The program-linked game app "Tokyo Advanced Game" became a real-world event.

On August 12th, an "Answer Check Event" for the mystery-solving game app "Tokyo Advanced Game" was held in Roppongi, Tokyo. It was part of TV Asahi's "Roppongi Hills Summer Festival SUMMER STATION" and linked to the content of the station's currently airing program "Tokyo Advanced Date 2" (Wednesdays, 1:41 AM). Attendees included actress Anna Ishibashi, who plays the show's heroine "Fumiko"; Yasuo Baba of Hoichoi Productions; Tomu Kawada, the eldest of the AR (Augmented Reality) technology exploration unit "AR Three Brothers"; and members involved in the app development by Torque's Yohei Sadoshima. They revealed the game's answers up to that point and shared development anecdotes.

From left: TV Asahi announcer Ai Aoyama, Anna Ishibashi, Yasuo Baba, Tomu Kawada, Yohei Sadoshima

 

"Tokyo Advanced Date 2" is a TV program where the heroine "Fumiko," played by a notable young actress each time, is a history enthusiast who visits the hidden traces of the ancient capital Edo within Tokyo while going on virtual dates with viewers. The game app is structured based on the worldview of this program. Participants who download it explore the city while solving mysteries posed by the app. Hints for the puzzles are hidden in various places throughout Tokyo, online, on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and more.

Approximately 700 attendees gathered for the event, excited to meet the "real Fumiko" who stepped out of the show and game. They enjoyed checking answers to past puzzles with Ms. Ishibashi, smartphones in hand.

Mr. Baba explained the motivation behind the game's development: "While there are many experiential mystery-solving games out there, this time we wanted to create something truly elaborate, utilizing the latest technology and various media, and best of all, it's free."

Ishibashi	Mr. Baba

 

The key visual for the game is a beckoning cat. It was demonstrated that holding a smartphone with the game app downloaded over the beckoning cat causes it to speak the next puzzle. Mr. Kawada revealed, "This uses AR technology. It recognizes patterns on objects in front of you and projects something onto the smartphone screen. While it's been used for things like advertising before, this is the first time it's been used for puzzle-solving." Mr. Sadoshima added, "It's more difficult to recognize something by holding it up to a 3D object like this than to hold it up to a 2D surface."

Mr. Kawada	Mr. Sadojima

 

Mr. Baba also revealed that, alongside the AR, the game features a song by Sony Music Entertainment artist Aimer titled "Daydream." The song was specifically composed and written with clues woven into the lyrics. He announced the album "Someone, the Sea. EP," featuring "Daydream," is scheduled for release on September 3rd.

The game is still ongoing (until August 24th), and what awaits at the goal remains undisclosed. Kawada stated the game was "designed with advanced complexity." By this date, approximately 10,000 people had downloaded it, but only about 150 had reached the latest puzzle at the time of the event.

The game can be downloaded from the official website on the TV Asahi homepage or via the QR code below.

"Tokyo Advanced Game" Official Website
http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/tokyopreciousdating/game/

"Tokyo Advanced Game" App Download QR Code

Reference Article
Dentsu Inc., TV Asahi, Hoichoi Productions, and Torque Launch 'Tokyo Advanced Game' Project: An Experiential Entertainment Program Linked to the World of a TV Show
http://dentsu-ho.com/articles/1428

Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2014/0716-003783.html