Liverpool’s Draw & Code is about to push its augmented reality smart toy into US and European retail markets.
The studio, which recently showcased the product at CES 2019 in Las Vegas has been supported by the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT) and project partner Activate.
“Access to funding is a major challenge for any business and Draw & Code is no exception. Despite Liverpool City Region being a hot-bed of interactive and games talent, it’s still hard to find the right staff and support. The opportunity to leverage experience like this is rare, and it’s encouraging to see business support programmes like Activate helping innovators access industry insight, for free,” explained Phil Charnock, Marketing Manager at Draw & Code.
“We’re aiming to push SwapBots into the US and European retail markets by 2020, and the support provided by Activate and FACT means we are much more prepared for the challenge both strategically, and in terms of the game design itself.”
SwapBots is an interactive AR app that enables children to digitally customise physical toys and bring them to life through a smartphone or tablet.
FACT and Activate helped Draw & Code access the skills and technology required to get to market and undertake late-stage user testing.
The company has recently appointed 2 new staff members to prepare for the growth, former Angry Birds producer, Becky Jones, has been named Lead Producer. Brett Page, formerly of Hasbro, joins as Commercial Director.
