Macclesfield Express

Rollercoas­ter thrill from digital studio

- RHIANNON MCDOWALL

ADIGITAL studio has created a mobile game for one of the country’s biggest amusement parks.

Matmi, based at Dukes Court on Mill Street, has teamed up with Alton Towers Resort ahead of the launch of Galactica, its first rollercoas­ter fully dedicated to Virtual Reality.

The designers have created a mobile game that takes users through portals to discover three areas of the solar system; a new ice planet, the fires of a hot lava planet and the vastness of deep space.

Players swoop beneath space debris, dodge rocky landscapes and swerve around icy obstacles. It’s a competitio­n to see who can venture the furthest into the far reaches of space.

The game also taps into players’ competitiv­e side with the ability to sign in with Facebook. Once signed in, players will see location markers showing where their friends have reached, notifying them when friends fly past.

Complement­ing the ride’s on-board virtual reality, the app also boasts an augmented reality scanner, which gamers can use to reveal exciting content, both in the resort and off.

Gill Riley, marketing director at Alton Towers Resort said: “With the Galactica app we have given visitors the opportunit­y to experience the excitement of the new ride experience; before, during and after their visit to the resort.”

Fergus McCallum, CEO of communicat­ions specialist­s TBWA Manchester, said: “In the past the rollercoas­ter experience was limited to the park alone.

“With this app we have thrown open the virtual park gates, enabling thrill seekers to enjoy the excitement of the new ride, ahead of its official launch.”

The company has also been working with the team behind Media City Expo 2016, which showcases the wealth of talent in the creative, digital and media industries across the region.

The event, which takes place on Wednesday, May 18, is expecting 500 visitors to see the 50 stands exhibiting from across the area.

Jeff Coghlan said: “We are delighted to partner with Media City Expo and proud to be advocates for the abundance of talent in the digital, creative and media industries.

“Digital advances are constantly changing and reshaping the business world – so it is vital that organisati­ons are ready for the developmen­ts in order to continue to thrive in business.”

 ?? Peter Jefferson ?? ●● Matmi director Jeff Coghlan
Peter Jefferson ●● Matmi director Jeff Coghlan
 ??  ?? ●● David Rutley MP with (from left) John Blackwell, Brian Blackwell and Bill Blackwell – all directors at Opus Technical Ltd
●● David Rutley MP with (from left) John Blackwell, Brian Blackwell and Bill Blackwell – all directors at Opus Technical Ltd

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