On August 10th 2011, Canadian video game developer Hothead Games announced the Fall 2011 release of their interactive Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy application for iPhone, iPod and iPad.
According to the press release, "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy app is an authentic experience, allowing fans to feel like they’re holding the device that Douglas Adams described over thirty years ago."
The app will aim to emulate the content and feeling of the actual Guide itself, rather than serving as compendium for the 1978 radio show, 1981 TV series, or 2005 film. Users can expect to find entries for towels, Milliways, Vogons, Babel Fish, Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and How to Survive in Space.
Hothead’s holding page features a voiceover by Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent in the 1981 BBC TV series, indicating that the app’s encyclopedic entries might be narrated by his dulcet, smooth tones.
Since the application will only be available for iOS, Android users may have to turn to Douglas Adams’s original 1979 novel for directions on how to get to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
Interactive Galactic Apps
Hothead's 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' iPhone Application
Trend Themes
1. Interactive Galactic Apps - Opportunity for developing immersive and interactive mobile applications based on popular science fiction franchises.
2. Authentic User Experiences - Growing demand for applications that provide an authentic and immersive experience related to a specific brand or franchise.
3. Narrative-driven Content - Increasing interest in storytelling and narrative-driven content within mobile applications.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile App Development - Potential for developers to create new interactive and immersive applications based on popular franchises.
2. Media and Entertainment - Opportunity for media and entertainment companies to leverage popular franchises and create immersive mobile experiences.
3. Publishing - Potential for publishers to explore interactive storytelling and incorporate popular franchises into mobile applications.