Dunboyne company launches online game

Dunboyne-based Seoige Technology Ltd, a new company that develops online gaming software, officially launched its new game, savvybear.com, at Dunboyne Castle Hotel on Sunday. This new online game is aimed at the five to 12 year-old market and was free to play for the month of November as the game was tested. Most of the game will be free thereafter, except for some areas which are reserved for members. The cost of membership is €4.95 per month. “Our unique selling points are that it is totally safe and lots of fun with an educational area without any advertisements. We have developed an online school as part of the game which helps users learn and develop academically in Maths, English and Irish. We have also developed the product in an Irish language version which we hope will appeal to Irish nationals here and overseas and to the multi-generational Irish living on distant shores,†said Mick Rochford of Seoige Technology. Three local schools in Dunboyne were involved in the development of the game. Six new jobs have been created and Mr Rochford said they secured funding from Enterprise Ireland and private investors. Seoige Technology will make a donation to both Crumlin Children's Hospital and Temple Street Hospital from each subscription for a period of time after the launch. “We feel that we have a product which is fun, educational and extremely safe for our users and their families. We are very proud that we are flying the flag for Ireland in the development of a high-quality game that is available in Ireland, dedicated to the people of Ireland, embracing all that is good in Irish culture. With the support of Ireland, we hope we can bring the game to the top of its class globally in the coming years,†added Mr Rochford. Savvybear's biggest competitor has 200,000 Irish subscribers to the game and Mr Rochford explained that the main difference with their game is that they have developed a school on their game which is linked to the Department of Education curriculum for primary school children. Seoige Technology is currently touring Irish primary schools demonstrating the product. It achieved 2,000 registrations to the game within two weeks.