Navigation structure: We wanted the game to have the nostalgic feel of a traditional kiwi road trip, so we took design cues from classic New Zealand signage and created an intuitive UI system that uses postcards as its central theme. For example, did you know that Aotearoa New Zealand’s extinct moa were the only known birds that did not have wings? We had no idea! We uncovered interesting, surprising and informative facts to ensure that everyone learns something. We also wanted iSpy to be educational, so we included fun facts about each of Aotearoa New Zealand’s environments. We wanted to ensure we presented a vision of Aotearoa New Zealand that was diverse and well-rounded.

Usually, this R&D is all about exploring the tech however, with i-Spy, we also undertook careful cultural and geographical research. New lessons: When beginning any new project, we typically devote a period of time to technological exploration and discovery. The experience features six different environments teeming with thousands of characters, objects, plants and animals. It was made for TVNZ's children's destination HeiHei and funded by New Zealand on Air.ĭesign core: At its heart, i-Spy is a fun exploration game inspired by the wimmelbilderbuch genre (a German word that means “teeming picture book.”) We worked with renowned Wellington artist T Wei, whose unique signature style is full of personality and humor.

Through explorative play, kids will develop their curiosity and knowledge as they discover different regions and communities in Aotearoa. It is aimed primarily at children aged five to nine, but we designed it to have wide crossover appeal. Responses by Wade Cowin, creative director Justus Smith, copywriter and Mike Wojo, lead developer, Resn.īackground: iSpy is a hidden picture game that connects kids to the diverse landscapes, cultures and lifestyles of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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