be challenging but not frustrating
• Handling swipe gestures without triggering Snapchat's default UI actions

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Created smooth and realistic paper throwing physics
• Built a working wind system that adds real challenge to gameplay
• Implemented reliable collision detection that tracks ball movement across frames
• Made the game feel like the original Paper Toss while adding AR immersion
• Successfully integrated Snapchat's Leaderboard for social competition

What we learned

• How to work with Lens Studio's coordinate system and camera transforms
• Projectile motion physics and how to calculate trajectories
• Touch gesture handling in Lens Studio
• How to build collision detection systems for fast-moving objects
• Working with Snapchat's built-in components like Leaderboard

What's next for PaperToss3D

• Add multiple bin distances for difficulty levels
• Include different paper ball skins and bin designs
• Add a fan object that visually shows wind direction
• Create power-ups like slow motion or bigger bin
• Add daily challenges with unique wind patterns
• Include multiplayer turn-based mode where friends take turns throwing

Built With

• javascript
• lens-studio