While automakers explore alternative fuel sources, video game developer Techland has come up with a new concept car that's fueled by tweets.
While it isn't really an alternative to fossil fuels, Techland's tweet-powered car might be an ingenious way to get people talking about the upcoming DLC for the studio's zombie parkour game Dying Light.
The concept will see areas of a new Dying Light: The Following map revealed as the tweet-powered slot car putters ahead, clearing the fog in its path. Crowd-fueling the reveal for the upcoming expansion was inspired by the Internet of things, the idea that everything can and should be connected to the Internet.
"We thought why not let anyone with a Twitter handle use the hashtag #TweetForSpeed to make a real difference in the lives of all Dying Light fans," says Michal Napora, community manager for the game. "Every tweet with this hashtag will make our specially modified slot car go around on its track and by doing so, it reveals more parts from the new map of the upcoming Dying Light: The Following ahead of its release."
Both fans and newcomers can pump tweets into the slot car's tank, and the more the car moves, the more details of the new map will be revealed.
Dying Light: The Following Enhanced Edition will launch on Feb. 9 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Owners of the standard edition of the game can purchase The Following for $20. The DLC is also available via Dying Light's $30 season pass.
For players who haven't been monitoring The Following that closely, they might feel that the $20 price point is a bit steep. Techland has tried to rationalize the price increase.
"Over the past weeks Dying Light: The Following has almost reached its final stage: main quests, side quests, new skills, and driving challenges are ready," it said last November. "Looking at it, it's clear how big the expansion pack has grown - it could be a standalone title, but since it would mean a launch delay, we decided against it."
