MUMBAI: Inspired by the ‘90s era, Dentsu Webchutney, the creatively led digital agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has launched the ‘Logitech Buddy Board’- a keyboard innovation that lets two to five friends play a game together on just one single keyboard. The campaign went live on Friendship Day with a unique microsite www.logitechbuddyboard.com.

The game is a throwback to the iconic ‘90s with the classic 8-bit art style and multiplayer arcade gaming. Players have to team up and control their individual avatars in the game while trying to score as high as possible. A leaderboard tracks the rankings with prizes being given to the top teams.

From an initiative started by the ‘greeting cards’ industry to a monumental event that is celebrated by brands and people from all over the world, Friendship Day has evolved into something that’s much more than just tying brightly coloured wristbands. However, the concept of friendship itself has changed over the years due to the rise of social media, smartphone addiction and phubbing (snubbing someone in favour of a mobile phone). Heartfelt bonding and intimacy have turned into friend requests - a far cry from the way people bonded over trump cards, board games and arcade gaming back in the ‘90s.

Gurbaksh Singh, Chief Creative Technologist, Dentsu Webchutney says, “Hectic work schedules and social media have changed the way we perceive friendship. Things were very different back in the ‘90s. We took this nostalgic hook and decided to hack into the keyboard interface so that at a time five players can play independently with their avatars. With this fun game, we hope to evoke the spirit of friendship the way it was in the ‘90s.”

Abbas Zaidi, Creative Director, Dentsu Webchutney explains, “The ‘90s for many of us were making friends over furious button mashing on Nintendo and Sega systems. So, this Friendship Day we decided to tap into nostalgia and make old friends revisit that era. Through Buddy Board we made it possible for multiple friends to come together (literally, on the same keyboard) to play an 8-bit game like the old times and score some sweet loot too.”