IGF Mobile Finalist + Update 3.5 Submitted!

Hook Champ is a finalist in the IGF Mobile awards, at http://www.igfmobile.com/

We're up in the Best Iphone Game category! This is the most prestigious award possible for our work. Even getting nominated is a pretty huge deal.


Update 3.5 was submitted yesterday. It includes:

- The first attempt to fix performance issues for a small group of people that are having control lag problems. There's now a "speed fix" mode in options that will resolve control lag, and will also hopefully help framerate for those afflicted people. We plan to spend more time with this in update 4 if that doesn't quite do it.

- Hookbot no longer has to worry about ghost death on the Forbidden Hat levels. However, he is also on strike for those levels and will not pick up hats. If you want to unlock the special hats for those levels, you'll have to do it as a human.

- By popular request, a new item has been added to Hookbot that provides protection against lava and acid.

- OpenFeint scoreboards for the Stone, Bronze, and Silver Hatboxes added.


Update 4 work has already started. It was delayed a little by Update 3.5. The next update should be ready in early February.

Update 3.5 Nearing Completion

We've been working on an update mostly for people that have been experiencing a weird slowdown bug. The last patch should have increased speeds for everyone across the board, but a few people have had large slowdowns on lava levels. If you've been having this problem, please post below with your OS version.

Full list of Update 3.5 changes:

- Fixing the slowdown bug some people are having.
- Making Hookbot immune to the ghosts on the newest levelset.
- OpenFeint scoreboards for the latest levels.
- OpenFeint save restore functionality.

This will delay Update 4 slightly, which should now be in early February. Update 4 will be another big update, and will include new levels. These levels, and all levels in the future, will be new "normal difficulty" extra level sets. These will all be available without having to beat Bull, and will generally be more casual levels.

DLC Profile Art

As requested, here are the profiles from the DLC screens of Hookbot and Zelle. Later I'll figure out where to put all the Hook Champ art assets in a more accessible place.

Update 3 Out!

Have fun dying in the new levels! We'll be monitoring the update for any problems and working on our next game.

Update 3 submitted! **Then Resubmitted**

Now it's in Apple's court to approve the update! Get ready for:

- Challenge revamp, now better than ever before. Race each other's ghosts back and forth until you or your opponent run out of lives!

**UPDATE TO ABOVE: We had to delay this one and resubmit the update early today, January 11th, due to a show-stopping bug we discovered. Everything else is still ready to go, so this will be an update 4 feature now.**

- OpenFeint 2.4!

- New ultra-difficult level set in the Ghost Realm! The Ghost Realm has the most forbidden and therefore best hats.

- Performance and control tweaks! Ok, this isn't as exciting as the above two.

- Hats! Hats! Hats!

- A final DLC character, this one's cosmetic only. New dialog, super stylish.

- More requests and features that you guys demanded, including a minimal graphics alternative to ghosts, for true pro's.

Update 4 is already being worked on. Expect 4 new levels, with an all new gameplay type (**And also now the new Challenge framework we had to delay**)!

Upcoming Update 3 Feature List

Update 3 features that we're working on:

1. New level set! The theme: Outer Space. The gameplay gimmick: Brutal Difficulty. Three levels of you dying, then one level of us expressing our condolences for your dying so much.

2. Best ghost run is saved, even if you have ghosts temporarily turned off!

3. Huge revamp to the challenge system, in which it becomes both back-and-forth and lives based. We think that the result will be so good that it will become the gold standard.

4. Lite update, so it will fully support OpenFeint and ghost races and so on.

5. Revamp to how the rope upgrades work. In short, the beginning rope will be much longer and the final rope will be about the same. This is to help with the learning curve for completely new players.

6. New DLC character, if the first DLC character was well-received.

7. New hats for all old and new characters.

8. OpenFeint 2.4!

9. Various new feature requests from the TouchArcade forum, blog comments, emails, and the app store reviewers.

10. More stuff that I'm probably forgetting right now.


We'll announce when the above is submitted. Enjoy Update 2 in the meantime.

Update 2 Out!

Well, that came out really fast!

Get more information about the newest update on Hook Champ's iTunes Page.

All purchases of the new 99 cent DLC character will go towards us buying name-brand pizza rolls. Not the generic brands. If the 99 cent character is successful enough, we'll both make a second character and buy the more expensive Totino's brand of pizza rolls.

A short list of our plans for update 3 will be posted later tonight!

Update 2 submitted!

Update 2 was submitted late last night. Prepare yourself!

We're going to take a short Hook Champ break to work on the prototype of our next game. After that, more Hook Champ updates are on the way. Now that we've added so many new features, we really want to accomplish three things in a future update:

1. Some more levels.
2. More OpenFeint polish.
3. More Hats.

Update 2 Changelog Preview

Coming soon in Update 2:

- New costume system! Buy alternate looks in the shop. New winterized looks for Jake, Gunny, and Hookbot.

- New 99 cent DLC character: Hookbot! Features recharging rocketboots and wall smashing abilities.

- Ultra expensive, ultra fancy Megahooks! Each character gets their own Megahook, unique in appearance. 3,000 gold each!

- New Item, Jake only: A 5th rocketjump fuel tank, concealed safely in his hat.

- Challenge polishing and updates to the system.

- Quick Character Select on map screen.

- 24 new hats! 5 for Jake, 5 for Gunny, 14 for Hookbot.

- More features, yet to be announced!

Update 1 Out!

The new update is all the way live! Update it!

WHAT'S NEW IN THIS VERSION:

- New unlockable character with bigger guns (and almost as many hats)!
- New Challenge Levels, with the fastest Chaser ever!
- OpenFeint Leaderboards and Achievements!
**** The FIRST GAME EVER to feature OpenFeint Ghost Race Challenges! ****
- New hats! More hats than previously thought possible!
- New item for Jake to help out in lava-heavy levels.
- Restart Level option in Pause Menu!
- Numerous bug fixes (including that mute switch!), tweaks, improvements, and much much more!

If you don't have the game yet, you can fix that by clicking here.

Happy Black Friday!

Still waiting for the first update. The good news is that we're already working on the second update! More news on this to come!

Hook Champ Roundup 4 and Update 1 News

More reviews!

AppSmile: 4 out of 5.
The Appera calls us an "App store classic", and those are totally their italics.
NoDPad recently gave us their Game of the Month honors.
AppVee gave us a 5/5 and has a gameplay video up.
Gaygamer gives us a 10/10.

We had to delay the submission of Hook Champ for about a week. Why? To cram two more huge features into the first update. We're totally done now, we swear. The update will be played by everyone as soon as Apple approves it.

The two extra features:
- OpenFeint Challenges now let you *race against the challenger's ghost*. Their ghost replays all their moves. Beat their ghost and you'll also beat their time!
- Whenever you replay a level, it will play the ghost of your best time for you. Beat your own ghost and you'll be looking at a new personal best time!

We'll take a short break and then get to work on update 2. Update 2 is going to be a little smaller than update 1. It will also be much less secretive. We'll be posting features and screenshots as we work on it.

Hook Champ First Update TouchArcade Exclusive

That's kind of a long title.

See a bunch of info about new major features in the first update for Hook Champ right here, on TouchArcade. They also have a video of the new character, levels, and some hats!

We're on track to submit this massive update on the weekend. The update should get to the hands of the players before November's over with.

Hook Champ Roundup 3

"I can’t recommend this retro style platformer enough, especially at this price. It’s the first game I’ve reviewed here that I think is a must buy. This game should definitely be in the top 100 games in the App Store."

-- 148Apps.com Review

"Video game characters love grappling hooks, and we love to help them swing around with them."

-- JayisGames.com Mobile Mondays

"Hook Champ for the iPhone and iPod Touch is a platform game in a league of its own."

-- Game Itch Review

"The equipment upgrade system is particularly excellent—it significantly adds to the game’s replayability, as you can return to previously defeated levels, and explore different paths in the hopes of getting new treasures, or finding faster travel routes."

-- ArtoftheiPhone.com Review

"With excellent old school pixel graphics, killer retro music, and perfectly tuned controls, Hook Champ came into the ring swinging and earned its title as the new world champion grappling platformer."

-- TheCurrentGamer.com Review

The Current Gamer also made Hook Champ their Game of the Month!

We're ranking on AppClassics.com. Not bad!

As a bonus, enjoy some Hook Champ Tips.

Hook Champ: Review Roundup 2

"Spelunky meets Bionic Commando... Hook Champ's a perfect example of the App Store's overlooked gems."
-- BoingBoing.net Feature

"With a superb retro style and a script littered with chuckles aplenty, Hook Champ is largely a joy to play and especially hard to put down."
-- PocketGamer.uk Review, Silver Award!

"Definitely worth the $3 asking price, but there's a Lite version if you're still not convinced."
-- MTV Multiplayer Round-Up

"Hook Champ is simpel, maar desondanks heeft het alles wat een game moet hebben: het is leuk!"
-- iPhoneclub.nl Review

"Overall I can’t find much to fault in Hook Champ, it is cheap, great looking, a lot of fun and has some depth to it thanks to the upgrade options."
-- Techulous Review

"Hook Champ is practically the best iPhone game released this year that I’ve played so far."
-- Nine Over Ten Review

"How beautiful, if it works efficiently. This one is filled with the joy of moving wires."
-- Tarolog Review


Also check out a Youtube video review of Hook Champ, Right Here.

First Look at the First Update!

SlidetoPlay has an article and screenshots of a major new feature coming in the first content update. You'll be able to unlock and then play as Gunny! Gunny will be able to get as many as four shotgun shots per level, while Jake also gets his own advantage. Read more about it in SlidetoPlay's Article!

This is just one new major feature. The first update will have two more major features, and numerous small requests and other tweaks. These will all be announced in the next two weeks. Keep watching!

Hook Champ Lite is finally out!

Each time the Lite version is downloaded, it gives Hook Champ a little bit more exposure. Let everyone know!



App Store Link to Lite Version

Hook Champ: Review Roundup!

"If you're looking to get your swing on with humor, style, and old-school charm, Hook Champ is the way to go."
--SlidetoPlay.com Review

"Hook Champ is an absolutely fantastic game that all fans of retro styled sidescrollers should own. The threads on our forums are filled with enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive impressions of the game."
--TouchArcade.com Review

"Hook Champ does a delightful job of being fast and fun, with upgrades, unlockables, and heaps of challenge."
--1up.com Review

"Look, swinging is just good, clean fun. You like fun, right? Then buy Hook Champ."
--Nodpad.com Review

"This is an excellent game to purchase and you will definetly like it if you like grappling hooks, platformers, and awesome games."
--Pocketfullofapps.com Review

Toucharcade Forums Love Us!

See the Toucharcade forums thread. Universal praise so far!

I'll be posting reviews here and on the Hook Champ page as they come up. Also watch for some random fun stuff.

Bull Trailer

Jake can survive brief skims in lava, though it's not advisable to do this. Unless you want to be awesome.

Hook Champ: Monkey Trailer

While we wait for Apple to put Hook Champ up on the App Store, we're going to be making preview trailers.

Keep an eye out for the release of the game! On the opening weekend, the game will be only 99 cents, down from the usual 2.99 price. It will be the biggest sale we'll have for the game. Get it early for a big discount.

Looking for Testers!

We're entering the final beta for Hook Champ. See the below post for super secret Hook Champ footage.

Send me an email at kepa321@gmail.com to get in, while spots last. The game is for the iPod touch and iPhone, both 3g and not 3g. Include your device's UDID. See you in beta!

Update: Beta's over! No more beta testers are needed.

Hook Champ announced + trailer

We've been busy with the above game. It's very close to being released.

Near future list of things to do:

1. Final beta testing.
2. Sending to Apple.
3. Second Trailer to celebrate release, with new footage.