Los Gatos, California – Following up on the November launch of their first iPhone game, Pixel Classic, the developers at popGumbo have just released A Pixel Christmas 2012 for iPhone. And once again, users are invited to interact with with the game’s hero in a way that’s different from most games: head-on.
Pixel, the lovable star of both games, is a cheeky, funny, and sometimes even sulky, winged pixel whose arsenal of antics is sure to keep players entertained during, and even after game play.
A loss might result in Pixel momentarily playing dead or falling of the screen, but he always quickly recovers, to begin skating, winking, blowing kisses, or even dancing Gangnam style between levels. He’s even been known to shed occasional tears of joy at a particularly good score.
But Pixel’s larger than life personality isn’t the only thing that sets these games apart from others, because, unlike most popular games, Pixel is never miniaturized, or viewed only in profile; instead, the charmingly-animated character is front-and-center for the duration of every game. And, while the gameplay itself is different from most titles, the face-to-face interaction is the first thing players are likely to notice as, according to lead developer Khris, it’s often only seen in games of a violent nature.
“As first-time game developers, we wanted to make a game that was as appealing to as many people as possible. We had no interest in creating anything violent or negative, so our first objective was to create a game that was challenging and interesting for adults, while still being kid-friendly. We also knew we needed to do something really different… of course, everyone says that, but apparently, it’s easier said than done.
“We’re iPhone-obsessed, and we love the same games as everyone else. Angry Birds, Tiny Wings, Cut the Rope and Jetpack Joyride are brilliant games that, quite frankly, don’t need to be redesigned or cloned by other developers. And, as typical, obsessive, iPhone users, we know that there’s a real desire for games and apps that are different and exciting; we all want that great feeling you get you find another great reason to pick up your iPhone.
“With apps, that might be finding a cool solution to an everyday problem, or turning a typically mundane task into something engaging and fun – still a challenge for developers, but in a different way from games. People don’t have to play games – they want to play them, and they want them to be fun – so, for the first time as developers, our mission was different. As a result, we built two games that can’t really even be categorized by standard formatting –they’re not endless runners, role-playing, or match-3 games – and also, they’re very character-centric.”
So character-focused are Pixel Classic and A Pixel Christmas 2012, that the entire idea for the series of games originated after seeing a single drawing of Pixel, created by artist/developer Koko Yoso. Khris elaborates: “We instantly loved this character, and knew that others would too. And we felt that affection after seeing just one simple drawing. After hours of meticulous animation work, Pixel’s personality actually started emerging into something far more complex than we ever anticipated. We think players will be delighted to work with Pixel and achieve their joint goal.”
And what is their goal?
To feed Pixel as many bits and bytes as it takes to clear the level. Accomplishing that mission is deceptively simple: just tap the screen to move the colored rings right or left. When the center ring matches Pixel’s current color, the ring disappears and Pixel gets a bit to eat. The longer the chain of rings cleared, the more Pixel gets to eat, and the more points scored.
Along the way, Pixel and partner might encounter laser rings that stick Pixel’s wings in place; fading rings that become transparent, leaving the player to guess at which color they are; and in most cases, the Pixel’s console will inform you that you have to end on a certain color and number of rings in order to win the level.
A Pixel Christmas 2012 was created exclusively for the iOS, and contains 36 levels; 4 original holiday songs; 6 Christmas-flavored themes, and original artwork. In the coming weeks, popGumbo is planning to release “Pixel Classic HD” for iPad, as well as a Pixel-based game for children.
Device Requirements:
* iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3/4/5 gen) and iPad
* Requires iOS 6.0 or later
* 21.7 MB
Pricing and Availability:
A Pixel Christmas 2012 (v1.0) is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category.
A Pixel Christmas 2012 (v1.0)
Purchase and Download
Media Assets
popGumbo creates high-quality apps and games for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Their newest huggable hero is Pixel, the star of Pixel Classic and A Pixel Christmas 2012. popGumbo also produces digital music and art, with their first digital art book scheduled to be released in 2013. Copyright (C) 2012 popGumbo. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
