Tag: Cut the Rope »

They always say that during the holidays it is better to give than to receive.  Cut The Rope developer ZeptoLab seems to have taken that to heart.  To show their unwavering dedication and appreciation to the fans they just released update version 1.6 to the App Store classic, entitled "Buzz Box," completely free of charge.

So over a year after this iOS mainstay debuted it is once again, both literally and figuratively, changing the game.  Here is what you can expect to find in the newest update:

"The award-winning, physics-based puzzler you can’t get enough of introduces Om Nom to a new box filled with 25 exciting levels. The update also introduces a Busy Bee feature with bees that never stop buzzing as they keep moving and stretching the ropes, bringing a challenging new element to the game..."

Just in case you were curious to see how the new "Busy Bee"s will mix things up, check out the trailer below.  For those out there without this installed on every iOS device under the sun, what the heck are you waiting for? We promise that you will not regret it.

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When an iOS game has over 1.6 million unique users every single day, it is pretty safe to say that it might be successful.  One of the very few apps that can boast that kind of statistic would be the run away success Cut The Rope.  Just trying to wrap my brain around the absurdity of that many players in a single day is nigh impossible, so I don't even bother trying to comprehend the game's total download count of over 60 million across the iOS and Android platforms.

So with that many people being invested in the plight of poor little Om Nom, you might have wondered where the little critter came from, what exactly it is, and how it came to love sugary treats.  ZeptoLab decided that the best way to answer this and many more questions was to launch a new comic, explaining his entire origin story.  The series' companion app just launched yesterday on the App Store, with a completely free first issue.

If the first story strikes your fancy, the rest of the episodes will be available for two dollars.  There will also be a full print run of the comic coming next year, so there is a little bit of something for everyone.  Give the first issue a read and let us know if you like it in the comments.

Source: TechCrunch

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With the holidays right around the corner, many developers are releasing holiday-related updates for their apps, not to mention extra content in general. Chillingo is one such company. The publisher contacted us today to inform us about its own holiday gift to its fans.

For fans of Cut the Rope, the studio is releasing Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift, which comes with 25 holiday-themed levels and holiday-themed obstacles. The levels in the game feature holiday-inspired visuals, including scattered Christmas trees and ropes made of lights. Furthermore, some levels feature holiday stockings with special physics effects. Users can drop candy into on stocking and it’ll shoot out of another.

The update also adds a new holiday gift card feature. Here, users can create gift cards by adding the game’s mascot, Om Nom, to pictures in user’s photo library. There are also other holiday related visual effects that users can superimpose over their photos, including Santa hats, bells and more.

The best part about Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift is it’s free.

The publisher is also celebrating the third-year anniversary of Sneezies with a free update for fans. The update adds new levels to play through. The developer chose to make the content available to all users, including those who have not played through the original set.

“Before this update, we hesitated to add new levels to Sneezies, because we know the Classic game mode gets progressively harder, and making it to the end is pretty epic already,” the developer wrote in its blog update. "So, we added a completely new menu option: New Sneezies.”

Both the Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift and Sneezies update are now available on the iTunes App Store.

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Why don't we live in a world where seeing Batman walking down the street is normal? Such a shame.

On This Episode:

Carter recaps the mobile gaming offerings at SDCC 2011.

Carter speaks to Jonathan Hunt of GameSalad about their game programming product, and gets a demo of what can be instantly produced using the software.

Carter speaks to David Hedgecock of Ape Entertainment about the upcoming Cut the Rope comic, and how the franchise will translate into this new medium.

Who We Are:

Host: Carter Dotson

Guest: Jonathan Hunt, GameSalad

Guest: David Hedgecock, Ape Entertainment

Contact The Show: Email | Twitter

Music:

"Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)" by The Eternal - Download on iTunes here:

"Nanocarp" by The Eternal

How to Listen:

Click Here to Subscribe in iTunes:

Click Here to Subscribe via RSS.

Listen on WRGT Radio every Friday at 4pm Central

Listen Here: [powerpress]

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Hugely popular iOS game developers, Chillingo, have today announced that they're not finished with feeding the cute little creature, Om Nom, just yet. The hit game, Cut the Rope, will be receiving its version 1.4 update in the near future, entitled 'Toy Box'. With this update will come 25 brand new levels, some new features and even new game mechanics that'll offer players some different ways to feed the little, green fellow.

New features will include a 'Star Key' that allows players to unlock boxes and the ability to choose what type of food is being played with -- so it's the players' choice whether Om Nom has candy or donuts, but please do try to mix it up and ensure the little guy gets a balanced and varied diet. They're also putting some hidden drawings into every box which can be unlocked and shared with friends via Facebook, while the final listed feature will allow one to get those friends playing by way of a built in 'Gift This App' option.

Finally, seeing as it's a 'Toy Box' update, there had better be some toys, right? Well there is; Chillingo are also launching a range of plush Om Nom toys, pictured below, although there's no revelation of when or where we'll be able to buy these from just yet.

You must have control!

On This Episode:

Carter speaks to Todd Hamilton of Joypad about their app that turns iPhones and iPod touches into game controllers for PC, Mac, and iPad games, and talks about what could come in the future for games that support Joypad.

Carter speaks to Semyon Voinov of ZeptoLab about the game's new Android release, and the content that's been added to the game since its original release.

Who We Are:

Host: Carter Dotson

Guest: Todd Hamilton, Joypad

Guest: Semyon Voinov, ZeptoLab

Contact The Show: Email | Twitter

Music:

"Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)" by The Eternal - Download on iTunes here:

"Nanocarp" by The Eternal

How to Listen:

Click Here to Subscribe in iTunes:

Click Here to Subscribe via RSS.

Listen on WRGT Radio every Friday at 4pm Central

Listen Here: [powerpress]

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Next up in the Chillingo gauntlet of awesomeness was a game that was very obviously catering to the kind of audience that would have appreciated the publisher's prior smash hit, Cut The Rope.  No, Roll In The Hole isn't a sequel or even really a spiritual successor as much as it is borrowing from a very similar graphical art style and simplistic control scheme.  That said, not only is the game aesthetically pleasing, but the easy to grasp controls will surely catapult the game to the top of many's "must own" list.

Players are placed placed in control of a portly panda that is shaped like a giant beachball. This poor misshapen mammal is not only lost, but is in dire need of sustenance of the ice cream variety.  Sure, his doctor may be advising against massive lactose consumption, but the overweight heart wants what the heart wants.  In order to snag these frozen snacks and reach the end of each of Roll In The Hole's seventy two levels, the goal is to guide the gentle giant from left to right, using only a simple touch to the left or right side of the screen.

While navigation may be easy, the different terrains make it more difficult for this panda to move.  Ice, sand and grass all have different amounts of drag and effect how quickly your bear rotates and gains momentum.  Making matters even crazier, the ridiculously and purposefully ludicrous plot-line will take you anywhere from a desert to outer space!

If you couldn't tell already, this is the kind of game that is not concerned with being taken too seriously.  For that very reason, I can't help but think that it will be a smashing success.  Roll In The Hole has a little bit of something for everyone and come on, how could you not want to download the game when you see how adorable it is?  It should be rolling onto the App Store later this July.



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Chillingo had quite the busy week last week; recent release and iPhone Game of the Week recipient Feed Me Oil hit number one on the iPhone App Store. As well, their published title Cut The Rope, developed by ZeptoLab, won an Apple Design Award. On top of all this, Chillingo announced that their apps have reached 140 million total downloads. In order to help increase that number, they've released several new games and updates for their current titles.

Rocket Bunnies is an action platformer where players must navigate an eponymous Rocket Bunny around planets, using their gravity to feed hungry bunnies throughout the game's 60 levels. Controls are as simple as tapping on a different planet to fly to it, keeping timing of where the Rocket Bunny is in account to launch at the proper angle, with boost bonuses available for launching at certain spots. The game is available now for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad.

SEED 2 Free is a free version of the second entry in Chillingo and CH Games' action-RPG franchise for iOS. The game promises over 200 battlefields, 24 villages, and a wide variety of missions, all culminating with multiple endings. This is the same game as the $0.99 full version, just supported by ads on the title screen and in the character status/inventory menus. There are also in-app purchases for SEED points that can be used for in-game upgrades.

As well as these new releases, Spider Jack, recently discussed on The Portable Podcast, has gotten a new set of 25 levels. The veritcally-scrolling shmup Sky Combat has been updated with a new Arctic Campaign. Finally, the action/puzzle game Collision Effect has gotten a new game type, called "Life Force Mode." Chillingo have been publishing a lot of games this year, and between these recent releases and updates and other titles previously announced, there's sure to be more to come.

It is hard to argue that people are not looking for hardcore gaming experiences on their iOS devices.  In a world where Angry Birds and Cut the Rope sell millions of copies, it was nice to see a niche hardcore game succeed against all odds.  Sure, it didn't hurt that ChAIR's release had the backing of development powerhouse Epic Games, but when Infinity Blade racked up an impressive $1.65 million dollars in sales over the span of a mere five days, skeptics were suddenly silenced.

Ever since then the studio has quietly been churning away on several additional content updates, but nothing that would satiate the yearning of multiplayer junkies that desired to face off head-to-head with human adversaries.  This is why yesterday's announcement of a brand new update to everyone's favorite medieval Mike Tyson Punch-Out clone is so exciting!  The full rundown of Thursday's upcoming update are as follows:

• 

  Enter the Arena:  Assuming the role of Titan or Knight, Infinity Blade fans can now challenge their friends to multiplayer matches online via Game Center!


• Survivor Mode: Players face off against a legion of Titans to see how far they can go!


• New Holiday Helms!  A new helm for every season, ready to be played and mastered!


• More than two dozen new magic rings, swords, shields, and helmets for players to collect and master.


• New Facebook integration allows fans to view their character on their profile and take a screen grab to share with friends.


• Much more! New Achievements, additional Leaderboards, and some new surprises!

Just when you thought Infinity Blade was getting a little old and tired, news like this comes along and kicks the game's fanbase into overdrive.  All of those that have been crying out for Game Center multiplayer should be more than pleased, while the developers still haven't forgotten the hardcore single player supporters that have been patiently grinding away since the last update.

So now the question becomes where can ChAIR go from here?  Let us know what you think is coming next in the comment section.

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