Pok Pok: New Kids App Company from Alto's Adventure Studio

Snowman Launches Pok Pok: A New Venture in Children’s Educational Entertainment

Snowman, the acclaimed studio responsible for popular iOS games such as Alto’s Adventure, Alto’s Odyssey, and Skate City, is introducing a new company named Pok Pok. This new entity will concentrate on crafting engaging educational entertainment specifically designed for children.

Introducing Pok Pok Playroom

Pok Pok is set to unveil its inaugural title, Pok Pok Playroom, later this month. This application is intended to stimulate imaginative thinking and creativity through play, targeting the preschool demographic.

Returning to Roots: From Productivity to Play

This launch represents a return to Snowman’s origins as an app developer, predating its prominence as a games studio.

Initially, Snowman’s first iOS application, Checkmark, focused on productivity, providing location-based reminders for iPhone users. However, the company subsequently transitioned to game development, capitalizing on the growing demand for mobile gaming with early releases like Circles and Super Squares.

It was the release of Alto’s Adventure that truly propelled Snowman into the gaming spotlight.

Snowman: More Than Just a Game Studio

“We’ve never truly defined Snowman as solely a video game studio,” explains Ryan Cash, Snowman’s co-founder and creative director. “While that’s what we’re currently most recognized for, and forms our core business, we view ourselves as a team of innovators who enjoy exploring creative projects.”

He continues, “Currently, that exploration takes the form of video games, but the future holds possibilities we haven’t yet imagined.”

The Genesis of Pok Pok: A Culture of Tinkering

Pok Pok’s development stemmed from Snowman’s internal culture of experimentation and innovation.

Snowman employees Mathijs Demaeght and Esther Huybreghts, now serving as design director and creative director of Pok Pok respectively, sought an engaging app to entertain their young son, James, during his toddler years. They quickly discovered a scarcity of options that aligned with their preferences.

Seeking a Different Kind of App

Esther explains they desired an application that wouldn’t overstimulate their son, avoid excessive technical complexity, and refrain from gamification elements.

Following the birth of their second son, Jack, they decided to create the app they envisioned. After presenting a preliminary prototype to Ryan, he recognized its potential and encouraged them to proceed.

A Vision for Inclusive and Educational Entertainment

Ryan’s sister, Melissa Cash, possessing a background in product development for babies and toddlers at Disney, was assisting with the launch of Alto’s Odyssey at the time. Upon reviewing Esther and Mathijs’ work, she was deeply impressed.

“Having worked in the children’s entertainment sector for five years, I’ve never encountered anything comparable. I immediately knew this was the project I wanted to dedicate myself to for the next two decades,” she stated. Melissa subsequently joined the project and now serves as the CEO of Pok Pok.

Close Ties to Snowman

Despite being a legally separate entity, Pok Pok maintains a strong connection with Snowman.

“We’ve been developing Pok Pok within Snowman’s infrastructure, sharing workspace and fostering collaboration as mentors, colleagues, and a unified team,” Melissa notes. Ryan continues to be actively involved, serving as an advisor and helper.

Team and Funding

Currently, the Pok Pok team comprises six full-time employees, supplemented by contractors and educational consultants. Snowman, in contrast, has a team of over 20 people, primarily based in Toronto. A portion of Snowman’s employees dedicate 30% to 50% of their time to Pok Pok projects, according to Ryan.

Pok Pok is currently self-funded, leveraging the success of Snowman’s other ventures, including the Alto’s series, Apple Arcade’s Where Cards Fall and Skate City, which are both expanding to PC and console platforms. The company is also collaborating on DISTANT with Slingshot and Satchel.

Pok Pok Playroom: Launch Details

Pok Pok Playroom, designed for children aged two to six, will be the first application released by Pok Pok, debuting on May 20th. The app will initially feature six “digital toys” designed to encourage creative play and adapt to the child’s developmental stage.

Open-Ended Play and Growth

For instance, a stacking blocks toy can engage toddlers with simple manipulation, while older children might utilize them to construct elaborate structures. A drawing tool can facilitate scribbles at younger ages and evolve into a canvas for artistic expression as the child matures. A calming toy, “musical blobs,” resembles a lava lamp with responsive, touch-activated shapes.

These toys are intentionally designed to be open-ended, lacking prescribed methods of use. Pok Pok Playroom is not a game; it features no levels, objectives, or in-app purchases.

What sets Pok Pok Playroom apart from competitors like Toca Boca is its emphasis on education and realism.

A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

“We prioritize an educational approach and intend to maintain this focus in future applications and the evolution of Pok Pok Playroom,” explains Esther. “We deliberately avoid fantastical elements like unicorns or wizards, grounding everything in reality. Our goal is to help children explore and understand the world around them.”

Pok Pok will also refrain from using talking animals or fantasy characters to promote diversity. Instead, its applications will showcase a wide range of races, genders, family structures, abilities, and disabilities.

“It’s crucial for us that children can see themselves, their family members, and their friends represented in the app,” Esther emphasizes. “Our entire team is committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected and valued, which is currently lacking in the children’s app space. We aspire to be leaders in this area.”

Pricing and Availability

The app, developed over nearly three years, will be offered on a subscription basis, with new “digital toys” added over time. It will be available on iPhone and iPad starting May 20th at 9 a.m. ET, with a 14-day free trial. Subscription options include $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year, with no in-app purchases.

While initially focused on the preschool demographic, Pok Pok envisions expanding its creative projects to cater to older age groups and diverse learning experiences.

Pok Pok Playroom has undergone beta testing with approximately 250 families in preparation for its launch.