FANTOM:FANTOM IS A new online trading game for kids developed by former information technology journalist, Paul Healy. It went live this month with an array of zombies, concept cars, puppies and kittens, second World War tanks and planes and cartoon characters aimed at tweens and teens.
“Kids have been collecting and trading paper cards for years but no company has made a successful transition to an online version. This is our chance to be disruptive,” Healy says.
The games are based around themed decks of digital playing cards. The aim is to build a full set to gain a reward. Players can complete collections by swopping or shopping for missing cards.
Players get a free virtual wallet to start them off and earn coins as they go by trading cards and completing tasks such as sharing their success via Facebook and Twitter.
The companys mission is “to drive kids crazy – in a good way”, Healy says and when a collector gets driven to distraction they can spend €2 (or its equivalent in a local currency) to top up their wallet with FantomCoins to buy random decks of cards to boost their chances of picking up what they’re missing.
Under-13s must have parents buy the cards for them or subscribe. Teens can use credit from their mobile phones. Paid for monthly premium membership gives kids a chance to earn actual rewards such as zombie skate boards and console games.
“Online products aimed at children are tightly controlled and there is a strong compliance element involved which is as it should be,” Healy says. “We are absolutely committed to creating a safe and fun environment and have a zero tolerance policy on anyone breaking our rules.”
Fantom was set up in 2009 to develop social media applications in niche markets. Healy expects to be employing 14 people by the end of 2012. Apart from running the game on its own behalf, the company is also licensing the platform to third parties. On its development path are a mobile version, and iPhone and iPad apps. “The future for Fantom is mobile,” says Healy.
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