Just a few more days to go! Playmind is super excited to be part of IAAPA Orlando 2022 – the global attractions industry’s premier event!

We will be showcasing our game-changing, immersive and interactive arcade platform, the Playbox – already popular among top location-based entertainment leaders, such as FECs and Amusement Parks.

Come meet us at Booth 1818 to experience unique and super fun PLAYBOX games from our curated library.

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The Playbox is available in different formats to attend to more segments of the market. Whether mobile, indoor or outdoor the Playbox takes to where the action is. 

Players on the Playbox have fun with physical interaction by throwing projectiles at moving targets on specially designed games displayed on large LED screens. This interactive attraction, will bring a touch of novelty, fun, engagement and replay to amusement centers.

Formats of the Playbox

Indoor

Designed for FECs and indoor venues.

Mobile

Designed for mobility, indoor or outdoor for events, party equipment rental, festivals and carnivals.

Outdoor

Oversized version, designed for amusement parks and outdoor venues. The original Playbox with the largest LED screen available in a container.

Multiple games, maximum fun

The Playbox comes with a variety of games available through our cloud based operating system. PLAYMIND commits to deliver new games every year to renew players’ interest and so the Playbox never gets old!

There are 12 games in the Playbox catalogue and three others are on the way.

Play physical

At PLAYMIND, we believe that an out-of-home experience should not only be fun but physical as well (without being exhausting)!

We design our games to keep players of all ages mentally and physically engaged.

Bring competition with the leaderboard

The Playbox leaderboard displays the top ten highest scoring teams, It can be used for local tournaments and it can encourage replay. The Leaderboard and the Playbox operating system allow for tournaments with various locations.

The Playbox can take competition to the next level.

Management and operational tool

The Cloud Based POP is the brain of the system. This is the heart of the interaction between the game content and the Playbox unit. It is also in constant communication with our Tech support to ensure proper operations and prevent downtime.

The Playbox Online Platform (or POP) is an ecosystem that brings together different components such as :

• Management portal : manage one or multiple units through the dashboard with analytics, your library, your unit section, the support section and the store. 
• Supplier portal : for PLAYMIND to add games and software updates
• Tablet app:  manage the operations that take place directly on the physical Playbox. It is the tool that the operator uses to launch the games.

Licensing models: pick and choose

Playmind has two different licensing models that fit any operator’s needs. First model is a prepaid game license that enables operators to choose the games they want and operate and the second model is having all games available and only paying for the number of games played.

Any licensing model is reasonably priced so it is not a burden on operators. Licensing fees are reinvested to produce new games so the Playbox is always generating revenues.

Having installed the Playbox in several locations and seen the dazzling engagement of players, I am convinced that the Playbox is an important product for entertainment centers that wish to offer an engaging and appealing experience and increase their revenues.

Emmanuel Sévigny

CEO, PLAYMIND

If you would like more information about the Playbox, please do not hesitate to contact our sales department or give us a call at  +1.514.845.6555 EXT 712

About us

PLAYMIND is an award-winning entertainment studio in Montreal with its finger on the pulse of an ever-changing digital landscape.

Over the last 17 years, the studio delivered turnkey projects from conception to operation to connect people and spread fun all around the world.

We are recognized for our expertise in video game production, interactive public art, digital scenography and creation of immersive and interactive installations.

Our mission is to develop and deploy innovative entertainment solutions.

The post The Playbox, a new generation of carnival games appeared first on PLAYMIND.

What differentiate the Playbox from others?

The following highlights unique qualities of the Playbox. We pride ourselves in providing not only original but high quality, long lasting attractions.

• Better customer experience
• Low maintenance
• Efficient management and operations
• Impactful and stands out in locations
• Better games, faster processing, stronger structure
• Unique with the ability to choose from a big variety of games.

The following outlines the features that we pride ourselves with.

Leaderboard

The Playbox leaderboard displays the top ten highest scoring teams. 

The leaderboard is an additional LED screen with à size of 3.28ft X 4.921ft (1m X 1,5m).

It can be used for local tournaments or tournaments between multiple locations. 

The Playbox can take competition to the next level.

Management tool

The Cloud Based Playbox Online Platform (POP) is the brain of the system. Created and managed by Playmind.

It facilitates interaction between the game content and the Playbox unit.

On a more administrative side, it provides statistics and managerial information and is in constant communication with our technical support.

Knowledge is power. Learn more about the management portal in this article.

Operational tool

2 Samsung tablets are supplied. One is used to manage the operations that take place directly on the physical Playbox.

It is the tool that the operator or visitors use to launch games and the other tablet is used as a backup.

Every Playbox is run by a computer system for which a backup computer is also supplied for continuous operations in case there is a failure.

High-quality games

The Playbox comes with a variety of 12 games that cater to different age groups and tastes designed up to 6 players. List of all our games available here.

PLAYMIND commits to deliver new games every year to renew players’ interest and so the Playbox never gets old! 

We are primarily a video game creation studio existing since 2004.

This allows us to offer quality games and a constant renewal of our content for the Playbox.

LED screen

The Playbox is equipped with high-quality LED screen instead of projection. It is a great eye catcher in an FEC environment with a size of 13.12ft X 4.92ft (4m X 1,5m) !

This high brightness LED screen allows for better rendering and broadcast quality.

Another advantage of LED screens is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors. It is waterproof and heat resistant.

The Playbox is redemption and card system ready. Available in three different sizes to suit your needs. It goes without saying, we offer 24/7 support so that we are always available for our customers.

For more information please don’t hesitate to contact our sales department or visit our website.

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“POP” is an abbreviation for the Playbox Online Platform (we use it a lot!). 

It is a cloud based attraction management ecosystem that brings together different components such as the management portal, the supplier portal, the tablet, and the service allowing us to link all the components together. 

The following information presents an overview of the management portal. If you wish to read more about other features, you can contact us to get subscribed to our newsletter so you do not miss the next article.

Management portal

In this section of the POP you will be able to analyze the data from games played on the Playbox, manage your Playbox units (if you have multiple units in different locations), download game licenses and more. 

The management portal is subdivided into six key sections.

The dashboard

The dashboard is your homepage and also your analytics section. It provides key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the number of rounds played, number of players, number of different games played and the most popular game title played. These KPIs are available for review daily, weekly, monthly, annually or a specific period of time.

The analysis can be done for one Playbox or all at the same time (if you have several Playbox units).  Analysis filters are available to give more in-depth views of particular games.  

Complete reports are downloadable with raw data to make your own observations if needed.

My library

My Library is a place where you can find all of the games installed on the Playbox.

The status tells you whether the game is ready to be started for the first time, active or inactive.

Based on the licensing model you choose, you will see your purchased games or games available for “pay per play”. If you have purchased licenses, the system will give you a renewal date option or auto renewal.

My units

The “My units” section is where you will find all your Playbox units with all the necessary information about the product and POP updates.

This section is more technical and is intended for the center’s technicians. Using a real-time diagnosis, this section will be able to indicate which component(s) is (are) in need of attention.

You will then have the option to contact your technician to investigate or contact our technical support by email, chat, phone or consult our FAQs section.

Store

The store is a place where you can find our new games and various other related products we offer.

Additionally on this page you will find the most popular and most played games of the month.

When viewing all available games, you will find information on the titles, game modes (solo, co-op or competitive), recommended number of players, game lengths and ratings.

Once a game is selected, information such as what category it belongs to, the game mode, a description, rules, keywords, as well as video and screenshots of the gameplay, will be available.

If you choose the pay per game licensing, all of our games will be already downloaded and available on your Playbox and easily found in “My library”. If you choose prepaid licensing, you will be able to download and buy the game for your Playbox in this section (licensing available 1, 3, 6 or 12 months). 

Also, you can save the games in your favorites, enabling you to access them later via your “My Library” section.

Account settings

This is your account page.

You can update your contact information and password, subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and to choose whether you would like to have the platform in light or dark mode.

You can also add users to the portal who will be able to interact with the platform, as well as set their level of access.

Support

Customers’ satisfaction is our top priority, which is why we strive to be there for you at all times.

Therefore, the support page seeks to meet all your needs: whether through the FAQ, manuals, a form or through chat allowing you to get in contact with our support staff according to your needs: technical issues, suggestions or information needs.

The management portal is offered both in light and dark colors, so you can choose the appearance that you prefer.

The management portal is a powerful tool for any operator, allowing a better management of the Playbox through this complete platform. As far as operation is concerned, nothing could be easier than using the tablet which has been designed to be used by anyone, be it an operator or one of your customers.

Want to know more about the tablet’s features? Stay tuned, our next article is coming soon. If you would like more information on the POP don’t hesitate to contact us by email.

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Here is the content of an interview we conducted to learn more about her background, work and where she finds her inspiration!

First, tell us a little bit about your background.

I have always been fascinated by video games. It was clear from a very young age that I wanted to work in this industry. I was 14 when I decided that this would be my future career.

I was living at the time in a small town and was a rebel girl with bad grades in highschool. I was told I should become a hairdresser. But I did not give up and their words did not stop me as I am one stubborn girl. I went to college in Ottawa. It was everything I could dream of and more. I fell in love with everything I learned and spent countless hours, countless nights working on perfecting my art and learning about games and their mechanics. It never felt like work, just fun and challenges!

At age 19, I started working in architecture previsualisation as a 3D generalist in the Montreal area. I met with a lot of fantastic people that became friends. But I was looking for something more creative and more related to my first love: video games!

I worked at Gameloft as a 3D generalist. It was a lot of fun. As a passionate and well organised person, within a year, became a lead artist on multiple projects such as  Gang$tar games from L.A. to Vegas, Midnight pool and poker, Guitar rock tour and many more. 6 years later, as the company and projects grew, so did my responsibilities. I became less hands on, I was missing the creation part of my job. 

That’s when I decided to go try a smaller indie company called Minority Media. There I would wear many hats: Lead Artist, Tech artist, Modeler, Concept artist …etc. which fits my personality. The projects were super motivating. The company decided to take the big VR jump and I was THRILLED ! We made a lot of prototypes and games. Some were good, some not so much but that really built my expertise and fed my creative mind. That is also when I met with Emmanuel Sévigny, the CEO of PLAYMIND at a business trip in Texas for the SXSW event in 2017.

After 5 years, I decided it was time for me to jump to a new exciting challenge and went to FrameStore which is more of a movie company. They were opening a VR department and needed expertise and people motivated to bring this technology into the interactive world and bridge it with the traditional movie VFX making.

What brought you to PLAYMIND? Why did you choose this studio?

So since 2017 I have kept in touch with Emmanuel and he has been talking to me about all his projects and ideas. I was really interested in the company’s projects.

PLAYMIND is also always looking for new innovative ways to create entertaining and immersive experiences and games. Which was a perfect match to stimulate my creative mind and never get bored or sick of the projects since they always are too different.

So, I decided to drop everything and jump on the crazy PLAYMIND train!

What is your role in the company and what’s a typical day like for you?

At PLAYMIND we work in a scrum style agile workflow, which means our workflow process is based on a repetitive approach. Scrum emphasizes continual improvement for customer satisfaction. We therefore start the day with a daily meeting to make sure everyone has what they need to achieve their goal.

My afternoons are never the same! I split them between the different responsibilities I have. Some days I put on the producer hat and spend a good part of my day doing evaluations and follow up for the project, some days I spend writing or reviewing design documents trying to find new interesting ways to improve our project or create pitches for new  ones. Other days I will sit down with my wacom and draw concept art for new upcoming titles. All of those are always intercepted with reviews, questions and feedback in the team when needed and sometimes playtest to ensure quality of the projects.

Everyday comes with its surprises and challenges, I need to be on my toes to be able to react and adjust all the time which is what makes it so exciting and fun!

Of course, my priority is always the team!

You are in a very creative field, how do you find inspiration?

Can I be super cheesy for a second and just say you won’t find inspiration, it finds you? Haha oh man it’s true though! It comes in the small things, randomly and for me mostly at night.

I hold a pen and notebook next to my bed to write or draw some ideas in the middle of the night … and that happens more than I would like to admit!

What is a misconception about your job?

A Creative Director or Art director is not the one that has the answer to everything or is best at doing everything. My job is to spark creativity, start an idea and ensure it blooms. I also do my best to cultivate productivity in the team and motivate by engagement and participation in the creation process. I am the one that has the overview of projects and can make decisions based on what’s happening in the other sphere of the project and departments.

I surround myself with the best talent out there and make sure we head the same direction for the good of all. Being a smaller indie company all the ideas are welcome, it’s my job to make sure they all fit together but a director is nothing without a kickass team!

You also work in all aspects of production management. Can you explain to us how the process of creating a Playbox game works?

We really want to have a catalogue that brings choice and variety to the player so that everybody finds a game (or hopefully multiple games) that they really enjoy. Before we start any project we analyse our existing games, what is the market response to them, and will think of a concept that will bring something different and popular. When the main idea is put together, we bring in our game designers, they will take over the idea and add all the details, mechanics and flow. Once done with the Game Design Document, that’s where the fun begins.

The whole team is brought in for a kickoff meeting. A lot of ideas are usually brought in at this point. Then we start production, we have a 2 weeks sprint system so we establish the goals that are bite size tasks which we can attain in 2 weeks, after every sprint, we look at the game, we play, we talk and we iterate allowing us to adjust as we go.

It is a really organic way of developing a video game and it is super important to do since a mechanic or idea that sounded fun on paper might not turn out as cool in the end so we are able to see, catch and fix that before it is too far in the production. We also have a lot of fun during those playtests.

We’ve been talking about the Playbox project for a while now, what excites you the most about it? and what is the biggest challenge of the Playbox project for you?

I like it’s versatility, which is also the biggest challenge. I love that having one box can offer potentially an infinite amount of games.

I also really love the physical aspect of it. It brings families and friends together.

Finally, we talk about the Playbox, but it’s only a section/part of PLAYMIND, what other projects are you currently working on?

We are really busy currently working on 3 new Playbox titles, we are developing 3 new product concepts that I cannot wait to tell everyone about.

Also working on an AR experience for a museum along with some more traditional video game productions, finishing up a mobile game and a console/pc online game.

In total we have about 12 different projects cooking!

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