SEATTLE - August 18, 2012 - Orbotix, the masterminds behind Sphero, the first robotic ball controlled by smartphones is proud to announce its next stop across the country for Hack Tour: Seattle on August 17-19 - the first hackathon ever held at Seattle's City Hall!

Sphero is the first robotic ball gaming system that you control with a tilt, touch, or swing from your smartphone or tablet. Players can also use Sphero as a controller for on-screen gameplay.

Orbotix is working alongside local partners and affiliates including HTC, Startup City, Thinkspace, Geekwire, Jones Soda Co. and Seattle mayor's office of Mike McGinn to hold Sphero's hack tour. Winning developers can be awarded up to $12,000, among other prizes. Because Orbotix strongly supports its community, previous winners' entries are now incorporated into Sphero's official suite of apps, including their most recent winner, Astro Ball.

The hack tour has previously made stops in Boulder, Colorado, and Austin, Texas.

Sphero is already well known in political circles - President Barack Obama tried out Sphero in April of this year during a stop in Boulder.

For more info about Sphero, interview opportunities or to learn more about the hack tour, please visit: http://www.gosphero.com

About Sphero

Bringing together a unique fusion of mixed-reality gaming and robotics, Sphero enables several new types of game play for mobile devices including: robotic movement, kinetic motion, controller support and augmented reality capabilities. Created by Orbotix, a company dedicated to reinventing fun and gaming through consumer-facing robotics and phone-controlled open devices, Sphero is the must-have gaming system and robotic device at E3. Even President Obama enjoyed playing with Sphero: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jqT8U_kiYY8

Where:                 Seattle City Hall  

600 4th Ave 

Seattle, WA 98104

Schedule of events:  Hack - Saturday, 10:30am - 7:00 p.m.

                                   Hack - Sunday, 10:30am - 5:00 p.m.