Tag, you're it!
Technology companies are truly beginning to embrace the merging of our on and offline worlds. Take LivePlanet for example, they have developed a social netorking game called PhoneTag. Co-founders Matt Damon & Ben Affleck are taking an old-school game to the urban playground. The game combines elements of paintball, tag and capture the flag for mobile phone users.
By leveraging Location Based Services, players (which might consist of friends or strangers) use mapping technology to find one another and "tag" other players. To begin a game, players are text-messaged an invitation to play. Using their phones, participants use maps to find their target while they themselves are being pursued by other players. By getting within a few feet of another player you can "tag" them via your mobile phone. Location-based games like this can be played in busy metropolitan areas or on college campuses. The latter being a likely location, since the game will be rolled out in partnership with Amp'd Mobile which targets younger mobile users.
Taking it one step further, LivePlanet is also planning partnerships with chains such as Starbucks to become "safe havens" where users can temporarily cloak their location as they down a double espresso. Besides being a natural cross-promotional opportunity, it allows players to extend the length of the games as well as add to the complexity of "tagging" opponents.
One of the biggest hurdles companies like these face is getting subscribers to understand how easy it is to download new features. By targeting younger users, Amp'd Mobile and LivePlanet will likely avoid this pitfall. Not only are Amp'd subscribers early adopters, they already rely on mobile devices to connect with friends.
This is just one of several mobile phone entertainment options headed our way this year, but PhoneTag is best positioned for success. It ties the existing relationship we have with our phones to a clever viral marketing plan. Keep your eyes on Amp'd Mobile for details.
By leveraging Location Based Services, players (which might consist of friends or strangers) use mapping technology to find one another and "tag" other players. To begin a game, players are text-messaged an invitation to play. Using their phones, participants use maps to find their target while they themselves are being pursued by other players. By getting within a few feet of another player you can "tag" them via your mobile phone. Location-based games like this can be played in busy metropolitan areas or on college campuses. The latter being a likely location, since the game will be rolled out in partnership with Amp'd Mobile which targets younger mobile users.
Taking it one step further, LivePlanet is also planning partnerships with chains such as Starbucks to become "safe havens" where users can temporarily cloak their location as they down a double espresso. Besides being a natural cross-promotional opportunity, it allows players to extend the length of the games as well as add to the complexity of "tagging" opponents.
One of the biggest hurdles companies like these face is getting subscribers to understand how easy it is to download new features. By targeting younger users, Amp'd Mobile and LivePlanet will likely avoid this pitfall. Not only are Amp'd subscribers early adopters, they already rely on mobile devices to connect with friends.
This is just one of several mobile phone entertainment options headed our way this year, but PhoneTag is best positioned for success. It ties the existing relationship we have with our phones to a clever viral marketing plan. Keep your eyes on Amp'd Mobile for details.
posted by franki durbin @ 3:28 PM PERMALINK
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