Yo-kai Watch
Summary of Contributions
I led the design and production of the companion app Yo-Kai Watch Land
I created and maintained all of the QR codes used to scan medals into the Nintendo 3DS game.
I helped shape the line-up of the physical product offering.
I was awarded a patent for the invention of a Yo-kai Watch VR toy.
I created Habsro’s first augmented reality experience using Vuforia and the Yo-kai Watch medals.
I worked 1 on 1 with President and CEO of Level 5 in the creation of the companion app.
Yo-kai Watch Land
When I found out that Hasbro had interest in being the US partner for the Japanese-based Yo-kai Watch, I did everything I could to be a part of the project.
I instantly turned into the “knowledge expert” of Yo-kai Watch and because of that I was tasked to help create a digital companion app that would go alongside the physical product offering Hasbro was putting together.
In order to bypass the Ganz patent, which owns the “type in a code from a physical product and unlock the product digitally” I created a 2-factor authentication method where the user could scan the toys medal image and then scan the QR code - thus allowing the user to be able unlock the medal in the companion app.
I also wanted the user to be able to do something fun and interesting, that you couldn’t do in the game - so I allowed the users to use AR and bring them to life.
I used Vuforia’s Image Recognition Software to scan the physical medal’s top, and the model from the 3d games would be brought to life on top of the medal.
The user could then select various poses and animations for the yo-kai to do, and then take pictures to share with their friends.
I also oversaw the entire production of the app, through our partners BKOM, while also managing the relationship of the app with our partners at Level 5 by visiting them multiple times at their office in Japan.
Yo-kai Watch VR
I really wanted to bring Yo-kai watch into the VR world, so I started working on a VR toy that a kid could use to not only scan their medals, but also interact with.
The user would open the app, put their phone into the helmet of the USA Pyon Yo-kai Watch character and then the toy would have the face of USA Pyon come to life right in front of them.
When the user wanted to enter the world of Yo-kai Watch, they could turn the dial on the side of the helmet, which would turn the phone around in the helmet and activate the VR mode via gyro turns.
The user could the use the eye holes on the back of to helmet as VR goggles and see the 3d world!
When the user was done with the VR portion of the app, they could turn the dial again, returning the phone back to the face of the toy.
Before this, there are been no research at Hasbro into the impact of VR, so we led the charge in finding out what the impacts of VR use were.
With the help of the product design team, we came up with a wonderful prototype that was showcased to the Level 5 team and received the full greenlight, but unfortunately the product was cut from the new product line-up from that year’s offering.
What I did: Created all of the QR Medal Codes for each game. Designed and produced the companion app Yo-kai Watch Land with Akihiro Hino overseeing my designs. Created Hasbro’s first ever image recognition app used to scan in yo-kai medals. Helped create and plan the US marketing plan for the product line and app. Marketing the toys and apps at various tradeshows including the New York Toy Fair.
Studio: Hasbro & Level 5
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, 2DS, iOS & Android
Critical reception: 76, 73 & 72 Metacritic Scores
Team size: 200+
Project length: 2.5 years total
Engine and tools: Vuforia, Unity, Adobe Suite, Google Docs
