Yvio
| Yvio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Public Solution | |
| Type | stationary game console | |
| publication |
|
|
| Storage media | SD memory card | |
| info | Hybrid game console for board games | |
Yvio is a stationary game console developed in 2008 by the company Public Solution for the control of game plan-based board games. The Yvio console explains the rules of the various games and acts as an opponent or teammate in thinking and business games. To do this, it recognizes the moves of the pieces and playing cards, counts the points of the players and manages the resources in the game. Nine games and two audio books were released before the manufacturer ceased operations in 2010 due to bankruptcy. Individual Yvio products will continue to be marketed.
idea
The basic idea of Yvio is to create a technical accessory that makes access to board games easier and more attractive. A special feature that should be emphasized is that the Yvio console is not permanently connected to a board game, but can be plugged onto different game boards. The software for the respective game is imported via an SD memory card, the function keys of the Yvio are defined by an applied "game skin".
Several LEDs provide for the display of active buttons and the representation of texts and symbols on a screen. Built-in loudspeakers reproduce the varied voice output, different sound effects and music sequences. The Yvio is powered by batteries, a connection via USB cable to a PC or a USB power supply unit. At the beginning of the games, the Yvio explains the rules of the game and tracks the players' moves using patented transponder technology in up to eight pieces and using RFID chips used in playing cards . During the course of the game, information can always be obtained via various help buttons. In addition, the Yvio acts as an impartial referee and monitors the players' moves. Depending on the game used, scores can be saved and accessed and different game modes can be selected.
Games and audio books
A total of nine board games and two interactive radio plays were published. "Buccaneers of the Caribbean" counts as the best game of the series, which achieved second place in the "TOMMI" children's software award (console award). The game Galileo - Thinking Fitness received the "Golden Rocking Horse" as a further prize . The "Partytime" game collection uses a card game whose cards are automatically recognized when they are placed on the board. The interactive audio books "Mila and the Magic Stone" and "Tjaskes Abenteuer" were offered for free download on the Yvio website, in which the listener can actively intervene in the course of the story via the Yvio console. For the audio books, only the Yvio and the game skin without a game board are required. As the website is currently offline, there are no more official downloads available.
insolvency
In October 2009 the former Sony Germany boss Manfred Gerdes took over the management of PublicSolution GmbH as managing director and spokesman for the management. He resigned from office shortly before bankruptcy . The Yvio inventor Robert Wilm announced the development and publication of further titles at the beginning of 2010, but the preliminary insolvency administration was ordered for Public Solution GmbH on March 15th by the Dresden District Court . As a result, dealers began selling the remaining Yvio items at significantly lower prices. Public Solution's business operations have effectively ceased since then. The former official website for Yvio support has been offline since May 14, 2010.
The unsuccessful market positioning of Yvio products and the resulting insufficient order volume are seen as the reason for the bankruptcy. Meanwhile, blogs are heavily speculating about the reasons for failure. Too few and too simple games, excessive demands on the console with more complex features, too high a price, errors in management or deficiencies in marketing are mentioned.
Web links
- Official website of the manufacturer ( Memento of February 25, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- Report on Spielkult.de Game Thinx in operation
Individual evidence
- ↑ Yvio manufacturer in bankruptcy. (No longer available online.) The toy, May 2010, archived from the original on August 25, 2010 ; accessed on August 30, 2010 (German). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b NZZ Online: Is the Yvio console already history? NZZ Online, April 10, 2010, accessed on August 30, 2010 (German).
- ↑ Manfred Gerdes becomes the new managing director at PublicSolution GmbH. Presse Anzeiger, October 2, 2009, accessed on August 30, 2010 (German).
- ↑ y.news Online: yvio.com and forum offline. (No longer available online.) Y.news, May 16, 2010, archived from the original on December 13, 2015 ; accessed on August 30, 2010 (German). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
