QR Codes Suggestion

Hi,

this project looks like a great idea. I think that when people get cards in their hands they will want some way to link back to the web. I think QR codes would be a good way to do this. A lot of smart phones will read these now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

The QR code to a page on the phylomon site could be included on the corner of each card. Users could then read this code to get more info on the species in front of them.

Anthony Nolan

That's pretty interesting. I wonder what's the smallest size possible?

The copywrite text on Magic cards is 6pt I think. On MSE, it would be easy to add an entry up the right hand side (or down the left, next to the name).

"It depends on the hardware - iPhone 3G seems to be about 20x20mm, 3GS 15x15mm, but that's if you're keeping steady."

That's for a QR of 21x21 pixels. Micro-qrs of 15x15 pixels are big enough to hold 14 alphanumeric characters, which can fit a bit.ly or other minified URL. So I'd say that 15x15mm would be the smallest practical size.

It's still a little bit big... I think that having a human-readable minified URL or a 1d barcode with a specialized serial number is better.

Bump.

The QR code could be stored at the bottom with the terrains (shrink them and fit four) and would provide the link to the animal page, could contain org info, and would do away with the need to credit the artist on the card itself (clutter).

Additionally this could mean a whole new dimension for the game. A program (not unlike the pokedex) could use the QR to keep track of the cards a player has. As they collect more, more info is unlocked. It could be a great incentive to keep the player interested and searching out new cards. It would be real life 'gotta catch em all'!

This would also be a great way to identify 'official' Phylo cards from user generated ones, addressing the issue of super powerful custom cards and giving the game some authenticity. This way players can choose to play with custom cards, official cards, or a mix.

Thoughts:

I like the idea of a QR code linking to the website database entry for the animal.

slyder wrote:... and would do away with the need to credit the artist on the card itself (clutter).

I don't like the idea of removing the artists info as I imagine this is a huge incentive for artists to provide high quality art. The website entry should also include a link to the artists web page. It should be "in addition to", not "instead of."

A program (not unlike the pokedex) could use the QR to keep track of the cards a player has.

I like this idea - if the player has a smartphone and is logged into the Phylo site (assuming the Phylo site could create an account or membership structure) then this would be a cool and convenient way for them to populate their personal collection list i.e. login to phylo site then use their phone's QR scanner to record their cards.

This would also be a great way to identify 'official' Phylo cards from user generated ones, addressing the issue of super powerful custom cards and giving the game some authenticity. This way players can choose to play with custom cards, official cards, or a mix.

This is a good point and the mechanism can be used for on-the-spot confirmation to determine if the card is an approved card.

However there are difficulties with this last point above - if Phylo is CC and "open source", what individual or authoritative body determines "approved"? But that is another discussion and should not be continued in this thread.

The downside I consider with the QR code is the audience who would use it. We have to assume it is someone with a smartphone. I don't expect too many 6-10 year olds to fall into this category. However 10+ it would not be unexpected. Also, in 5+ years I expect every phone will be a smartphone and will be QR capable, and the age of a phone carrying child will continue to become lower.

One concern to consider is if the inclusion of a QR code technologically marginalises any particular target audience? i.e. who is out there that we want playing the game that does not have access to a smartphone or an internet enabled smartphone?

Cheers,
-T.