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MGF 2012: XMG's Sharma on the potential for transmedia and kickstarting augmented reality gaming with Ghostbusters

#mgf2012 Who you gonna call?

MGF 2012: XMG's Sharma on the potential for transmedia and kickstarting augmented reality gaming with Ghostbusters
Concluding Mobile Games Forum 2012 was Ray Sharma, CEO of Canadian developer, XMG Studios.

Or as he calls it, 'Canada's largest independent mobile developer by staff'.

Entitled 'Future Gazing into Mobile Strategy - Transmedia', Sharma argued that when it comes to media, "Apps change everything. They will be the remote control for your media consumption".

Go, go, again

In terms of XMG's history, when it released its Inspector Gadget iOS game in late 2010, and you could buy the ringtone and unlock the 10 most popular TV episodes too.

"We did 1 million downloads in a week, and it's reinvigorated the TV brand with a new TV series in production," Sharma revealed.

The company has also worked with Spinmaster, a toy company, creating a $20 plastic gun for an iPhone with an augmented reality shooter game, plus a tie-in game with Canadian teen girl TV hit Degrassi

Made for mobile

And now it's released its most ambitious game yet on iOS, Totally Amp'd

It's the first ever made for mobile episodic TV show.

"People aren't surfing the web any more, they're surfing their apps," Sharma argued, about the app, which includes music and video mixing features, plus a fashion designer features, and the TV series, which is split into 5 minute chunks.

Who you gonna call?

XMG is also working with Sony Pictures on a Ghostbusters augmented reality game due later in 2012. 

"It will be the best augmented reality game ever," Sharma predicted.

He hopes to hook into the Ghostbusters film that's due in spring 2013, with integration with the trailer and more planned.

"Augmented reality is a zero billion dollar industry at the moment. I hope Ghostbusters will change that," Sharma said.
Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.