RSPCA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has released its first mobile game, Mobidog. It is created together with Lateral, a mobile content developer based in London. However, MobiDog isn’t a virtual pet game, it’s a collection of dog-themed mini-games, which are a spin on arcade classics. The overriding message though is about better care for dogs. It follows the success of a web-based cyberpet launched by Lateral for the charity. “The next logical step was to allow people to access a similar message on their mobile phones,” says the company’s Mathew Riley. Helen Ball, RSPCA campaigner, added, “The aim of the game is to educate the user on the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which places a ‘duty of care’ on pet owners to ensure they look after their pet. Mobidog is interactive, playful and educational, with a competitive slant. The game is free, which you can get by going to the website, or by texting game to 60022.
