- Ponit Pocket Adventure" is a location-based game application that allows players to collect various blueprints and materials with characters.
- There are many tricks to make you want to stop by, such as blueprints of landmarks in each prefecture and items that can be obtained at specific locations.
- The app can be used in the car only in the rear seat. Jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corporation, which has a wide range of automotive expertise, to achieve unprecedented safety.
Going out by car is all about getting to your destination, but if you have fun along the way, your outing will be even more fulfilling. Ponit Pocket Adventure," which is being developed jointly by Kids Star Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation, is an unprecedented location-based game application that makes driving fun. A learning application that parents and children can enjoy together, "playgroundWhat is it about Kids Star, which won the Grand Prize (Grand Award) in the "Play and Learning Category" of the BabyTech Award Japan 2019 for its "Kids Star" and the latest application being developed by Toyota Motor Corporation, an international mobility company? We asked Mr. Matsumoto, director of Kids Star, about its appeal.
We spoke with...
Kids Star Inc.
board member
Kentaro Matsumoto *Hieroglyphs omitted below
The world expands through apps, parent-child conversations
Editor: First, tell us about Ponit Pocket Adventure.
Matsumoto: Ponit Pocket Adventure is a location-based game application developed under the concept of "making family travel more accessible and fun. Ponit, who came to Earth from an unknown planet, has the special ability to "copy everything with materials and blueprints. The main character, together with Ponit, collects "materials" and "blueprints" in various locations to build buildings. The buildings can be decorated and placed on the map to show them off to other users.
The story includes many elements to stimulate children's curiosity, such as the acquisition of blueprints unique to the places visited and the appearance of Ponit's friends.
Editor: This is kind of exciting! What age range do you envision for the target children?
Matsumoto: The main age group is from upper elementary school to junior high school. At this age, they have their own devices, and we often hear that when parents and children go for a drive together, there is not much conversation in the car. This was the motivation behind the development of the system.
Editor: Can you tell us what kind of conversations between parents and children are envisioned in what kind of situations, along with the characteristics of the game?
Matsumoto: The game begins with the story of Ponit, who visits Earth to train and develop his copying ability, and works with users to collect various blueprints and materials to make them. The blueprints include landmarks that can be acquired through normal travel and by visiting the location, such as the Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo. For example, Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo. The "Landmarks" feature is a great incentive to go out for a drive.
Another feature of the system is the appearance of notices and items that are linked to actual road conditions, using information obtained by analyzing Toyota Motor Corporation's big data. While driving, the system will provide information such as "This is an easy road to drive on" or "Drive carefully on this road," along with the appearance of linked items called "UMO" to create a special feeling of the road.
We want to create a new on-the-go experience by connecting the game with the actual situation of the location. For example, we hope that children who see this notice will talk to their parents in the driver's seat, saying, "This is what is displayed! This will make driving more enjoyable, and we hope it will spark conversation in the car.
Furthermore, we also want to expand the enjoyment of not only car transportation, but also everyday transportation. When picking up and dropping off students from their usual lessons, they might say, "There's an item just one more street over! It would be fun to have more conversation while traveling.
When you use certain items you've earned, there are also tricks to quiz you on what you've learned in your schoolwork, current events, and transportation.
Editor: I see that the system is designed to stimulate parent-child conversations in various situations, such as before and during the drive. By taking a little detour, you are likely to make new discoveries, making your car outings even more exciting!
Matsumoto: Thank you very much. Since this is an application for children to use together, there are some aspects that cannot be done only when using the application only when traveling by car, so the application can be used on foot or at home. We believe that seeing a slightly different landscape than usual for the purpose of searching for items will stimulate your child's curiosity about the world.
Editor: I heard that there are various innovations in terms of safety while driving.
Matsumoto: In game applications that utilize location information, when moving at speeds above a certain level, to prevent users from using the phone while walking, messages such as "You are exceeding the specified speed," "Are you driving a car?" are displayed, and many of them disable some functions.
Ponit Pocket Adventure uses a function that recognizes the seat position of the person using the application so that the game can be enjoyed in a moving car. Specifically, when the app detects the speed at which the car is moving, it uses the smartphone's camera and image recognition function to confirm that the person in the back seat is using the app. Additionally, the system provides a function to reduce car sickness.
Editor: Carsickness reduction! Is that possible!
Matsumoto: We have a screen that detects the tilt of the phone and displays a notice to maintain the correct posture. In fact, when the phone looks down, the sensor detects this and displays a message such as "Lift the phone up.
Editor: I see that you have incorporated various thoughts and mechanisms for safe and comfortable use.
Go on adventures with friendly characters!
Editor: From here, I would like to ask you about the development of the application. First, please tell us about the development process.
Matsumoto:We were approached by a Toyota Motor Corporation employee who was using "Gokko Land," a social experience application developed by our company for parents and children to learn together, with his child. Toyota Motor Corporation wanted parents and children to enjoy driving together, and we, who value "fostering and supporting children's 'enthusiasm'," discussed the application and came up with "Ponit Pocket Adventure" as a result.
Editor: What are some of the things you have done to keep children engaged?
Matsumoto: We developed the site with an awareness of familiar characters, worldview, and storyline development. Also, the most important thing is to reflect the users' voices. We believe we can make it even better by actually having children use the application and analyzing and digging deeper into the differences from the reactions we had in mind.
We are planning to conduct a beta test of the application for 1,000 participants from October 27 to November 2, 2023 (application period: October 23, 2023). We would like to hear the real voices of the participants and use them in the development of the application.
Click here to applyOh my god!!!
Editor: Thank you very much. Now, please tell us about the characters. You mentioned earlier that you focused on friendliness.
Matsumoto: The gender of the user is irrelevant, as Ponit Pocket Adventure stimulates children's curiosity and makes family road trips more fun. Therefore, Ponit also has a neutral, pudding-like appearance and coloring. The same goes for the other characters.
Each of them has a somewhat familiar personality, whether they are athletically gifted, a bit sarcastic (but good-natured at heart), or a gourmand hail-mary character.
Editor: Thank you very much. I think your child may see the familiar scenery a little differently because the characters who work with the main character are aliens. Finally, could you tell us about your future goals?
Matsumoto: Our first goal is to analyze the results obtained from this beta test. 16 days is a short test period, but we hope that many children will experience the joy of going out as a family and learning something through the game.
Editor: Thank you very much!
<Let's talk about...
I think the fun of car trips is the freedom to make little detours depending on your mood and to have fun in the car. I felt that the most different aspect of Ponit Pocket Adventure from other game apps is that it makes the most of this characteristic of car trips, and in addition to the fun of the game, it leads to new discoveries, insights, learning, and family conversations. If you are interested, please apply for the beta test!
Ponit Pocket Adventure Beta Test Application Site
Interviewing and writing:Misako Tateoka
From an IT company, she switched careers to the editing and publishing industry. Currently, I work as a freelance editor and writer, editing and writing in a wide range of fields such as travel, gourmet, and social.
What is important is "to convey valuable information to readers in an interesting and easy-to-understand manner.
He has been involved in the production of numerous magazines, including TRANSIT, FRaU, and Metro Minute.
BabyTech is always stimulated by all the services and products that I wish I had when I was a child! I am always inspired by the things I encounter at BabyTech. My hobbies are traveling, cooking, and aikido.
