The firm behind PlayStation Buzz! hits the App Store.
UK firm Sleepydog is best known for creating PlayStation quiz franchise Buzz! for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, although it’s got a long history in mobile entertainment too.
Now it’s stretching into iPhone e-books for children, having released several on the App Store.
“The iPod touch is a single device for music, games and apps,” CEO Toby Moores tells ME. “Creating e-books for this delivery system gets children reading alongside other media they enjoy, at pocket money prices.”
Moores says that the authors Sleepydog works with regularly visit schools, and have reported back that the iPod touch is by far the most popular gadget among children The books include interactive quizzes, building on Sleepydog’s games industry heritage.
“You must get children wanting to read,” says Moores. “We have tried to make our e-book app feel more like a game, and the quiz reinforces that. Parents and educators love the learning element of ‘testing’ comprehension.”
The e-books cost £1.19 each, and include four titles based on the Vernon Bright series of books by Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, which are out of print, and so their rights have reverted to the authors.
Is this an important element in getting them live? “Out of print is a great place to start, not least because we don’t get into conflict with the publishers about pricing,” says Moores.
“The second phase of this project involves deals with publishers though. By the time the ink dries on contracts, we and the publishers should have a good understanding of pricing. Their main concern is selling e-books too cheaply, hence undermining the value of their printed books.”
Although Sleepydog is starting with iPhone and iPod touch, it is also looking beyond the App Store to other mobile platforms.
“We’re developing in Android and Flash Lite, so expect releases on other phone devices in the future,” says creative director Mark Hilton. “We may also look to our console heritage by exploring PSP iterations.”
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