Slingshot launches new scent-based game for Come Out and Play festival

SlingShot is partnering with BlueVia whose HashBlue SMS platform allows the players to register, text in their answers and stay in contact with the game’s coordinators.

“This generation - more than any other - plays games, from football in the street to console games, and they are doing this into adulthood,” said SlingShot managing director Simon Evans.

“Brands are wising up to this and are looking for new ways of giving consumers an opportunity to interact with their products. Our games do this in a way that’s playful and entertaining with the result that thousands of consumers are willing to engage.”

Hounded sees groups of ‘foxes’ chased by ‘dogs’, letting their noses guide them to the clues that will win them points and, ultimately, the game.

The game’s creators will be laying eight scent trails through New York City as part of the annual Come Out & Play festival. Players have to follow each particular scent trail (which range from the floral notes of ‘rose’ to the stomach-churning ‘swamp’), collecting clues as they go, without being caught by one of the ‘dogs’ – both humans in costume and real, live animals.

The game marks a milestone for SlingShot, which is now diversifying into mobile phone apps, a social media game and is due to launch their first corporate game next month.