Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store
Booyah releases Booyah Society, an app/game that tracks "life achievements"
Booyah is a company I've had my eye on for a while -- they're a couple of veterans from Blizzard Entertainment (makers of the popular Diablo and World of Warcraft games, two of my favorites) who have been teasing a big-time iPhone app. Just today, they've finally showed their cards, and have released Booyah Society, a 3D, interactive, social network-connected "achievement system for life." If that sounds like an idea that's pretty floaty, you probably heard it right.
Basically it's a game system that more or less overlays on what you're already posting to Facebook and Twitter. If you do anything from conquering a new videogame to doing a new exercise to visiting a new restaurant, you can earn achievements and points for an ingame avatar and scoreboard. In essence, they're aiming to take the things we already tell each other we're doing, and put this game/scoring system on top of that. There are plans to use the iPhone's hardware to do some self-reporting (GPS to track where you've been), but for now, everything's basically on the honor system.
Will it work? Who knows. The app is available for free right now, and they're planning to include microtransactions in the future to let you buy things to dress up your avatar with, as well as looking at partnerships with other businesses (i.e., you can get a certain achievement by going to Wendy's and ordering some fries). Very interesting -- as with most social app ideas, this one seems like it'll make or break it based on who chooses to play it faithfully. They've got quite a pedigree with the Blizzard background, and built-in audiences with Facebook and Twitter integration, but whether or not people will find themselves invested in tracking these achievements and scoring points for their avatars, only time will tell.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Evan said 5:10PM on 7-27-2009
Rewarding the worst Twitter habit: self-absorbed tweeting about daily minutiae. Count me out.
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BooyahGuy said 7:04PM on 7-27-2009
Hi Evan,
Booyah Society actually works to reduce spam because it allows you to post to the Booyah Community and get rewarded for it without having to post to Twitter and Facebook. We would love your feedback on posting for our next release. Please email any suggestions to feedback@booyah.com. I hope you have a wonderful day.
-Lexy
Noddy said 4:59PM on 7-27-2009
I think this gimmick is awful. Reducing your daily life to a pathetic quest for e-penis points.
I hope it tanks and the devs go back to the drawing board and come up with something that actually enhances life/social interaction rather than simplifying it to a series of point scoring opportunities.
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Dave said 5:20PM on 7-27-2009
It may be a little gimmicky, but it's one of the slickest iPhone apps I've seen.
BooyahGuy said 7:06PM on 7-27-2009
Hi Noddy,
My name is Lexy and I am the Community Manager at Booyah. At Booyah, we created an application that awards people for what they do in real life. Booyah Society recognizes people for the daily achievements that they accomplish everyday, that currently go unrewarded and simply get checked off a list. This is the first step in creating multiple templates for achievements. We would love to hear your feedback on achievements. Please email any comments and/or suggestions to feedback@booyah.com. I hope that you have a great day.
-Lexy
InfoMofo said 5:29PM on 7-27-2009
Ugh, dishes spam in my facebook feed is exactly what I don't want.
Thank god this app looks tedious so none of my friends will use it anyway.
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BooyahGuy said 7:18PM on 7-27-2009
Hi InfoMofo,
The Design Team for Booyah Society was very conscious about not sending too many notices to Facebook and Twitter. In fact, Booyah Society helps to reduce your spam by allowing you to post to the Booyah Community and still get rewarded, without having to post to Facebook and Twitter. You can also do private posts as well. We would love to hear your feedback on posting and Booyah Society for our next release. Please email any thoughts, suggestions, comments to feedback@booyah.com.
Thank you. I hope you have a great day.
Jimbo said 5:34PM on 7-27-2009
Well maybe the WOW players will finally get off their butts to level up their real lives. Hopefully they remember to take a shower before doing so.
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John B. said 5:53PM on 7-27-2009
Did that guy's hand gestures annoy anyone else?
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Jimbo said 6:09PM on 7-27-2009
Haha yea that and the music, and why does he have his phone in his hand, is it that hard to put down?
John B. said 6:12PM on 7-27-2009
He needs his phone nearby to get his due achievements:
"Just finished awkward promo video. BOOYAH!"
BooyahGuy said 7:12PM on 7-27-2009
Hi John and Jimbo,
I am really bummed that you didn't like my video. Dave and I tried super hard to make it cool and we thought that it was totally Booyah! But I am glad that we could at least make you laugh. For better or for worse.
I hope you both having a great day. We would love to hear your feedback on Booyah Society. Please email any suggestions to feedback@booyah.com
Jimbo said 12:08PM on 7-28-2009
Hey BooyahGuy you know us online folk are a rough bunch. I think you got the info out about the product, and I think the spot worked. You created something that was kinda funny but got the message out about your new service. I mean come on... two thumbs up for putting yourself out there in the ether for everyone to comment on.
domino said 6:23PM on 7-27-2009
Pretty blatant ripoff of the achievement icons from Team Fortress 2...
http://steamgames.com/tf2/pyro/
Couldn't they at least change the color palette?
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Hailfire753 said 8:27PM on 7-27-2009
Anyone else think BooyaGuy is hurting his own cause?
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Justin D said 9:40PM on 7-27-2009
If every single time you use the app to post an activity, it appends "BOOYAH!" to the end, that's… kinda spammy. Hashtags or just links (ala foursquare) would have been much better, methinks.
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BooyahGuy said 10:29PM on 7-27-2009
Hi Justin,
Thank you very much for your feedback. To clarify, the "Booyah" actually only shows up on your post after you hit the Booyah Button, which is completely optional. Not all post have the "Booyah" after your tag. If you have any other comments, questions, or feedback about the app please send an email to feedback@booyah.com. We would love to hear from you. I hope you have a great night!
-Lexy
Jerk said 10:28PM on 7-27-2009
They totally stole the achievement icons from TF2.
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Giant said 11:04PM on 7-27-2009
Looks like an interesting app..curious to see if it takes off or fades off
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Dave said 10:57PM on 7-27-2009
I don't get all the negative comments. It's a great little app. I prefer the 3D user interface to the Twitter and Facebook apps. If one is gonna tweet or update FB, why not do it through BooYah? The achievements are nice little nuggets.
I suggest you take an objective look at the app. If there are things you dislike, provide some constructive feedback.
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