AT&T Hackathon Winner Africa Swing Launches on WildTangent

AT&T and WildTangent expand mobile games collaboration to provide developers with continued go-to-market opportunities

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Jun 12, 2013, 09:30 ET

REDMOND, Wash., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Swinging from AT&T* hackathon success to consumers' devices, AT&T and WildTangent today celebrated the launch of Android-based mobile app Africa Swing, which won the first in a series of gaming-themed AT&T Mobile App Hackathons. As part of the first-place prize package, the AT&T Developer Program awarded team Africa Swing with WildTangent's hands-on support to bring the app to market, which is now available via WildTangent's mobile game service.

At the AT&T-hosted hackathon this past January, participants, including eventual winners Linghua Jin and Xiaomi Mao, were challenged to create a mobile gaming app in 28 hours. There, Jin and Mao developed a prototype for Africa Swing, a mobile game that challenges players to dodge obstacles while collecting points with upcoming actions signaled by the rhythm of the in-app music.

"AT&T hackathons provide a great opportunity to experience game development from concept to execution," said Jin. "AT&T and WildTangent gave us the tools and resources we needed to build a fun game, and now we have a chance to share it with consumers."

Through continued collaboration with the AT&T Developer Program, WildTangent will provide go-to-market support for winning developers participating in future gaming-themed AT&T Mobile App Hackathons.

"AT&T is committed to empowering the developer community with the right resources, expertise and environment to help them quickly create innovative apps and services," said Carolyn Billings, associate vice president, AT&T Developer Program. "Heightening the value we are able to provide to developers attending our hackathons, we work to bring the right collaborators, such as WildTangent, to the table to accelerate an app's time to market. The result is new apps like Africa Swing that enhance consumers' wireless experience."

To ensure that AT&T subscribers have the opportunity to download Africa Swing and other exciting apps available through the WildTangent mobile game service, the company is exclusively offering AT&T subscribers 25 WildCoins – WildTangent's digital currency – for registering with the free game service. The WildCoins can be used to purchase games, in-game items and game rentals. AT&T subscribers can also apply any game purchases or rentals directly to their AT&T account.

"Mobile leader AT&T is embracing our one-of-a-kind games service," said Sean Vanderdasson, senior vice president of WildTangent. "WildTangent gives customers more choices for how they discover and play games, and we look forward to bringing these choices to AT&T's subscribers as well as introducing consumers to new, cool apps that we help bring to market through AT&T hackathons."

AT&T subscribers can download the WildTangent games app by visiting http://m.wildtangent.com/gamesapp?dp=att on their Android smartphones and tablets.

For more information on the AT&T Developer Program or upcoming AT&T Mobile App Hackathons, visit http://developer.att.com/hackathon.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About WildTangent

WildTangent is a worldwide cross-device games company focused on the distribution and monetization of mobile, social and online games. WildTangent Games is a games service offering thousands of premium games to consumers with WildTangent's patented technology. Consumers receive free in-game items as well as free play of premium games courtesy of brand advertisers. In addition, consumers can rent games for a fraction of the retail price, with 100% of rental going toward ownership, or buy them outright. WildTangent Media is a mobile and digital advertising platform that connects brands with a highly engaged audience through "value exchange," where consumers get the rewards they want, instead of interruptions—and where brands make a lasting consumer impression. WildTangent Studios is a mobile-focused game development studio bringing quality games to the mobile platform and developing new games, characters and fun experiences for everyone with a tablet or smartphone.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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SOURCE AT&T