Jennifer Lopez promotes finger breakdance game app

It's like "Dance Dance Revolution," but for the fingers - and it's promoted by no less than Jennifer Lopez and the Jabbawockeez.

 

Dubbed "Dance Pad," the new app is to debut Thursday on Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet, with Lopez as the cheerleader, tech site CNET reported.

 

The app —developed by USC students inspired by finger break-dancing videos on YouTube— is a rhythm dance game where players try to hit the right beats with their fingers.

 

Adding to the glamor of "Dance Pad" is that it is the first app from Moonshark, a Hollywood-backed app publisher.

 

Moonshark CEO Matt Kozlov said "Dance Pad" is an app that can garner the same kind of cult following that DDR has inspired.

 

"We want to create a community where people dress up (their hands) and film themselves dancing and post it to YouTube, post to Facebook," he said.

 

Kozlov added they plan to promote the sharing of videos, with users getting to win meetings with some of the artists featured on the app.

 

J-lo not featured yet

 

While Lopez is not yet featured on the app, Kozlov said the company is working on including her songs in the future.

 

He said Lopez for now is helping expand the franchise as a producer.

 

"Jennifer loved the game, we love Jennifer -- she's an icon in music, dance, and popular culture," Kozlov said.

 

For now, the app will include 30 different bands and artists, including The Bangerz, retro soul singer Mayer Hawthorne, throw-back rock band Vintage Trouble, and DJ-singer Blaqstarr.

 

Moonshark, which is also backed by Qualcomm, started in 2011, and came from the Creative Artists Agency's incubator program that produced the comedy video site "Funny or Die."

 

CNET said the app appears to reflect Hollywood's readiness to get into the mobile entertainment business.

 

Kozlov said mobile apps are a ripe medium for content creators because they take less time to develop and produce and there is a large audience thanks to the rise of smartphones.

 

"You can develop a great game in six months and you can reach a lot of people," he said.

 

He cited successful franchises like Rovio's Angry Birds which has a wide range of merchandise, and Draw Something, which is about to be a TV show.

 

"We think there are lots of different types of content that would work in mobile. We're really excited about the potential for creativity in this space for all genres," Kozlov said.

 

Other projects

 

Moonshark is also embarking on other projects involving comedians, comic book creators, and directors.

 

One project it is working on is with John Woo, who has directed films like "Face/Off" and "Mission: Impossible 2" to create an action adventure game.

 

It is also working with YouTube star Philip DeFranco to create a "charming photo app that is really funny." — TJD, GMA News