#appmates

Disney's new AppMATes toys link the tactile, physical world of child's play with the infinite images of the virtual world on an iPad. The toys come to life with digitally with integrated sensors on the bottom, enabling them to automatically interact with a dedicated iPad App that lets children explore the virtual worlds of favorite Disney characters--the first line of toys are from Cars 2.  It's like a virtual play mat, so at least you won't be tripping over piles of blocks and LEGOs--but your iPad may be jeopardized by "enthusiastic" playtime! 

In this first release of AppMATes featuring the world of Cars, children can compete in races, complete missions, upgrade cars or explore Radiator Springs. The iPad app differentiates between characters, so narration and dialogue vary depending on the vehicle they’re playing with.

This new venture from Disney demonstrates how digital is not the demise of toys and imagination, but possibly just the beginning. And of course, we should expect new apps and toys from popular Disney films in the future.  

I'm not exactly Disney's biggest fan or even their target market but I love this.

Basically they've launched a set of toys that interact with an app on the iPad (as in the video above). Apart from the free play there's loads of games they can play on the app using the cars (e.g. racing).

It's not just because it's shiny and new, or that it's on the iPad but because it's born out of a really killer piece of insight that Disney have latched onto.

"To keep my kids entertained, I give them my iPad/iPhone to play games."

For me this is a real piece of innovation as it changes the way we look at how games can be played. It takes gesture control into a completely new space by using the example of how kids play with toys normally.

Para quem curtiu o post anterior, mais detalhes sobre o Appmates da Disney.

In its pursoot to revolutionize the tablet gaming scene, Disney-Pixar has unveiled a new way to use the touchscreen on tablets. It has released this video giving a demo of their free Cars 2 AppMATes where children will have the opportunity to use the tablets as game surfaces for specially designed toys. These will be available October 1st at national retailers, Apple Store, Apple Store online, Disney Store and www.DisneyStore.com 

Introducing Disney AppMATes - a new line of toys that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad allowing kids to use the tablet's screen as a virtual play mat. The Appmates toy line features miniature Disney•Pixar Cars 2 vehicles with sensors on the base of each toy that are recognized as a unique footprint by an app with no cable or Bluetooth connection required. Simply download the free Cars 2 Appmates app from the iTunes app store, place your favorite Appmates toy character on the screen and play. Ages 4+

Damn. They stole my idea.