The Alphabet in AR!

The Create & Learn App, developed with Fisher-Price, is a learning tool that provides hours of game-play for young kids learning the alphabet. Programmed to work with the Create & Learn Apptivity Case (available in pink and blue), the app separates activities into three sections: Create, Learn and Explore.

The Create and Explore sections provide drawing programs, writing practice and simple puzzles associated with each letter. The Learn section features 26 animated characters that spawn from 13 double-sided Augmented Reality letter cards. Tap on the screen and the characters react, animating through a sequence of movements. If the cards are not available, a non-AR experience takes over, allowing users to continue to play with all content via stylus.

The app also features a novel unlock system that uses a ‘key’ card that accompanies the case. Place the card in the correct location and follow the verbal instructions – tapping on certain shapes when prompted – to unlock all of the content.

And while the app works without the case – all content can be unlocked via an in-app purchase – the experience perfectly demonstrates the marketing strategy of combining downloadable apps with product purchases.

The Fisher-Price: Create & Learn Apptivity Case was showcased at CES 2013.

Download the Create & Learn app now!

Boost your run – in AR

Bully! Japan – along with PGA Creative – launched an augmented reality teaser app to promote adidas’ new BOOST running shoe in Japan. The app utilizes the key visuals from BOOST’s global campaign to spawn a realistic, interactive shoe. Rotate the new BOOST with a swipe of the finger, and tap on highlights for insights into the latest tech crammed into the shoe. Or, tap on the experience button to explode the shoe and experience BOOST’s ‘essence’ – a kinetic AR sculpture designed to reflect the explosive, endless energy promoted in the brand messaging – then watch a couple testimonials and a BOOST brand movie.

A podium was set up for visitors to the Tokyo Marathon Expo to view the experience, but the app works with almost any instance of the key image – from magazine ads to store front displays.

Give the Gift of Music this Holiday Season!

Working with The Integer Group: Denver, Bully! created Kellogg’s® Gift of Music experience – an app that tracks to over 70 million back-of-packs and presents consumers with bite sized performances for their breakfast and snack time enjoyment.

The recording artists, shot on green-screen and integrated into custom designed virtual sets include American Idol contestant and Dancing with the Stars winner Kellie Pickler, British YouTube sensation Conor Maynard, American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry, and Latino sensation Jesse & Joy. (The app is designed to localize to Spanish automatically.)

In addition to the performances, the app provides behind-the-scenes interviews with each performer, and in the case of snack food products, access to a series of Kellie Pickler’s entertaining tips for the holiday season. A sharable content feature gives fans the ability to snap a picture with a performer in their own kitchen – seated at the breakfast table or mid-performance – and share on Facebook, Twitter or via E-mail.

Technical hurdles cleared in the production include a streaming restriction on the artists’ music and the need for a real-time synching system to match the pre-loaded green screen footage and custom animated stage and light show.

Download the Gift of Music app now!

Music: Mirando by Ratatat/LP3