Ham in the Fridge, those responsible for the well received if a bit disturbing 5 Minutes to Kill (Yourself), have been up to something. They’ve been lurking in the shadows, left to their own devices, doing something altogether unseemly. They’ve been Bumpin’ Uglies. I’ve recently had the chance to talk a bit with Brett Hummel (Creative Director) and Drew Pearson (Director, Business Development) about their odd little creation and have come away from the discussion feeling more than a little excited. Not that kind of excited.

Bumpin’ Uglies isn’t quite the depiction of debauchery that many would expect given the (awesome) title. Uglies are, in fact, these small lima bean-looking critters who are about as smart as a sack of dirt and can only get around by way of being flung. Players have to guide their ugly through a given level (32 total at the moment), gathering shinys and coins along the way, until they manage to collide with the ugly waiting at the other end. Hence the bumping. This creates a temporary whirlwind of activity, followed by the production of a number of “bumplings” possessing traits from both parent uglies. And some recessive genes, naturally. Coins gathered throughout each level can be used to unlock new level packs (3 available at launch with more to follow), more ugly parts for further customization, and special boosts (4 types available at launch) that can be used to make getting around a bit easier.

Bumpin’ Uglies is slated to release later this summer for free. If it sounds like a game worth playing (and it should), head on over to the Kickstarter page to lend a financial hand. Come on, you know you want to.

Conservation International (CI) and Disney are using the free version of Where’s My Water? in an awareness campaign to education people on the value of fresh water. Disney Friends for Change and the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund are making a $50,000 donation for the “Every Duck Counts” campaign. Now through the end of February, anyone playing the free online or mobile versions of the physics-based puzzle game featuring Swampy the Alligator will learn about fresh water facts, water saving action items, and species that depend on fresh water in CI’s project areas. They will also be encouraged to collect as many ducks as possible within the game to to raise awareness for the accessibility of clean water and its importance on a global scale. The tally of the number of ducks collected so far can be found on Disney Mobile’s Facebook page.

The donation is specifically for supporting freshwater ecosystems that support more than 126,000 species as well as more than 500 million people. This isn’t the first time Disney has been involved in such a program. In 2009, they teamed up to fund two forest projects in Peru and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as supported CI freshwater projects in South Africa and Cambodia. More information about the programs can be found here.

FREE!

Where's My Water? Free

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-20 :: Category: Games

Everyone loves a good iOS port, right? It seems like App Store shoppers are always clamoring to have versions of their favorite PC and console games on their phones, pads and pods. I know I’m certainly no exception. Enter the original Inertia: a nifty gravity-manipulating platformer that took home the SMU Guildhall grand prize for non-commercial games back in February. The title’s creators have since joined Red Fly Studio, and will be bringing a “console gaming experience” spiritual successor of sorts to iOS and Android devices shortly.

Inertia: Escape Velocity requires players to use their wits, as well as plenty of finesse, in order to navigate each level successfully. Bouncing, gliding and floating will be essential for scooping up scrap (to repair a damaged ship, naturally) which will grant access to even more levels. Touch controls are the standard, but there’s also an option to use accelerometer to make things a bit more intense. Of course, players can opt for even more intensity (that’s “Intense x 2″ for anyone doing the math) by jumping into the “Inferno” versions of each stage.

Inertia: Escape Velocity is set to release next month, December 1st, for $1.99 (iPhone/iPod) and $2.99 (iPad). Keep a sharp eye.