Secret Lab is an independent
computer game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedbac ...
developer based in
Hobart, Australia
Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-smalle ...
. They are best known for their work on
Night in the Woods
''Night in the Woods'' is a 2017 single-player adventure video game. It was developed by Infinite Fall, a studio founded by game designer Alec Holowka and animator/artist Scott Benson, and Secret Lab, an Australian studio, and published by Fin ...
, the
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited ( ) is the flag carrier of Australia and the country's largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations. It is the List of airlines by foundation date, world's third-oldest airline sti ...
Joey Playbox games, the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
Play School Play Time and Art Maker games.
Secret Lab's founders, Dr Paris Buttfield-Addison and Dr Jon Manning, are co-authors of more than 20 books for
O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media (formerly O'Reilly & Associates) is an American learning company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books, produces tech conferences, and provides an online learning platform. Its distinctive brand features a woodcut of ...
and
For Dummies
''For Dummies'' is an extensive series of instructional reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. The series has been a worldwide success with editions in numerous lan ...
.
Secret Lab was slated to develop the
Tiki Bar TV
''Tiki Bar TV'' was a web series distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting or "vodcast." Each episode features a problem that is rectified by the episode's namesake cocktail, which is scribbled on a prescription pad by ''Dr. Tiki'' ...
video game,
Day of the Tiki
''Tiki Bar TV'' was a web series distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting or "vodcast." Each episode features a problem that is rectified by the episode's namesake cocktail, which is scribbled on a prescription pad by ''Dr. Tiki ...
. Secret Lab also developed the tie-in video games for Canadian superhero web series,
Heroes of the North. Secret Lab also works on the critically acclaimed adventure game,
Night in the Woods
''Night in the Woods'' is a 2017 single-player adventure video game. It was developed by Infinite Fall, a studio founded by game designer Alec Holowka and animator/artist Scott Benson, and Secret Lab, an Australian studio, and published by Fin ...
, building dialogue engine tools, and creating the mobile version of the game.
In December 2010, Secret Lab's founders were jointly awarded one of Australia's most prestigious awards for technology, the
Pearcey Award
The Pearcey Awards are a set of prizes presented annually since 1998 by the Pearcey Foundation for achievement in the Australian ICT industry.
Pearcey Award Categories
Each year, the Pearcey Foundation presents 3 categories of award:
;Pearcey ...
by then
Premier of Tasmania
The premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly is invited by the governor of T ...
David Bartlett
David John Bartlett (born 19 January 1968) is an Australian former politician in the state of Tasmania, serving as the 43rd Premier of Tasmania from May 2008 until January 2011. He was a Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly s ...
. Secret Lab was also awarded three
Tas ICT Awards in 2010: "Success in Exporting ICT Solutions", "Excellence in Digital Media or E-Marketing" and the "Tas ICT President's Award for Excellence". In 2013, Secret Lab received the
Tas ICT Award for "Best Software Product" for their work on the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
Play School Play Time app for iPad.
Secret Lab was responsible for the development of a number of popular iPad Applications, including the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
Foodi app for iPad, as well as the
Play School Art Maker and Play Time apps for iPad. Both Foodi and the Play School Art Maker app were finalists for the 2011
Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) Awards in the "Best Cultural and Lifestyle" and "Best Application on a Tablet or Mobile" categories, respectively.
In 2013, Secret Lab's Play School Play Time app was a finalist for the AIMIA "Best of Tablet - Entertainment" and "Best of Tablet - Learning and Education" awards, and went on to win "Best of Tablet - Entertainment" and the overall "Best of Tablet" AIMIA awards. Secret Lab's work for Qantas also yielded a 2016 iAward for "Mobility Innovation of the Year". Co-founder Paris Buttfield-Addison received a 2016 "Gold Disruptor" award at the
Australian Computer Society
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is an association for information and communications technology professionals with over 48,000 members Australia-wide. According to its Constitution, its objectives are "to advance professional excellence ...
Reimagination Thought Leaders' Summit in
Sydney.
[{{Cite web, url=https://www.acs.org.au/insightsandpublications/2016-acs-digital-disruptors-awards.html, title=2016 ACS Digital Disruptors Awards, website=www.acs.org.au, language=en, access-date=2018-03-18]
References
External links
Secret Lab website
Video game development companies
Companies based in Hobart
Video game companies of Australia
Australian companies established in 2008