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Elliott Myers, the creator of the Gametrak motion controller, has launched his latest gaming endeavour – iPhone accessory and game Looksi Pups.
The interactive 3D pet went live on Kickstarter yesterday and has at the time of writing raised 1,405 of its 20,000 goal from 26 backers.
It combines two elements. Firstly, it comes with a plastic kennel into which a user’s phone is inserted, supported by a custom bracket housing designed for all types of iPhone.
Users then download an app that places a 3D virtual pet onto the screen. Mirrors positioned in the kennel allow users to see the animal either from the front or on the side.
It can be interacted with via voice and tilt and responds to 15 voice commands. It can learn tricks and there are, unsurprisingly, plenty of customisation options. Looksi Pups is being targeted and boys and girls aged from 4-12.
Myers argues that products such as Looksi Pups offer games retailers the chance to capitalise on the popular mobile gaming category.
Gaming consumers have been migrating from the traditional console to the mobile format for some time,” Myers told MCV. The installed base of mobile devices is already significantly larger than that of traditional consoles – and most people, especially kids, play games on these devices.
Looksi Pups uniquely offers traditional games retailers the opportunity to participate in the mobile games space, thanks to the physical Looksi Kennel. We would love for games retail to get behind our launch product because first and foremost, Looksi Pups is a great game.”
Gametrak, for those who don’t remember, was one of gaming’s first forays into motion control. It used accessories attached to a base station via cables to detect movement. It was first released for PS2 in 2004. The device was perhaps best known for its sports title Real World Golf.
In 2006 Myers’ company In2Games claimed Gametrak sales totalling 300,000 units.
