Artificial Life Inc. (ALIF)

[KlausVT]

So that's what the new software was for.....

Can you imagine this in ballparks, how much fun this could be in slow moving ball games and baseball is all about knowing your sport! This could be quite a revenue stream depending how they set it up.


http://www.stadiatech.com/5686


Interactive Mobile Phone Games Interview With Artificial Life CEO, Berhard Schoneburg

Today Berhard Schoneburg, CEO of Artificial Life took time out to answer our questions on interactive mobile phone games for stadiums. Here is that interview:

Q. What is Artificial Life and MoPA-TV™?

I founded Artificial Life, Inc. in 1993 to develop intelligent avatar
internet-based applications for the banking and insurance industry. In 2001, we shifted the overall focus to mobile entertainment content and have since become a leader in broadband 3G, iPhone games, and mobile entertainment software development. Our applications are currently sold worldwide.

One of our latest projects is MoPA-TV™, which stands for “mobile participation television” (www.mopatv.com). It is a system that supports interactive show formats, which allow the viewer the opportunity to be a participant on a live TV show at any location, or even in a live outdoor event! This technology allows viewers to see themselves in the show in real time and to be represented in the form of avatars. This innovative format and technology is very versatile and is not limited to television formats; in fact, anywhere with a large screen and group of mobile phone users, such as a concert or sporting event is perfect for MoPA-TV! In order to participate, contestants shall use their mobile phones to register first and create a personalized avatar, which will represent them in the virtual environment of the show. Once the simple registration is completed, the show can begin with different rounds of questions, which require participants to text in the right answers. Those who text in the correct answers can stay; whereas those who text in the wrong answers will be eliminated.

One of the distinctive features of MoPA-TV is that the virtual environment that contains all of the contestants’ avatars can be easily navigated through in real time. Everyone will have a chance to see their own avatars on the screen! The environment can support as many as 500,000 concurrent live participants.

MoPA-TV Bayern Munich

As a recent development, we implemented MoPA-TV to entertain the fans of FC Bayern Munich at their home arena, the Allianz Arena, which allowed fans to create their own professional football avatars and to show off their knowledge of the elite sporting event. After the last question, the avatar who demonstrated the most knowledge of the event was honored, with a stadium of people cheering him on.

Q. What are the benefits for stadiums to use interactive mobile games?

Provision of interactive mobile game services will become a unique feature of the stadium, which attractsthe attention of potential advertisersand retains the spectators. Having something as fun and simple to use as MoPA-TV will differentiate the stadium from other venues, and be able to engage spectators to the extent that no one has achieved before! Usually, the event organizer does not have much knowledge about the spectators except for their basic information,
such as credit card number, address, and name given when they purchase the event ticket. However, with our system, the event organizer can now obtain the demographics and consumers’ interests of these “silent” spectators by engaging them in various interactive games. This invaluable data can be used for cross-selling and up-selling by the organizers / advertisers; it can also provide detailed insights for advertisers. Needless to say, the system enhances the overall spectators’ experiences in the venue, as it provides fun games for spectators to kill time during breaks. Therefore, it is truly a win-win situation for all parties involved!

Q. What are the benefits for spectators to use interactive mobile games?

Interactive mobile games are a fun and easy way to keep everyone entertained in the venue during breaks. Keeping the fans happy enhances the overall impression of the event and the value of the ticket!

Q. How will live interactive mobile games for sports events develop over the next five years?

We foresee that it will be getting more and more popular. For any live event, there are always times when the spectators are waiting, and we find that simple and easy interactive gaming is the perfect way to keep them entertained. Another reason we anticipate interactive mobile games to grow is that mobile marketing has become more influential and is widely recognized by advertisers as a way to reach the younger generations. However, the marketing means are still somewhat limited (SMS / MMS / WAP landing pages). We therefore provide mobile marketers with an innovative platform which is direct, yet convenient to expose their brands to their target audience.

Besides, it also gives the shy spectators excitement - finally, they can “see themselves on TV” without having the cameraman spotting them out among the crowd and catching them unguarded!