How to set up your iPhone for motion-controlled games
Almost every tracking problem in a camera game comes down to three things: where the phone is, how far away you stand, and the light. Get those right and the game reads you every time.
1. Put the phone at waist height or above
Stand it against a wall, on a shelf, or propped on the edge of a table, in landscape. The camera needs to look at you, not up at you: flat on the floor it sees mostly ceiling and your legs. Tilting it back slightly is fine.
2. Stand two to three metres back
The game needs your whole body in frame — head to at least the knees. In Movus the calibration screen shows your live outline and turns green when you are in the right place. If it asks you to step back, your body is too big in the picture; if it asks you to come closer, it is too small.
Hand games like Slash are more forgiving: they only need your hands and shoulders, so you can stand closer or even sit.
3. Light the front of you, not the back
- Turn on the room light. Evening light from one lamp is often not enough.
- Avoid a bright window behind you — the camera exposes for the window and you become a silhouette.
- Plain clothes that contrast with the wall behind you help.
4. Keep the space clear
Leave room to swing your arms and step to each side. Move anything you could hit, and make sure pets and other people are out of frame — the camera follows one person.
Troubleshooting
| What happens | Usually means | Try |
|---|---|---|
| "Step back" | Too close | Move back half a metre |
| "Show your hands" | Hands out of frame | Raise the phone or step back |
| Moves read late | Low light or Low Power Mode | Turn a light on; switch Low Power Mode off |
| "Where did you go?" | You left the frame | Step back into the outline |
More help is on the support page.