Mobile games that keep you fit?
As keen walkers Richard Vahrman and his wife Moira spent time remembering how they played outdoors when they were young – and how little today’s youngsters seem to spend playing games outside the home.
Their thoughts turned to how they could help make games more compelling and somehow take the best of computer game experiences – and try to take them outdoors - and so their company LocoMatrix was born.
The company is now looking to develop software applications for a mobile phone-based game play system, suitable for use in secondary education. The games use an innovative location-based technology which enables users of mobile phones to play active outdoor games, either individually or with friends linked via the Internet.
The project will allow children and their teachers to create exciting interactive games to share with their peers, integrating engaging outdoor games into a wide range of subjects, from geography to mathematics.
LocoMatrix has also been selected to receive a grant, towards a �100,000 project with the University of Brighton, under the Technology Strategy Board’s Creative Industries programme. Together they will be developing a toolkit for school children to enable them to create their own GPS games on the LocoMatrix platform.
Furthermore, LocoMatrix have recently won the ‘Most Awesome Use of Digital Media’ award at this years Brighton and Hove Business.
Hub Creative Sector Advisor Rhodri Alexander says; “LocoMatrix have been taking part in a successful mentoring programme initiated by the Hub earlier this year which has benefited the company greatly. The Hub has also introduced the company to the Creative Technologies Department at the University of Portsmouth, who are planning a number of collaborative ventures for the upcoming academic year, including offering students the chance to create new games for the platform as part of their course.
For more information on LocoMatrix, please visit the company’s website.
To see how the Hub can help bring your business idea to market, please visit the Hub website.
23 Sep 2008