Launchball

25th November 2009: Bright AI, the mobile content and applications company, has completed the development and usability testing of Launchball, the Science Museum’s award-winning online Flash game for the iPhone and iTouch which launches today.

Launchball challenges users to correctly manipulate their environment to successfully guide a ball into the goal. Launched in 2007, the game has since been played over 2 million times, creating a huge following and winning numerous awards along the way.

Launchball mobile features 41 levels of physics based gameplay as well as enabling users to create and share their own levels. Bright AI has faithfully replicated the original in a version which fully exploits the unique attributes of the iPhone, combining quality development with stringent usability testing in a game that won’t disappoint loyal fans.

Bright AI worked closely with games usability expert Dr Graham McAllister from Sussex University, to test every facet of the game before release.

The game went through four rounds of usability testing where between 5-10 members of the public were asked to perform various tasks within the game. Their reactions were filmed and the findings used to instruct the next phase of development.

Whilst this level of usability testing is unusual in an iPhone application, Bright AI understood the importance of delivering a product which not only meets the expectations of fans but also reflects the Science Museum’s brand values.

Ben Jackson, brand licensing executive, Science Museum, commented: “The game works brilliantly with touch screen controls and the level editor function means it is great to share levels with friends. For the Science Museum, sales of the App will generate royalties which go straight back to the Museum and the game will also help to inspire a fascination with physics.

“The web version of Launchball has a loyal fan base so we have had to be very careful to get it right so we don’t let them down and Bright AI have done a fantastic job developing a game that we can be proud of.”

David Lane, managing director, Bright AI, added: “Working with the Science Museum to create Launchball for iPhone has been a fantastic experience which has enabled us to channel all of our expertise into a game which is both engaging and educational.

“The iPhone and iPod Touch are already hugely significant devices for gaming, yet few developers are applying the kind of sophisticated usability testing normally associated with console games, so Bright AI is proud to be setting the benchmark for quality with the release of Launchball.”

ENDS

For further information, images or interviews please contact:

Steve Green

infomob PR

+44 (0) 1273 697170

+44 (0) 0777 5677101

steve@infomob.co.uk

About Bright AI Ltd

Established in 2004 Bright AI is a developer of quality, usability driven mobile content and applications for iPhone, Java Mobile, Blackberry or Android devices.

Bright AI’s virtual shop front system ‘Boximo’ integrates seamlessly with any website allowing brand owners to sell content direct to consumers. With Boximo, clients can manage their content online, access sales reports and control worldwide distribution and billing.

The company’s client portfolio includes BSkyB, The Science Museum, plus over one hundred Football League Clubs including Everton F.C, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland F.C and Aston Villa.

www.brightai.net

Science Museum

For 100 years the Science Museum has been world-renowned for its historic collection, remarkable galleries and inspirational exhibitions. With around 15,000 objects on public display, the Science Museum’s collections form an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change from the past few centuries. Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. In 2008/09 the Science Museum was proud to have been awarded the Gold Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year by Visit London and a Silver Award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by Enjoy England.