AvatarLabs, one of Hollywood’s leading online marketing agencies, specializing in the creation of online rich media, sites and original branded digital content (designed to offer Internet users additional information and interactive features while promoting major motion pictures,) has created a high profile mobile marketing project. Rex Cook, Executive Creative Director/Founder, AvatarLabs, made the announcement.
ABOUT DISNEY “BOLT” IPHONE PROJECT:
AvatarLabs has created a 3D iPhone game for client Disney, “Rhinoball”, promoting the film “Bolt”. Within the first six weeks of its launch, the game has already been free downloaded over 700,000 times.
The “RhinoBall” game for the iPhone is based on the animated film “Bolt.” It is a casual game that is easy to pick up and play. “Rhino,” the titular character, is the fat hamster from the film, and the game is primarily about helping him navigate obstacles to reach “Bolt.” Players need to tilt iPhone forwards, backwards, left and right to guide “Rhino” through city streets, avoiding cars and other obstacles, on his way to the finish line. Players can also collect bonus lightning bolts and hit the launching ramps. The app also includes the “Bolt” theater trailer and TV commercial.
“This is a very exciting new way to interact with the people you want to be interfacing with your brand,” said Cook. “All the clichés – hip, savvy, cool, influencer peddlers — all apply to the users of this remarkable game changing device. It certainly has rocked my world. And, as always, working with Disney is a fantastic experience. As this is really a brand new arena (with 10,000+ apps now! Holy s%&@!) we learned a lot from creating the ‘Rhinoball’ game. Having an active dialogue available for those who wish to engage is very important. We want to let players know that they are being heard, and we, as the game creators, are listening. And even better, we’re doing something about it. Also, setting expectations. It’s a Brave new world.”
Adds Josh Golsen, AvatarLabs’ producer, “Adver-Games on any platform are proving remarkably successful. The most logical place for them is via online and mobile. Our company is right there with a robust and growing 3D Game Team which complements our award winning theatrical team. We are fortunate enough to have created and produced eight years of highly successful online film marketing campaigns for dozens of ‘A’ level Hollywood movies.”
For the “RhinoBall” project, AvatarLabs’ Paul Berry led the company’s 3D and Design Team, with Berry doing a large portion of that work himself. AvatarLabs’ Brett Cook led the 3D Programming, and also served as the overall “Game Guru,” while Phil Larson helped with iPhone integration and UI challenges, Christian Widodo provided level design and support, and Josh Golsen produced.
ABOUT AVATARLABS:
Founded in 2001 by Executive Creative Director Rex Cook, AvatarLabs is one of Hollywood’s most successful online marketing agencies. The company is the recent winner of two 2008 Digital Movie Advertising Creative Showcase Awards, a 2008 “OMMA” Award, and four 2008 W-3 Awards. In addition to the new awards cited above, the company is also the past winner of three DGA “IMAC” (Internet Movie Advertising Creative Showcase) Awards for Creative Excellence, among many other prestigious industry awards and honors.
AvatarLabs is currently behind the online marketing for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “Four Christmases,” and was also the online marketing agency behind such major hit films as “The Dark Knight,” “Wall-E,” “Hancock,” “Get Smart,” “Pineapple Express” and “Narnia 2: Prince Caspian.”
Other recent high profile AvatarLabs projects have included creating online campaigns promoting “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “I Am Legend,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” “The Simpsons Movie,” “Ratatouille,” “Ocean’s 13,” “Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End,” “300,” “Borat,” “Night at the Museum,” “Happy Feet,” and many others. AvatarLabs is based at 5500 Balboa Blvd., Encino, CA, 91316. The phone is 818/784-2200. For more information, please visit www.avatarlabs.com.
