Sifteo,
Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of its
next-generation Sifteo Cubes interactive game system and A-list game
partnerships. Sifteo Cubes are motion-aware 1.7-inch blocks with
full-color touch-sensitive TFT LCDs. The cubes communicate wirelessly
and respond to each others proximity and players' gestures during
gameplay. The tactile nature of Sifteo Cubes combined with puzzle packed
games deliver on Sifteo’s promise of Intelligent Play – a gaming
experience that will get minds and hands moving. The next-generation
Sifteo Cubes are completely portable and feature enhanced technology and
deeper gameplay. They are available for pre-order today, and will begin
shipping in November.
Sifteo Cubes: Now Portable and Enhanced
Play on the go! The new, ultra-compact Sifteo Base eliminates the need
for a computer during gameplay and makes Sifteo Cubes truly portable.
The Sifteo Base stores players' games, plays game audio with a built-in
speaker, and wirelessly communicates with Sifteo Cubes.
“We’re extremely proud of the original Sifteo Cubes product, and the
next-generation Sifteo Cubes are the next step in Sifteo’s mission to
make classic play interactive,” said Dave Merrill, President and
co-founder, Sifteo. “Creating a completely portable system has been a
top priority since we started Sifteo, and today we’re incredibly excited
to be achieving that goal and more.”
Sifteo Cubes will ship with four game titles pre-installed and ready to
play out of the box. Players can purchase additional games using Sifteo
Sync, the Sifteo desktop software. Purchased games sync automatically
when the Sifteo Base is plugged into the computer, then the base and
cubes can be tossed into the included soft carrying case for play on the
go. The Sifteo Base and Cubes run on AAA batteries.
The new Sifteo Cubes interactive game system also expands the number of
cubes that can be in play up to 12 (original Sifteo Cubes support six).
Adding additional cubes unlocks new levels, puzzles, and special
characters, and allows the whole family to come together for hands-on
play. Each player can maneuver a cube or two (or three, or more!), as
they collaborate or compete to solve puzzles and explore worlds.
Sifteo Signs A-List Partners
Sifteo is thrilled to announce new partnerships with Nickelodeon, the
number-one entertainment brand for kids, and game designer Richard
Garfield, creator of the popular card game Magic: The Gathering.
Sifteo and Nickelodeon are developing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
Ninja Slide for release this November. The new game is part of a
four-game contract with Nickelodeon to develop titles exclusively for
Sifteo Cubes starring some of Nickelodeon’s most popular characters.
“We’re very excited to work with Sifteo to produce this brand-new Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles game where players can navigate their favorite
Turtle on interactive missions,” said Manuel Torres, senior vice
president, global toys and consumer electronics at Nickelodeon. “Through
Sifteo’s innovative platform, we’re able to create a state of the art
gaming experience for fans looking to reconnect with this celebrated
franchise.”
“We think it’s really fitting to be part of the team reinventing a
classic franchise like the Turtles,” said Jeevan Kalanithi, CEO and
co-founder, Sifteo. “We are creating the conditions where the classic
characters and play patterns from our childhoods can meet the technology
of today.”
Sifteo’s partnership to create Ninja Slide is part of
Nickelodeon’s larger push to update the franchise since its $60 million
acquisition in 2009. Nickelodeon is currently developing a new
CGI-animated Turtles television series and will partner with Viacom
company Paramount Pictures and director Michael Bay to bring a live
action Turtles movie to theaters later next year.
Sifteo also has partnered with world-renowned game designer Richard
Garfield to create a game set for release in early 2013.
“Sifteo Cubes is an innovative game system that truly combines the best
of classic, tabletop gameplay with 21st century videogame
technology, making it the ultimate platform for the type of games I’d
like to create,” said Garfield, 49. “I’m excited to partner with Sifteo
and am enjoying creating a game that I think will be as fun and engaging
as Magic: The Gathering has been for many.”
Sifteo SDK Invites Game Developers
Sifteo is also announcing a new software development kit (SDK) available
October 1st, giving all developers the opportunity to create interactive
games and applications for their Sifteo Cubes. Studios, individual game
designers, hobbyist developers and tinkerers of all types will enjoy
Sifteo’s unique platform, clean application programming interface (API),
cycle-accurate simulator and world-class build toolchain to bring their
ideas to life. Sifteo is encouraging developers to visit
sifteo.com/developers to get more information and find out how to apply
to publish their Sifteo games.
Pricing and Availability
The Sifteo Cubes interactive game system includes three cubes, the
Sifteo Base with speaker and USB port pre-loaded with four brand new
titles that work right out of the box, a free download of a fifth game -
Sandwich Kingdom, a micro USB cable, five AAA batteries, and a soft
carrying case. Sifteo Cubes interactive game system, priced at $129.95,
and Add-on Sifteo Cubes, priced at $29.95 each, are available for
pre-order at Sifteo’s website (www.sifteo.com),
Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com, and will begin shipping to customers in
November 2012. Also starting in November, next-generation Sifteo Cubes
will be available in popular retail locations including Barnes & Noble,
Toys “R” Us flagship locations, Marbles: The Brain Stores, and FAO
Schwartz in New York City.
Sifteo Cubes: History of Innovation
The original Sifteo Cubes began as a project at the MIT Media Lab and
were first introduced by Sifteo President Dave Merrill in a 2009
TED Talk that sparked the world’s interest. The original Sifteo
Cubes were released commercially in September 2011, and have since
received numerous awards and distinctions including: Best
in Show in the IxDA 2012 Interaction Awards; one of Fast Company’s Top
10 Consumer Electronics Companies of 2012; Best Gadget/Product in
the San
Francisco Business Times 2012 Tech Innovation Awards; a silver medal
in the 2011
International Design Excellence Awards; one of Business Insider’s Best
New Gadgets of 2011; a finalist in the Best New Gadget category in
the 2011
Mashable Awards; winner of a CES Innovations Award in 2011 in the
Gaming Hardware and Accessories category; and a Best
of What’s New - 2011 award from Popular Science. The popularity of
the original Sifteo Cubes allowed the Sifteo team to pursue and fulfill
their ultimate goal of offering a truly portable, interactive game
system at an affordable price.
About Sifteo
Sifteo makes classic play interactive. Sifteo is inspired by blocks,
building bricks, domino tiles — collections of inch-scale objects that,
if enchanted with the magic of interactivity, can sense each other and
react to your moves. Sifteo believes there is a huge opportunity for
video games to take the form of classic, tactile play objects. Founders
David Merrill and Jeevan Kalanithi grew up with video games, blocks,
puzzles, and board games, and they love them all. Sifteo is located in
San Francisco, CA.
About Sifteo Cubes
Sifteo Cubes are an award-winning interactive game system. Sifteo Cubes
communicate wirelessly and react to your moves. Neighbor Sifteo
Cubes side-by-side or top-to-bottom and watch them interact with each
other for totally unique gameplay. Shake, tilt, flip and press cubes for
endless combinations. Cubes operate as a single game interface, and can
be played single player or together, depending on the game. Expand the
play possibilities by downloading more games (using Sifteo Sync - the
Sifteo desktop software) and by adding additional cubes.
For more information, visit Sifteo at https://www.sifteo.com/.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one
entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by
putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes
television programming and production in the United States and around
the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature
films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100
million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network
for 17 consecutive years. For more information visit: http://www.nickpress.com.
Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks
of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).
About Richard Garfield
Richard Channing Garfield, Jr. is a mathematics professor and a game
designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner,
BattleTech, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle (originally known as Jyhad),
The Great Dalmuti, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and the board game
RoboRally. Magic: The Gathering is his most successful game and its
development is credited with creating the collectible card game genre.
