Latest content from Chillingo.com

CGMatic's Chin Chentanez

The climb. The drop. The speed. The terror. The laughter. For these reasons and more, rollercoasters continue to inspire and delight us. But strapping in for a loop-filled thrill ride isn’t something one can just do at the drop of a hat on a Thursday afternoon… or is it? Developer CGMatic’s Madcoaster delivers the white-knuckle action without the overpriced admission. Now, Chin Chentanez of CGMatic talks us through the other inspirations behind this certified hit as well as offers a peek into the future.

Chillingo: What inspired the creation of Madcoaster?

Chin Chentanez: We love to ride rollercoasters in real life! One concern we always have in our minds is whether the coaster is safe to ride our not. Therefore, we always wanted to create a crazy rollercoaster game with disconnected tracks. When we started the project, the endless runner started to become popular so we gear the game toward that genre.

Chillingo: Are you much of a rollercoaster fan in real life? Have any favorites?

CC: Yes, of course! One of our co-founders lived in the United States for many years and went to a bunch of Six Flags parks. His favorite ride is Medusa at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA.

Gameplay trailer for Madcoaster.

Chillingo: Madcoaster is an endless runner, but with a cool twist. As you developed Madcoaster, how did you decide to tweak the genre?

CC: Initially, the player has to avoid birds and animals. During a play test, one of our testers complained, “Why can’t we hit those d–n animals? It would be much more fun.” We tried that and it was indeed more fun, so that stuck.

Chillingo: What player feedback influenced the development of the 1.1 update?

CC: First, thank you very much to all players for providing us the helpful reviews! We read all of them and take them seriously. Based on the reviews, there were certain objectives that were too difficult, so we adjusted them. We always wanted to add shop to the game, and the reviews also confirmed that, so we worked day-and-night to get the shop system up as soon as possible.

Chillingo: Soaring into the top three is a fantastic achievement. Beyond the new update, what’s next for Madcoaster?

CC: We worked hard on 1.2 update with the underwater theme and secret bonus space theme. It also features ability to change the riders and tracks. More coaster decorations are also available. Please stay tuned for more!

Buzz Monkey Software's Jon Milnes

Currently nestled in downtown Eugene, Oregon, for the last eleven years Buzz Monkey Software has worked on some the biggest names in console games, such as Army of Two and Tomb Raider. And now that game-making expertise fuels Rinth Island, an acclaimed puzzle-platformer for iOS. Jon Milnes of Buzz Monkey Software spoke with us about the inspiration behind Rinth Island and plans for its future.

Chillingo: What was the primary inspiration behind Rinth Island?

Jon Milnes: The NES game Adventures of Lolo was the primary inspiration, but we also looked to other classics like Fire ‘n’ Ice and Nebulus. These great, older puzzlers taught us a lot about making cool and compelling levels, and how objects and obstacles can be used together in creative and surprising ways.

Trailer for Rinth Island.

Chillingo: Rinth Island is both a puzzler and a platformer. How did you strike the right balance between the genres?

JM: Gravity adds extra constraints. It provides a sense of tension and allows us to create one-way flows in the puzzle completion sequences without using contrivances. But it also allows us to add extra “cool stuff,” like stacking objects and rolling boulders off cliffs. It basically gives us more tools with which to make really fun and interesting puzzles.

Chillingo: Is player feedback influencing the development of updates?

JM: We have been keeping a close watch on the comments coming in and we hope to address them in the coming update.

Chillingo: What lead to the creation of the little pets that follow Gimble and Libby? They’re cuuuute.

JM: The credit has to go to the artists and their amazing talent for creating cute and hilarious pets. It was initially an idea that was just being thrown around as a “wouldn’t it be funny if…” Turns out our lead programmer and a couple artists liked the idea and were able to make pets become a reality for Rinth Island.

The joy of exploring.

Chillingo: Beyond the new update, what’s next for Rinth Island?

JM: We’re planning on introducing more puzzles and puzzle objects in the future. Nothing is fully set in stone at this point, we’re really just keeping an eye on what the community wants as the game and community grow!

Meet Chillingo at GDC in San Francisco

Are you a mobile game developer attending the Game Developers Conference in March? Chillingo, the premiere independent game publisher, wants to meet you. Our team is excited to be in San Francisco during the week of GDC, looking for innovative, exciting, and fun mobile games to bring to worldwide audiences.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Chillingo at GDC.

As the global mobile market becomes increasingly competitive, choosing the right publishing partner is more important than ever. Thanks to an unrivaled nine years of experience in mobile gaming, Chillingo has a proven track record of success with games such as Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, and Contre Jour. We have worldwide reach with partners at every level of the industry, from OEMs to the media. And every single member of the Chillingo team is truly passionate about games.

Again, we would love to see you at GDC. Follow this link to make an appointment.

Weekly Roundup 12.02.11

Fast. Furious. That describes Chillingo’s new games this week, including the off-kilter Wild West shooter McGyro and the colorful puzzler Sparky vs. Glutters. Whether you want to pop some monsters or clear out bandits, your iOS devices are about to jump to life.

Screenshot from McGyro.

Saddle up with McGyro, the sheriff of one peculiar Wild West. Take out bandits and ruffians (and maybe even an otherworldly enemy) using your trusty six-shooter. Refined gyroscope-based controls transform you into an amazing gunfighter, capable of pulling off precision shots. Discover why McGyro sees the world the way he does in a fun story full of eccentric characters in this gorgeous 2.5-D adventure.

Screenshot from Sparky vs. Glutters.

Sparky just woke up in a forest with no memory of who he is and how he got there. You must help this little hero discover his own past, all while pushing back against the advancing Glutters. Help Sparky by feeding chains of matching Glutters. Sparky vs. Glutters is a bright, colorful puzzler that anybody can play.

McGyro and Sparky vs. Glutters are both available right now on the App Store. Both McGyro and Sparky vs. Glutters are universal apps, and Sparky vs. Glutters is also available on the Mac App Store.

Weekly Roundup 11.18.11

This week, Chillingo is proud to see Superman fly to incredible heights in an all-new action game that’s sure to please his legions of fans. And Extraction: Project Outbreak is a blisteringly intense fight for survival in the middle of a dangerous infestation.

Screenshot from Superman.

In this stupendous showdown between good and evil, Superman senses a hidden agenda behind the infamous Lex Luthor’s plans to stop global warming. Use all of Superman’s powers, from heat vision to super-breath, in a series of thrilling missions. With an authentic story and stunning comic book-inspired cutscenes, even the most die-hard Superman fans will soar in delight.

Screenshot from Extraction.

Extraction: Project Outbreak is top-down action game inspired by such timeless greats as Syndicate. A dangerous experiment has loosed a mutant infestation. Use intuitive touch controls to manage the threat across four different game modes. Complete with searing 3D graphics, Extraction is an adventure you’ll never forget.

Last week, Chillingo unleashed mayhem with the action-packed Rocket Riot. Gamers and press alike enjoyed the game’s unbridled streak of playful destruction. TouchArcade said this:

“Overall, Rocket Riot is a blast to play (quite literally), thanks to the range of fun power-ups, destructible levels and best of all, the eye-catching particle explosions and the banana with a rocket launcher!”

Read the full review here.

Ninja Throw scored Game of the Week in some territories and the media picked up on why. Gizmodo UK had this to say:

“The early levels will gently introduce the various obstacles, and then later on it gets properly taxing.”

Read the full review here.

Weekly Roundup 11.11.11

This week, Chillingo is pleased to launch two exciting games sure to please fans of action, both the thoughtful and total mayhem kinds of action: Rocket Riot and Ninja Throw.

Screenshot from Rocket Riot.

Pirates and over-the-top weapons are the name of the game in Rocket Riot, an action-packed arcade game. Gorgeous (and destructible) 3D pixel worlds, insane power-ups that transform your rockets into incredible tools of devastation, a surprising range of objectives (rocket-riddled football, anyone?), and controls as precise as they are intuitive make Rocket Riot a game not to miss.

Screenshot from Ninja Throw.

The addictive action-puzzler Ninja Throw tests your shuriken-tossing skills. Outflank environmental obstacles, use air-bending Sensei magic, and safely guide your trusty ninja star to the goal in as few throws as possible. If you love ninjas — and, really, who doesn’t? — you’ll have a blast with Ninja Throw.

Both Rocket Riot and Ninja Throw and available now on the App Store for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad.

Last week, Chillingo brought you the madcap Moogies and the innovative Poker Pals. A hit with the press, Poker Pals racked up some incredible reviews, praising its clever riff on the poker genre. Check out this nod from TouchArcade:

“Poker Pals delivers a fun interpretation of poker, with desirable asynchronous play and random match-ups for people without many online friends. It has a high replay value and should come with a warning about time-consumption, due to the constant, but pleasurable interruptions when it’s your turn.”

Read the full review here.

The Moogies is also wowing critics with its endearing silliness. It’s a perfect app for entire families to gather around, touching and talking to the crazy Moogies to see what happens next. Family Friendly Gaming says this about The Moogies:

“The sounds in The Moogies are where this app shines. The Moogies includes quite a bit of humor. Children in the target age bracket enjoy it.”

Read the full review here.

Weekly Roundup 11.04.11

Chillingo is pleased to announce the release The Moogies, an incredible family entertainment app, and Poker Pals, the next evolution of poker on mobile.

Screenshot from The Moogies.

Meet the Moogies, a crew of crazy animals that kids (and entire families) will simply adore. Make “phone calls” to the Moogies and listen to their unique, silly babble languages. Touch on-screen objects in each Moogie scene and laugh at unexpected, ridiculous results. Designed specifically for younger players without an obtrusive or obtuse interface, The Moogies is a perfect companion that’s full of fun surprises.

Screenshot from Poker Pals.

“Poker meets word game” is the simplest way to think about Poker Pals, an innovative take on the classic card game that will delight veterans and newcomers alike. Place cards on a grid to create the best poker hands possible. Challenge your friends orrandom opponents, or play against the computer in the crafty (and well-crafted) Poker Pals. It’s truly poker redefined.

Two of Chillingo’s recent hits have been significantly updated, too.

Blobster 1.3 includes an all-new beach world with ten stages and fresh skins for Blobster himself, including G.I. Blob and Staying A-blob. Super Crossfire 1.1 adds Dark Mode, complete with 150 new waves, new control options (including iCade support), and enhanced visuals for faster devices. iPhone 4S gamers will see fully boosted graphics.

Last week’s trio of games received great notice amongst critics.

Family Friendly Gaming praised Candy Town’s gameplay and hopes to see more:

“I can see this idea going in different directions in a sequel in the coming years.”

Read the full review here.

App-Score really enjoyed the antics and arcade action in Saving Moo, saying:

“The game is just brilliant, you will no be able to put the game down, it has both character charisma which I really like.”

Read the full review here.

AppSpy liked SpinTrip quite a bit, giving it four out of five stars and calling attention to its accessibility for gamers of all ages and skill levels:

“SpinTrip is a delightful platformer aimed at kids and the young at heart; far from a completely casual experience, it provides some challenge to experienced gamers while still being easy enough for less skilled hands.”

Read the full review here.

Contre Jour: Moonlight and Music

The smash hit Contre Jour has been called enchanting, magical, and mesmerizing. Well, now you can add more adjective to that list: bigger.

Today, Chillingo is delighted to announce Moonlight, an update for Contre Jour that adds twenty stages in a haunting new world for you (and Petit, of course) to explore and solve.

Screenshot from Contre Jour’s Moonlight world.

Moonlight’s all-new adjustable tentacles add new challenges to Contre Jour’s already-clever gameplay. And when these new puzzle elements are fused with the existing mechanics, Contre Jour hits dizzying heights. Moonlight also features another riff on Contre Jour’s starkly fascinating art direction. The new film negative-esque world hypnotizes.

In addition to this update, we’re also happy to deliver on a request from gamers around the world: the official Contre Jour soundtrack is now available for download in iTunes. Composed by David Ari Leon, the music of Contre Jour has enjoyed universal praise from fans and critics alike. Now you can listen to those ethereal melodies throughout your day, wherever you may be.

Download the Contre Jour soundtrack here.

Weekly Roundup 10.28.11

Chillingo screams into the Halloween weekend with new games for your iPhone and iPad. Whether you want to attack aliens with cannon-mounted cows, gobble cupcakes, or rush off on a platforming adventure, there’s something for everybody.

Screenshot from Saving Moo.

Saving Moo pits you against an alien invasion. Your secret weapon? Well-armed cattle. Using seventeen crazy weapons that you attach to your cows (from egg cannons to marshmallow guns), keep the aliens from stealing your herd and making off into the night.

Screenshot from Candy Town.

Who’s the king of Candy Town? The Candy Monster, of course. But you need to help him ascend to his throne by matching three or more of the same-colored treats by drawing lines through a sugary field of baked goodies. With day-glo graphics that pop off the screen, Candy Town is a fun puzzler for all ages.

Screenshot from SpinTrip.

SpinTrip is a topsy-turvy platformer starring magical twins that must recover Chibs, amazing little creatures that imbue the twins with special powers. These talents are necessary to stop the Gants and other nasties that await you in this colorful adventure game.

Have you met Rupert yet? He’s the star of Rope Rescue, last week’s hit puzzler. The media (and iOS gamers) have gushed over this feathered friend. Modojo gave it a perfect 5/5 and said:

“…this is without question one of the best games on the App Store, and we strongly suggest downloading it immediately. Bravo, Chillingo and developer Untame Games.”

Read the full review here.

148Apps loves Rope Rescue’s clever puzzles and accessibility for all gamers:

“While many physics based puzzle games have been done before, I can’t recall seeing something that uses ropes in this way. That level of ingenuity ensures that Rope Rescue HD is well worth playing. It’s an interesting title that’s enjoyable to play for gamers of all age and skill levels. What more could anyone want?”

Read the full review here.

Civiballs, a physics puzzler that sends you deep into the past, also picked up heady praise. Slide To Play awarded it 4 out of 4 and said:

“Civiballs is a wonderful puzzle game for casual gamers. You might fly through it more quickly than you would like, but there will always be that one or two levels you skipped that will haunt your gaming dreams. The game has remarkable charm and silly humor, and will keep you coming back for more.”

Read the full review here.

Modojo was also a fan of Civiballs:

“…it’s all about the gameplay, and we can proudly say that Civiballs delivers. Definitely one of this week’s surprise games, and well worth your hard earned cash.”

Read the full review here.

Weekly Roundup 10.21.11

This week, Chillingo engages your gray matter with a pair of charming, intelligent puzzlers. Help Rupert free bird-napped chicks in Rope Rescue. Civiballs challenges you to travel through time and solve the brain teasers from once-great empires.

Meet Rupert, the star of Rope Rescue. He’s a heroic parrot charged with the liberation of baby birds that have been kidnapped and caged by the dastardly King Bat. Help Rupert stretch lengths of rope through systems of pulleys (while avoiding tricks and traps) to throw open the doors on your feathered friends’ cages. With sixty challenging stages, each painted with stunning visuals full of charm and whimsy, Rope Rescue is sure to become an iOS gaming classic.

Screenshot from Rope Rescue.

In Civiballs, a brilliant scientist has opened a portal that lets him (and his simian friend) travel through time. Join this crazy crew and solve puzzles across ancient civilizations by maneuvering colorful spheres – the Civiballs – into corresponding vessels. Use gravity, gadgets, and good timing to complete stages and put the world of yesteryear back in order.

Screenshot from Civiballs.

And be sure not to miss last week’s excellent games: Super Crossfire and Little Lost Chick. The press raves about Super Crossfire’s breakneck action and precision controls. Here’s what Slide To Play says about Super Crossfire:

“Super Crossfire has pretty much everything a great shooter needs, with responsive controls, fast paced and challenging action, and an addictive upgrade system that lets you customize your experience. It may look retro, but Super Crossfire feels fresh, modern, and fun.”

Read the full review here.

TouchArcade totally digs Super Crossfire, too. Here’s what they say:

“After 33 years, shooting space invaders is still fun!”

Read the full review here.

148Apps heaps praise on Super Crossfire, too, awarding it 4.5/5 stars and saying:

“Super Crossfire HD is an utterly glorious retro themed yet original arcade shooter.”

Read the full review here.

C2 Estudios' Camilo Gomez

Pop culture has enjoyed a lasting affair with the Western, the oft-romanticized look into the hardscrabble American frontier where justice was meted with the business end of a six-shooter. Camilo Gomez of C2 Estudios fell in love with this world himself, and from the limitless imaginative possibilities of the Western sprang Cowboy Guns, an action-packed adventure for iPhone and iPad.

Chillingo: Where did the idea for Cowboy Guns come from? Was it always a Western-themed game?

Camilo Gomez: We had many ideas for our first iPhone game but we wanted it to be an adventure game for sure. We then saw The Warrior´s Way, we wanted to make a cowboys versus ninjas game, but then we started checking out the App Store and saw there were no cool cowboy-only games, so we ended up making a Western adventure.

Cowboy Guns’ rogue’s gallery.

Chillingo: You mentioned to me that you long loved Westerns. I do, too. The Searchers, Rio Bravo, and Vera Cruz, are big favorites. What were some of your favorites that you drew inspiration?

CG: We love Sergio Leone, the Dollars trilogy, Il Mercenario by Sergio Corbucci, and especially Once Upon a Time in the West. There’s also a very nice book I like called Incident at Twenty-Mile by Trevanian. It’s a gritty Western set in a Wyoming mining town. That was a great reference for mood and atmosphere.

Chillingo: How long was Cowboy Guns in development?

CG: Cowboy Guns took eight months from start to finish. C2 Estudio is just three guys. Sky Branding created all of the art and animations for the game. They are in the office next to us, so working together was a perfect match.

Trailer for Cowboy Guns.

Chillingo: The soundtrack is nicely matched to the Old West theme. Who composed the soundtrack and what were the inspirations?

CG: The main inspiration for the music was Ennio Morricone. He is amazing. We listened to a lot of his scores when working on Cowboy Guns. That would really set the mood around the office. Some of our favorite Morricone themes are “L´Arena,” “The Ecstasy of Gold,” and “Death Rides a Horse.” Volta Studio here in Medellin, Colombia created the soundtrack for Cowboy Guns based on these inspirations and our suggestions.

Chillingo: Do you have any special tricks or strategies you would recommend for players trying to complete the adventure?

CG: The game is a shooter, but to succeed, you need to also pace yourself as well as use cover to avoid attacks. The Kid regenerates health when he is not being hit, so if you are about to die, retreat and recover so you can live to fight another day.

Early sketch of Cowboy Guns’ control scheme.

CG: Exploration is also key to getting the most out of Cowboy Guns. See all of those stars scattered across all the levels? Collect as many as you can find, because with them, you can purchase new weapons and upgrades. If you miss some stars on a level and later you need them for an upgrade, go back and replay a level from the main map. The main map always shows you how many of the possible stars in a stage you’ve recovered.

Chillingo: The game development scene in Colombia has not received much attention — but we’re all hoping Cowboy Guns changes that. What is the development community like in Colombia?

CG: There is a growing interest in pushing forward the game development industry in Colombia, especially here in Medellin. People at Ruta N, an innovation-focused department from the mayor’s office, are working hard to help this field mature. For example, a couple of weeks ago they brought Luis Gigliotti from Famous Games Manufacturing and Evan Hirsch from Engine Co. 4 to Colombia for a really cool game design seminar.

Chillingo: What do you see in the future of the game development community in Colombia?

CG: Thanks to cheaper software and digital distribution, game development has been able to spread and flourish all around the world. We believe Colombia has great potential in this industry. We are very happy to be part of the first batch of indie developers here and hope we can help to make this a thriving and healthy environment for game development.

Weekly Roundup 10.14.11

Chillingo is pleased to bring two new hits to the App Store this week: Super Crossfire and Little Lost Chick. Whether you want to take to the stars in a retro-licious arcade shooter or master a clever physics-based puzzler, these games are must-haves for your iOS devices.

There is no right-way-up in Super Crossfire, a modern twist on the classic arcade shooter. Use Multi-Touch to teleport across the playing field and attack waves of enemy ships from both sides. Gems from dispatched foes fall to the opposite side of the battlefield from your ship; race to collect them so you can purchase important upgrades like shot spread and firing rate. How long can you survive against the invasion?

Screenshot from Super Crossfire.

In Little Lost Chick, help a baby bird return home by “tapping away” obstacles, activating gadgets, and outsmarting increasingly thoughtful challenges. This physics-based puzzler is fun for the whole family, and it’s brilliant use of color and lovable little chick makes this a game you simply have to touch. Little Lost Chick will certainly nest on your iOS device as well as in your heart.

Screenshot from Little Lost Chick.

And don’t forget to download last week’s excellent Chillingo games, Roll in the Hole and Saloon Poker.