Alienology Goes Mobile

The Ology family of illustrated children's books welcomes the newest member to the fold, direct from outer space: Alienology. The latest title in Templar Publishing's wildly popular Ology series, which has sold 17 million books worldwide, is also adding a new digital dimension.  Not only is there an elaborate interactive pay website, there is a mobile phone component including ringtones and downloadable trading cards with slimy, glowing, tentacled creatures that move.

"With Alienology, the whole digital component is huge," says Nghiem Ta, manager for the Alienology project at Templar. "We are trying to keep up with playground habits, and these days most 10 year olds have their own mobile phone. And the aliens look so good, they really lend themselves to the mobile trading card concept."

Creating a worldwide mobile concept is no easy task, however, Ta says."There are so many different technologies and service providers with different rules, it was impossible to cover them all." So the mobile aspect of the initial release of Alienology is currently limited to the U.K., with plans to eventually roll it out in other countries. However, other countries can still access the online  Alienology "Training Manual" - packed with hours of games and activities.

In the U.K., kids can get the full Alienology mobile and web experience for 9.99 GBP - they get access first via text messages to their mobiles, which deliver the ringtones and trading cards. Then, they go online to experience the Alienology "Training Manual'"which is the entry point to the web component. "The whole concept is called the 'iif Experience,' which stands for 'interactive, informative, fun!" says Ta.

"For the website, we also looked at other platforms like the iPad, but it turned out that for all the bells and whistles we wanted, a regular personal computer was the best choice," Ta says. "At the Alieonology site, users can start out by personalizing the experience with an uploaded photo of themselves, with the payoff that a press flash appears with them in it." Then they can explore the space station, play games and watch short movies, among other activities.

Because Alienology is geared toward children, there were many safety considerations that had to be taken into account. For example, though users can interact with the site, they don't interact with one another in the usual ways, Ta says. The mobile trading cards are another story, however. "We made a very conscious decision to do it this way," she says.

A total of 125,000 books were printed initially, and the book is being marketed with a public relations campaign in the U.K. as well as with a co-publishing agreement with National Geographic Kids, among other things. As for the new digital component, Templar is testing the waters with how to turn a picture book into an interactive digital experience. "With Alienology, we're open to trying new things, testing as we go. It's a very let's-see-what-happens kind of project. And very exciting," Ta says.

You can see the website for yourself here.