Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Skylanders creative lead eying Wii U's NFC for the future; mobile game explained]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/skylanders-creative-lead-eying-wii-us-nfc-for-the-future-mobil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/skylanders-creative-lead-eying-wii-us-nfc-for-the-future-mobil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/skylanders-creative-lead-eying-wii-us-nfc-for-the-future-mobil/#comments "Giants is the idea for the future," Toys for Bob CEO and development lead Paul Reiche III told me during an interview this morning, just ahead of this weekend's Toy Fair 2012. His company's latest project, Skylanders, is up for an award at the big show, not to mention an award or two at DICE 2012 (also this week), but he's already looking into the future. To an extent, at least.

"In terms of the Wii U, we're looking at it," he said in response to a question regarding the Wii U's recently announced NFC functionality -- functionality that's very similar to that found in the RFID-enabled Skylanders. "All of the details about the NFC technology haven't been released to the public yet, and it's really interesting," Reiche added, but he wouldn't budge on how much experience his company had with the Wii U's tech just yet ("I can't talk about that, I'm afraid.").

As for that other Skylanders game that was announced today -- the mobile one -- Reiche was able to be a bit more verbose, though not much. "We will be having new mobile associated with Giants, but we are also still working on a very fun experience using your toys in the Skylanders world that's for mobile," he told me. So, two games then! "I played it, I like it, I don't know what its release schedule is. This one isn't being implemented within Toys for Bob," Reiche added.

So, how does it work? Reiche couldn't get too specific, but he did say it'll use the web-based Skylanders experience to draw information to the mobile game. "No NFC phone necessary. We want anyone to be able to enjoy it. We want someone who just buys a toy to have a meaningful experience on someone else's mobile device."

JoystiqSkylanders creative lead eying Wii U's NFC for the future; mobile game explained originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionmobilenear-field-communicationnew-york-citynfcnintendonycpaul-reichepaul-reiche-iiiskylanders-giantstoys-for-bobwii-uTue, 07 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Skylanders-esque NFC tech built into Wii U's WiiPad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/skylanders-esque-nfc-tech-built-into-wii-us-wiipad/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/skylanders-esque-nfc-tech-built-into-wii-us-wiipad/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/skylanders-esque-nfc-tech-built-into-wii-us-wiipad/#comments Adding onto the mounting pile of news coming from an investor's briefing with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata comes word that the Wii U's tablet-like controller will have "Near Field Communication" technology (NFC). In Nintendo's words, the tech will serve to "read and write data via noncontact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world." Owners can reportedly create their own cards and figurines for use with the WiiPad's NFC functionality.

Confusing as that may be, Iwata means that the Wii U's WiiPad will come equipped with similar tech to that used in Skylanders alter its gameplay via real world objects (Skylanders uses RFID tech, which isn't exactly the same, but a similar concept). The tech could conceivably be used to make credit card payments as well, which Iwata specifically mentions in the last paragraph.

We wish it was all announcements of new entries in classic franchises and promises of unified online systems, folks, but that's just how it goes. On the bright side, more Drobot?

Update: This post originally stated that Near Field Communication tech is also used in the Skylanders game from Activision, which isn't accurate. Skylanders uses RFID technology, which is similar but not identical. Sorry about that, folks!

JoystiqSkylanders-esque NFC tech built into Wii U's WiiPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japannear-field-communicationnfcnintendonintendo-of-japansatoru-iwatawii-uwiipadFri, 27 Jan 2012 00:10:00 EST