Activision's Skylanders franchise expands to iOS

Activision has launched an iOS version of its popular Skylanders franchise, with users able to input codes from the toys to unlock content in the game. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure launched last year for PC, Mac and consoles, and features real-life toys which can interact with the game via a special "Portal of Power" peripheral. This latest version for smartphones, Skylanders Cloud Patrol, is set in a different region of the Skylands world, and includes more than 30 unlockable Skylander characters. The iOS version, developed by Vicarious Visions, also interacts with the toys, or at least, with the purchased product -- players can enter the code that is bundled with each Skylanders action figure into Cloud Patrol to unlock more characters and special items. Cloud Patrol is the latest expansion on the original Skylanders game. The franchise has already seen a browser-based virtual world launched late last year, and a console sequel is also on the way.