Tag: Chillingo »

The original Feed Me Oil was an imaginative and fun physics puzzler with some serious wackiness. No, really, it was awesome. And now the sequel is looming on the horizon.

Feed Me Oil 2 is focusing on "more of the same, only better, and more." The visuals have been dressed-up significantly with sharper graphics, more all-around detail, and even weirder environments. You'll be using gadgets to direct the flow of a-bubblin-crude, as expected, but now there are even more tools thrown in that can alter your strategies. The oil physics have seemingly been tweaked for the better, and water has been added (along with other environmental stuff) to further mix things up. In many ways it's the same game as it still uses the three-star rating system that grants more stars when you use fewer items, and those stars can be traded in for level hints, but if it ain't broke, right?

You can expect to see Feed Me Oil 2 in the App Store in the beginning of January of next year (only a couple months away, really), where you'll be able to grab it for $0.99.

Whether someone is musically inclined or not, there's a good chance they've dabbled in its creation at least once in their lifetime. Of course it's never easy to put something that sounds good together when you have zero experience, but Chillingo's new freemium social music creation/sharing game, Zya is looking to change that. I had the pleasure of checking out a hands-off demo at EA's recent Holiday Showcase, and I have to say I came away impressed despite my initial skepticism.

Each song you can create is made up of different parts - such as a guitar, drums, vocals, and background vocals for example. You can tweak each section to your liking by selecting various band members who each produce a unique sound, giving them different instruments which also produce unique sounds, then choosing to either use the default samples or create your own. If you decide to create your own you can tap out drum beats or even record your own vocals, then add effects until they sound just right. It's worth noting that there are different characters for different musical genres, and it's entirely possible (and even encouraged) to mix them all up to create some truly unique tunes. It's all cloud-based too, so new game content such as extra songs and characters can be dropped in almost instantly.

You'll have access to a single genre pack of your choosing (pop, rock, etc) from the start, and can purchase additional characters, instruments, microphones, and so on using points earned through creating songs and sharing your tracks with the world. It's even possible to have Zya create and post a YouTube video of your performance. Licensed music is also available, and can be altered just as much as everything else, but require an in-app purchase to unlock. Not surprising given that it's licensed music, really. Still, being able to remix popular songs and share them so easily is a pretty cool concept.

Zya will be out this December.

Take note, everybody: Icycle: On Thin Ice is a game to watch out for.

I was able to get some hands-on time with Chillingo's new bicycling platformer recently, and wow is it gorgeous. Icycle is a story about a lonely naked man named Dennis as he pedals his bicycle through a frozen world while he searches for love. I'm totally not embellishing that. You'll be guiding Dennis by way of fairly standard touch controls: arrow buttons to move, jump, and tap jump again to glide using an umbrella. Gathered ice cubes from each level can be used to buy new gear for Dennis - some cosmetic like new hats, others more utilitarian such as new bicycles or umbrellas - and most stages have at least one or two secrets to uncover.

What really makes Icycle one to watch, however, is the art style. The game uses a very beautiful and stylized vector look, and features some very impressive animations and designs that really stand out. I mean just look at those screens. Look at them.

Icycle: On Thin Ice should be out in December and will sell for $0.99. The initial release will feature 24 levels (each with challenges to complete and secrets to uncover), with more content planned for future updates.

A little while ago, Chillingo released this adorable little game about giving a cute little monster some candy. Cut the Rope has done pretty well for itself since then.

Well, if for some odd reason you've missed out on either the original or iPad-only HD version, now is the time to act! For one week only, both Cut the Rope and Cut the Rope HD are totally free. So there's certainly no time like the present to start feeding the little critter sweets in the most complicated fashion imaginable.