This is why I've been so ridiculously silent around here for so long: on Friday, we put MAKIES into open alpha:
MAKIES is an action doll creator: a player/customer can design their own action doll - features, hair, clothes and everything - & we then 3D print it uniquely to them, build & dress it, and send on to them within 3 weeks of ordering.
There's more to come, too: the avatar will be able to unlock collectibles for the action doll. In the future, the action doll will be able to do the same for the avatar, using clever bits of electronica \o/.
So here we are in May, in open alpha (it's the new closed beta, only scarier :-))
Which means people will see all the string and sellotape, but everyone can also pitch in with suggestions at an early stage, too. During alpha, the doll is £99, including an outfit and taxes.
For beta, we'll have cheaper and more expensive versions available, playing with complexity of tailoring and size of print, etc. Tablet apps, too, and lastly, the all-important full battery of toy safety tests (totally confident on that last one - the doll's already passed a full series, but we still need to do USA and Japan ones too, etc. It just takes time).
3D printing! It's a future! :D
Hahah!
Thank you :D
Posted by: Alice | May 21, 2012 at 17:04
I agree. Totally, gloriously insane :-D
Posted by: Jo Roach | May 21, 2012 at 18:16
Congratulations!
I've been a lurker on your site for a couple of years now; I just wanted to emerge from the woodwork to say that it sounds like you have put a lot of effort into this endeavour and I wish you luck and success throughout the process!
Posted by: Andrew | May 23, 2012 at 03:49
Andrew, that is so kind! Thank you so much for coming along to say that. \o/
A.
Posted by: Alice | May 23, 2012 at 08:06
Love it!
Posted by: Matt H. | May 25, 2012 at 02:36
My Makie arrived last night - so totally in love with her. Congratulations Alice - it's gonna be big!
Posted by: Tamara | June 13, 2012 at 09:17
neat use of 3D printing, good luck with this. 3D printers have certainly come a long way
Posted by: PsychsoftPC | June 16, 2012 at 16:55