Wizards Unite

VO: Get ready for your semi-regular dose of random ideas from the guys at Codelation. We like to talk about big ideas companies that are winning, and those that aren't along with current events in our crazy world of software startups. So come along with Erick and Josh, who challenge you to think big, start small and turn your ideas into something on this episode of, from idea to done.

: Hey everyone, I'm Josh

Erick: And I'm Erick and today's idea is the release of wizards unite. And I think it's important in our world of app development to take a little, a little bit of time to talk about some of the newer apps that have been developed. And so wizards unite comes out today and it's developed by neon, Dick Niantic. Anyway, they're the same crew that made Pokemon go, um, a couple of years ago. And it's pretty similar game, but it's set up in the Harry Potter universe and we're going to chat about it today. Josh, do you know anything about this game or even the developer?

: Um, well I heard from a mutual friend that they could, and I'm going to quote him from Facebook, say, take all my money. Uh, other than that, no, I'm an adult. I don't know anything about this.

Erick: True. I'm on a fun, fun story. After work today, I'm going to wander through the streets of Fargo playing this game with that actual friend of ours until Monday. So I say we just kind of dive right into this. I'm going to, I'm going to open up this app and see what it's doing. And so here we go with a little bit of work. I pre-registered my character last night. I'm not gonna lie. And as a developer, what do you see when I open this?

: Alright. Well, it looks like we have some sort of, uh, you know, the 3d field and I can, uh, it looks like it's using an accelerometer. Uh, yes, that's a real thing. Uh, basically what that means is that it allows you to detect when the phone moves. Um, it's also using, uh, some GPS functionality as it has. It's positioned here, uh, at the office. Um, I can zoom in, rotate it around. Uh, it looks like I'm some sort of a red fedora wearing Knight goblin.

Erick: Yeah. Well, well, yeah, that's obviously right. And I mean, duh, on the accelerometer part and the little Knight goblin, actually, that's, that's a Gryffindor avatar that I made up and his name is Roderick J Heron and that's actually, it's an anagram of my name, Erick, John Roder, and all the super nerdy Harry Potter friends, should appreciate the anagram

Speaker 3: Dumbledork

Erick: Okay. Raise your hand if you know what an accelerometer is. Yeah, muggle dork.

: Okay. That's that's fair. Hashtag sad panda.

Erick: Okay. So let's get back to this new, amazing game. Um, we're at the office at the end ESU tech park right now. And it's actually a hotel in the game in there, some different GPS pins in our area and there's places that we actually have to walk to.

Josh: Okay. Oh, sorry. I guess what I didn't realize is on the, the playing field here is there's markings on the ground. Those are actually the buildings and roads. Um, so it looks like there is a shining diamond deal thing over here in the parking lot. I have to walk over and pick that up, right?

Erick: Yes. And it's kind of similar to Pokemon go in that fashion. And it Nintendo actually tricked me into walking around my neighborhood a hundred miles that summer.

Josh: Okay. I, yeah. Okay. That's kind of neat. So when I click on this thing, um, okay. Now battling Some something.

Erick: It's obviously a pixie.

Josh: Oh, well obviously.

Erick: Okay. So after, after we find this pixie, we have to go into the random touch screen to capture it, and then we'll return that thing into the pretend game museum of things that we caught, obviously. Yeah. Obviously, which I think we're going to do. And I'm going to walk around the neighborhood about 20 times this weekend, collecting pretend things. And so well-played Niantic, I don't know your name and I will never know your name until, until we get to do that. So my question for you, Josh actually, is this something that in our world we could develop? Well,

Josh: I'd say anything is possible, but I'd probably leave this one to the dev shops that have a big budget. And, um, all of the, you know, the market of the awaiting nerds ready to play it at the end of the day, uh, building this, it would be a difficult ask. Uh, there's a lot going on here. Uh, but what I'd really see difficult is, you know, marketing this without having that audience.

Erick: So you're looking for an audience. Um, okay. Did you hear about that Disney? Why don't we just like start developing Wookie go right now? I'm

Josh: Not sure if that's a real thing or not, but what the heck I'm in

Erick: I made it up right now. I'm really excited about Wilkie go. I think what a great idea. And if only I knew of a company that developed big ideas into apps. Yes. So, yeah. So thanks for listening everybody. When Wookie go blows up, um, I'm going to be pretty excited and if you know a startup that could use some advice and have them to subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes.