How do you persuade people to watch your TV shows when their phones serve as a constant distraction? By rewarding them through their phones for watching. Cartoon Network is launching an app, Cartoon Network Arcade that will reward you for watching the networks cartoons on TV.
Open the app while watching a TV show and the sound technology will recognize the show and give credit to the player for engaging with Cartoon Network’s various brands. Expect the rewards to be all in-game on the app’s 15 mobile games. The games are hypercasual titles that will give the users the reward of a new character if they watch a TV show. There are a total of 60 collectable figurines up for grabs while you tune in.
https://youtu.be/E7JLT6rZ8Y0
The figures are static right now, but the network’s Chris Waldron told Variety that they’ll offer more interaction in the future. You can also expect episode-specific figurines that entice you to watch, say, a season finale or a special.
Cartoon Network Arcade reaches Android and iOS on March 11th 2019. The digital figurine concept is clearly more likely to appeal to kids, but this does suggest how networks might develop companion apps going forward — they could focus less on supplementing shows and more on goading you to watch in the first place. Such as encouraging fans to participate in immersive activities based around different shows. For example, quests tied to on-air events and even vote Bandersnatch style for what happens next.
The app promises to be the best means for fans to discover and connect to all things Cartoon Network. All current shows and some recent shows in the library will be available.
Right now 15 original games are being offered:
- The Amazing World of Gumball – Gumball’s Block Party Climb as high as you can to stay ahead of the collapsing blocks. Collect and play 5 Gumball characters.
- Apple and Onion – Bottle Catch Toss bottles back and forth between Apple and Onion to build up speed, then launch them into the air to collect coins.
- Adventure Time – Rainicorn’s Flying Colors Match rows of cards to clear the board. Unlock 32 unique Adventure Time characters.
- Ben 10 – Brains vs Bugs Run, jump and climb as Grey Matter races after the Bugg Brothers.
- Ben 10 – Xingo Mayhem Xingo is on the loose! Play as Humungousaur, Rath or Slapback to juggle the cartoon villain’s barrage of falling objects.
- Craig of the Creek – Bounceback Help Craig overcome the challenge of the Sewer Kids in this bouncy block breaker.
- Craig of the Creek – Camp Cardboard Tap to accumulate resources and help Craig build the best cardboard fort ever.
- OK K.O.! Let’s Play Heroes – Go Go K.O.! Run and dodge with K.O. through an endless stream of Jethros, then turn into T.K.O. to bust up some robots.
- The Powerpuff Girls – Rainbow Wreckers Help the Powerpuff Girls blast through Allegro’s rainbows in this quick reflex colour-matching game.
- Steven Universe – Shattered Dreams Jump and slide your way through Steven’s worst nightmares in this fast-paced endless runner.
- Summer Camp Island – Contagious Cuteness Start a magical chain reaction. How long can you keep the cuteness going?
- Teen Titans Go! – Smashy Piñata It’s Beast Boy’s birthday! Keep hitting the pinata in the air to see how much candy you can get.
- Teen Titans Go! – Teen Titans GOAL! Tap to kick the ball, score goals and defeat the soccer trolls. Rack up coins to unlock all 5 Titans!
- Unikitty! – Royal Highness Time your jumps just right to stack jellybeans all the way into space. Collect and play all of Unikitty’s friends.
- We Bare Bears – Stack Tracks Keep the bear stack on the right track by rotating tiles in the path and using power-ups from their friends.
