This article captures the spirit of why the kids app business can be so enjoyable. So often on this blog we try to decode the educational benefits of apps for children – but what about the creative benefits of app development for grown-ups? Here we have the story of Go Go Mongo, Ahmed’s app that was designed to teach kids about food in a multi-lingual framework. He had an idea, he collaborated with friends and family to bring his app to market, and now he has extended the business concept into the tangible world of children’s characters and toys. The app store ecosystem is bringing more to life than just apps. Good luck Ahmed!
Go Go Mongo! was initially released three months ago, and with the help of Moms with Apps, it quickly climbed to into the Top 25 for Educational Games for the first few weeks. We also did App Friday and noticed a huge spike in downloads, getting Mongo exposed to an even greater population of users. Since that time, we have incorporated feedback from the audience at Moms with Apps, and it has been an exciting ride.
Go Go Mongo! was originally designed as an ESL app. I built the game for my 2 year old cousin, Yumna, who is learning English as a Second Language, much like myself over 25 years ago. Even before we designed the game, we designed the character, Mongo. It took us many iterations to design Mongo, getting feedback from a lot of kids. The loved the goofy grin, big belly, and “powerpuff hands”. I don’t think Mongo would have been such a hit with the kids without the initial feedback. He truly is a character designed by kids.
We then went to design the initial game, and found out that kids loved the tilting back and forth, so we designed a game where Mongo ran across the screen, catching things. Since this was our first game, I wanted to keep things simple, so we chose 40 foods that my two year old cousin was learning, and added them into the game. To Yumna, it was a very effective ESL tool. She was having fun and learning at the same time. We tested it with a few more kids, had a great response, and decided to publish Go Go Mongo! on the App Store.
A few weeks into it, we started getting some blog reviews and app ratings. Parents and teachers were using the game for special needs children, ESL, and to teach kids about healthy eating. A few weeks later, we started getting letters from parents saying that their kids are eating vegetables because Mongo loves vegetables. I thought this was quite interesting, because how many kids do you know who ask for cauliflower? We are pleased to witness the impact the app is having on healthy eating, and will continue to focus on nutritional themes.
Most recently, we have been in discussions with a toy design firm to design some Mongo merchandise. We received feedback on our Facebook page from high school students that they liked the game because Mongo was so cute. They wanted plushies! So now we are in the process of evaluating the plush toy. I just received this sample in the mail a week ago, and couldn’t wait to share it with Lorraine, and the MWA crew.
Now, I’m hoping to get your feedback and also gauge some interest. I’m thinking of making a limited initial run of these Mongo plushies. They are about 3 inches tall, with a plastic backpack loop on the top. Would your kids like a Mongo plushie? What could make him even better?
Thanks for leaving a comment with your opinion on the Mongo Plushie, and any other app merchandising ideas that could be fun for kids and families!
