The web series, eBook, audiobook, and television documentary adds an interactive 3D graphic novel app to their fact-based virtual reality project.

Cologne, Germany – Bastei Entertainment is proud to unveil the The Butterfly Attack, an interactive graphic novel app available today for iOS and Android users. Created by award-winning British novelist and screenplay writer M. Sean Coleman, The Butterfly Attack graphic novel app is just one component of the Netwars Project, a cross-platform, fact-based, multimedia experience that uses fictional characters to explore the very real threat of digital warfare in today’s technologically driven society.

 The Butterfly Attack graphic novel app is the first in a three part series of apps that coincide with a web series, television documentary, and a collection of eBook and audiobooks that make up the Netwars Project. Each part of the project is standalone while still complimentary to the larger story of Netwars.

In The Butterfly Attack, Coleman mergestrue facts with actual events to create a captivating and visually stunning fictional story about a team of hackers hired to conduct a mock cyberwar exercise that goes terribly wrong. Parallax technology enables the reader to become part of the story, with interactive motion sensors, 3D animations, video, and gaming elements fully integrated into the app.

“When I started out with this idea, I struggled with how to bring the amazing stories, threats and dangers posed by malicious hackers to the screen,” said Coleman. “The graphic novel format fell perfectly between the written and the visual, allowing me to tell a story that could incorporate technical information with interactive clues, and enable the audience to go deep inside the minds and machines of the main characters.”

The Butterfly Attack was originally created in English, and will be published simultaneously in German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Additional features of The Butterfly Attack graphic novel app include:
– Unique animations and sound effects
– Intuitive controls
– Revolutionary 3D parallax technology with motion sensors for unlocking hidden artifacts

Episode One of The Butterfly Attack is available now for $2.99 on the iTunes App Store, Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, and Samsung App Marketplace. Episodes Two and Three of The Butterfly Attack are scheduled to be released later this summer.

For more information on The Butterfly Attack, the Netwars web series, television documentary, and selection of eBook and audiobooks, visit www.netwars-project.com, like Netwars on Facebook, and follow @NetwarsProject on Twitter.

About Bastei Entertainment
Founded in 1953 and based in Cologne, Bastei Lübbe is one of Germany’s leading trade publishers. Home of bestselling authors David Baldacci, Dan Brown, Jeff Kinney, Ken Follett, Lesley Pearse and many more, it publishes more than 700 titles a year.

In June 2010, Bastei Lübbe started its own digital department: Bastei Entertainment, with the aim of encouraging new innovative product development and the creation of a global digital entertainment experience which covers everything from eBooks and audiobooks to apps and digitally enhanced products. With an in-house development team, unique multimedia content is continuously created with recent examples including multiple-language Vatican thriller, Apocalypsis which has been downloaded as an app more than 1,000,000 times in China alone. http://www.luebbe.de/

Bastei Entertainment brings Laura’s Journey to the Stars to iOS and Android.

Cologne, Germany, May 6, 2014 – Bastei Entertainment brings a new story from Klaus Baumgart’s bestselling “Laura’s Star” picture book series to the mobile market with the interactive children’s storybook app, Laura’s Journey to the Stars, now available for iOS and Android devices.

Recommended for children age’s two to five, Laura’s Journey to the Stars tells the story of Laura and her little brother Tommy as they blast off into a world of imagination in search of a star! This sweet story of love and friendships is brought to life with easy-to-follow narration (available in English, Mandarin and German), interactive animations, fun sound effects, and casual mini games including ‘Match the Sock’ and ‘Whack an Alien.’

With over 7.5 million books in the “Laura’s Star” series sold worldwide, Laura’s Journey to the Stars is the fourth book in the “Laura’s Star” series to enter the app market.

“We developed the idea for the Laura’s Journey to the Stars app in collaboration with the author and illustrator Klaus Baumgart,” says Sabrina Glodde, project manager for Bastei Entertainment. “We realized if we wanted the story to reach a larger audience, we needed to use all media channels to do so. The development team was inspired by movies, television and games. And of course, by watching their own children play with apps and seeing what features they enjoyed most.”

Features of Laura’s Journey to the Stars includes:

• Beautifully drawn illustrations by the popular children’s book illustrator Klaus Baumgart
• More than 80 animated scenes, clever sound effects, and engaging mini games
• Captivating narration by native speakers in three languages: English, German, and Mandarin Chinese
• Intuitive, child-friendly controls
• Social media sharing, volume and language controls, and library panel accessible via the title page’s teddy bear
• No in-app purchases

Laura’s Journey to the Stars is available now for $2.99 in the iTunes App Store, Google Play Store, Samsung App Market, and Amazon Appstore.

For additional information on Laura’s Journey to the Stars, including the press kit and screen shots visit:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7l8ruq1xbei158u/ZD32VTYdFj.

About Bastei Entertainment:
Founded in 1953 and based in Cologne, Bastei Lübbe is one of Germany’s leading trade publishers. Home of bestselling authors David Baldacci, Dan Brown, Jeff Kinney, Ken Follett, Lesley Pearse and many more; it publishes more than 700 titles a year. In June 2010, Bastei Lübbe started its own digital department: Bastei Entertainment with the aim of encouraging new innovative product development and the creation of a global digital entertainment experience which covers everything from eBooks to apps and digitally enhanced products. With an in-house development team, unique multimedia content is continuously created with recent examples including Cotton FBI, which reinvents the hugely popular Jerry Cotton novels, first published in 1954, with over one billion copies sold in Germany alone. http://www.luebbe.de/

Mobile startup Kamino reinvents the walking tour with user-generated hikes in cities around the world.

New York City, NY, May 5, 2014 — Don’t just live in your city — explore it! The iOS mobile startup Kamino is redefining how to become an urban explorer in a battle to be named the best startup at TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2014. Developed by co-founders Louis P. Huynh and Roger Obando, Kamino has been recognized across the globe for inspiring locals and tourists to get out of their cars and embark on urban adventures on foot.

Kamino, recently named “Best of Show” at the 2014 Macworld/iWorld conference in San Francisco, makes it easy for users to enjoy an authentic city experience by simply following (or creating) a walkable playlist, or “urban hike”. Each hike features recommendations from travel experts, user-generated content from other Kamino users, photos, and an easy-to-follow GPS enabled map, for an inside look at the special places that make a city unique. Kamino is heavily integrated with social media as well, and in their latest update, provides users with the functionality to connect to the Kamino community via email or Facebook.

“Exhibiting at TechCrunch Disrupt and participating in Startup Alley has been a Kamino goal since day one,” says Louis P. Huynh, Kamino Co-Founder and President. “Seeing that goal met is a huge milestone for our team and we are excited for the opportunity to share Kamino’s mission with Disrupt attendees.”

Features of Kamino include:

• Hikes on the fly: Find awesome new spots to explore wherever you are.
• Expert recommendations: Get insights from travel experts and local gurus on the best hikes in town.
• Local treasures and hidden gems: Discover what you may have missed in your own backyard.
• GPS-guided hikes: Never get lost! A built-in GPS system will always get you to your destination.
• Hikes tailored to your interests: Find out if a hike is dog-friendly, good for kids, or great for a night out with friends.
• Recommendations: Add tips as you go or when you arrive at your final destination.
• Create your own hikes: Share your favorite places with friends, family, and your Kamino community!

Kamino is available now for free on the iTunes App Store. For more information visit http://www.GoKamino.com, meet the co-founders in the Startup Alley, and join them on Facebook and Twitter at @KaminoLabs.

ABOUT KAMINO:
Kamino Labs, a travel and urban exploration planning company, was developed to change the way people interact with cities through the use of mobile technology. Established by an eclectic group of travel enthusiasts with an unyielding passion for exploring and discovering cites, the company is founded on the belief of experiencing cities in an authentic way. With the launch of their first mobile application, Kamino reinvents the walking tour as the ultimate social discovery engine for urban explorers. For more information about Kamino Labs please visit http://www.GoKamino.com, or join them on Facebook and Twitter at @KaminoLabs.

ABOUT TECHCRUNCH DISRUPT:
TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2014 is TechCrunch’s fifth annual conference in New York City. The format combines top thought-leader discussions with new product and company launches. Morning executive discussions debate technology-driven disruptions in many industries, while the afternoons are reserved for the Startup Battlefield, where some 30 new companies will launch for the first time onstage, selected to present from numerous applications received from around the world. The winning company will receive a $50,000 grand prize and the Disrupt Cup at the conclusion of the conference. The conference is May 5-7, 2014 at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street (at 8th Ave.) Manhattan.