News
Pretender Trilogy finally complete
That's right, the long awaited Part Three of the Pretender puzzle adventure series is finally here, and you can play it in your browser right here on this site. So, without further ado: play The Pretender Part Three!
Mighty Fin Expanded with More Levels, More Costumes, and More Fun
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – August 18, 2011 – Launching Pad Games is announcing a major update to their side-scrolling arcade game, Mighty Fin. Originally released for iPhone and iPod touch, Mighty Fin is now a Universal app with full iPad support. It has also doubled in content, with 8 new levels and 32 new costumes adding to the game’s addictive fun. Mighty Fin costs only $US 0.99 on the App Store and existing customers will get access to the new content via a free update.
Mighty Fin follows the curious adventures of Fin, a fish in need of a holiday who has signed up for Shady Sal’s suspiciously cheap Round the World Tour. The game’s initial levels took Fin on an increasingly dangerous voyage through a variety of aquatic tourist traps, with Survival and Endless gameplay modes providing additional challenges for skilled swimmers.
With today’s update Fin’s trip takes a decidedly surreal turn, with unexpected new locations that include a sticky-sweet candy river, a futuristic underwater city, and choppy seas swarming with pirates and ninjas. Like Mighty Fin’s launch content, the new levels include unlockable gameplay modes and hilarious collectable costumes. The addition of Universal app support makes Mighty Fin’s colorful cartoon graphics and intuitive one-touch controls even more accessible to iPad players. The new version also includes new music for even the original levels, with a unique theme for each of Fin’s destinations.
Upon its June launch, Mighty Fin garnered positive comparisons to the popular Tiny Wings and quickly earned a 4.5 star App Store rating from fans. Its addictive gameplay and extreme value impressed reviewers, with PocketGamer calling it “guaranteed to entertain.” 148Apps praised its “responsive, simple controls [and] fun atmosphere” and GamePro urged, “Get this game. I’m serious. Do it now.”
Mighty Fin for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad can be downloaded for $0.99 from the App Store.
Mighty Fin is out!
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – June 2, 2011 – Launching Pad Games is proud to announce that Mighty Fin, a lighthearted undersea excursion for iPhone and iPod touch, is now available on the App Store. Designed specifically for iOS, Mighty Fin takes full advantage of the stunning Retina Display of both iPhone and iPod touch, allows users to track high scores on leader boards with Game Center, and features an array of imaginative levels that change with every replay.
With its eye-catching cartoon artwork and addictive gameplay, Mighty Fin is easy to pick up, hard to master, and impossible to put down. In desperate need of a vacation, the game's aquatic hero has signed up for Shady Sal's suspiciously cheap Round the World Tour. Now players must guide Fin through eight side-scrolling levels featuring beautiful isles, arctic ice caves, and vicious storms. Along the way, they'll collect bonus bubbles and souvenir costumes, compete for medals and high scores, and most importantly, steer clear of deadly obstacles.
"The App Store gives us, as a small development team, the opportunity to create high quality material and put it in the hands of thousands of users around the world," says Tristan Clark, Launching Pad Games' cofounder. "Mighty Fin is fast, fun, addictive, and full of personality. Better still, it's a game that lets you dress up a fish in a cowboy hat."
The Mighty Fin App is available for $0.99 from the App Store on iPhone or iPod touch or at the iTunes App Store.
Additional Mighty Fin details, including the game's trailer and upcoming opportunities for user-generated content, can be found on Launching Pad Games' website and Facebook.
OpenFeint Achievements Added to Scarlett; Get the full game for free!
OpenFeint Achievements Added to Scarlett and the Spark of Life for iPhone / iPod Touch
Special limited-time offer: Get the full game for free!
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, February 7, 2011 – The acclaimed iPhone / iPod Touch adventure Scarlett and the Spark of Life has become even more entertaining with the addition of OpenFeint support. To mark the occasion, Launching Pad Games and OpenFeint are offering Scarlett and the Spark of Life for free—for one day only! To participate in this extremely limited-time offer, visit the game’s App Store product page.
The first of four planned Scarlett Adventures episodes, Scarlett and the Spark of Life is a witty story game with sharp writing and a memorable cast of characters. While enjoying the company—and comedy—of the gutsy Princess Scarlett and her grumpy mechanical horse, players can now also test their mettle with new OpenFeint achievements that encourage even deeper exploration of the game’s unusual world.
Since its debut in December, numerous players have fallen in love with Scarlett’s story, characters, and humor. The game has been consistently well reviewed, with Paste Magazine praising its presentation as “damn near flawless” and Wired.com’s GeekDad calling it “brilliantly written” with “priceless dialogue.” Key game features include an intuitive ‘point and tap’ interface, frustration-free gameplay, and developer commentary that provides insights into the design process.
When the limited-time free game offer ends, Scarlett and the Spark of Life will return to its new low price of $1.99. Screenshots, a trailer, and other game information can be found on the official website.
Fans who want an inside look at the game series’ development and access to special community offers are invited to visit the Scarlett Adventures Facebook page.
About Launching Pad Games
Launching Pad Games is an independent developer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Their games include the addictive Zoo Lasso for iPhone / iPod Touch and The Pretender, an ongoing puzzle series that has been enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. For more information, please visit launchingpadgames.com.
Contact
For review codes and other queries, please contact:
Tristan Clark and Tim Knauf
Co-founders of Launching Pad Games
pr@launchingpadgames.com
Scarlett and the Spark of Life On Sale Now for 99c
Scarlett and the Spark of Life On Sale Now for 99c
First major update with new content also available on the App Store
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, January 5, 2011 – Launching Pad Games announces that Scarlett and the Spark of Life, the critically acclaimed debut episode of Scarlett Adventures, has been temporarily price-slashed to 99c. Get in quick!
The 99c sale coincides with the launch of a significant new update: an innovative ‘Visual Commentary’ feature. The all-new integrated commentary takes players ‘behind the scenes’ to explore the story of Scarlett’s design and development.
Scarlett and the Spark of Life, the first of four planned episodes, introduces players to a princess with a sharp tongue and a grumpy mechanical horse with a giant ego. Built from the ground up for handheld iOS devices, it features an intuitive ‘point and tap’ interface and frustration-free gameplay. Those who’ve played the game have fallen in love with Scarlett’s design, story, characters and humor. Paste Magazine’s Kirk Hamilton praised the presentation as “damn near flawless”, while Wired.com’s Jonathon Liu called Scarlett “brilliantly written” with “priceless dialogue”.
The new Visual Commentary feature gives fans an insider’s view as they replay the game. “This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to everyone who has enjoyed Scarlett,” says Tim Knauf, one half of Launching Pad’s two-man team. “Do you want to find out about the design process or the evolution of our characters? How about the game’s bizarre original title, or the surprising number of art style changes? All this and much more is detailed in the tell-all Visual Commentary.”
To buy Scarlett and the Spark of Life: Scarlett Adventures Episode 1 for iPhone or iPod Touch at the special price of 99c, visit its App Store product page.
Further details and a trailer that showcases the game's quirky humor can be found on the official website.
About Launching Pad Games
Launching Pad Games is an independent developer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Their games include the addictive Zoo Lasso for iPhone / iPod Touch and The Pretender, an ongoing puzzle series that has been enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. For more information, please visit launchingpadgames.com.
Contact
For review codes and other queries, please contact:
Tristan Clark and Tim Knauf
Co-founders of Launching Pad Games
pr@launchingpadgames.com
More great reviews for Scarlett
We’re pleased to say that Scarlett and the Spark of Life has has won more fans among reviewers.
Wired
In his feature Girl Power: 3 iPhone Heroines, Jonathan Liu decided that the “brilliantly written” Scarlett might just be his favourite, with “priceless” dialogue choices and “a princess who speaks her mind, and it’s a sharp one.”
Jayisgames
John Bardinelli praised the game’s humour (comparing it favourably to genre classics Broken Sword and The Secret of Monkey Island — thanks, John!) and noted its appeal for casual gamers:
The humor and writing are definitely the strong points of the game, and you'll encounter several genuine laugh out loud moments while you play. An excellent adventure game for casual gamers, and a must-buy title for any iPhone/iPod Touch owner!
Spawn Kill
Rebecca Quintana awarded the game a coveted 9 out of 10 rating. She especially liked the game’s audio:
What really blew me away was the excellent sound throughout the game. While none of the game is voiced (not that I would expect it to be, and not that I think that hinders the game at all), the background sounds really stood out. Each crisp footprint or the hiss of the wind; the birds chirping or the creak, creak of a sign blowing back and forth – all of these really added to the immersiveness of the game, and definitely make playing with headphones recommended, although certainly not required.
Rebecca also judged Scarlett herself to be “beautiful and saucy”. We concur!
Spawnpoint
Tammy Ashworth was “struck by the game's disarmingly thoughtful, even intuitive, interface design”. Scarlett succeeded for her with its “quirky dialogue replete with sarcasm, swears, and some awfully bad bee jokes.” We make no apologies for any groans induced, Tammy!
Game on Mac
Finally for today, Bobby Travis said he doesn’t think he’s “ever had more fun playing a point and click adventure”. I think it’s fair to say that he absolutely loved it:
I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun playing a point and click adventure than I did when playing Scarlett and the Spark of Life. I know that’s a broad statement, but I’m absolutely serious. Everything about this game is appealing, from the modern cartoon-style art, to the off-beat sense of humor, to the extremely weird mechanical horse with a bad attitude and a God-complex. You read that right.
…
This was seriously one of the best games that we’ve ever played. If you don’t pick this up, you’re missing out.
Go get Scarlett and the Spark of Life. Even if you don’t normally like point and click (or tap) adventure games, you will probably like this one. If you have a sense of humour, it’s going to be hard not to. What are you waiting for?