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Category Archives: Retro
Squigs! full version in App Store’s ‘What’s Hot’
As many of you know, last week we released Squigs! Free to the Apple App store and in only a few short days we’ve already received over 1,000 downloads. But we haven’t forgotten about the Squigs! full version that quickly. Today it was featured in the second place spot in Apple’s ‘What’s Hot’ for puzzle games.
To download both versions of Squigs visit the Apple App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/squigs!/id453536040?mt=8.
Extra life for retro game addicts
“There’s always that place and time where it takes you back to when you were a kid. In a bigger sense, I would say that retro gaming in general has gotten a lot bigger.”
That’s the opinion of David Kaelin CEO and president of Game Over, a new and rapidly expanding chain of nostalgic video game stores opening up across Texas. I hadn’t heard of Game Over until I read this great retro-gaming feature in the Houston Chronicle last week. But there is an unmistakable swell of affection out there among 30 and 40-somethings for the video games of our youth. Disenfranchised techies like us who have seen our games consoles replaced by business machines are rediscovering an urge to meet like-minded souls and talk and trade affectionately over a mutual love of memories such as Donkey Kong, the Super NES, Megaman, Atari and the microcomputer titles of our youth.
The good news is that unlike many other nostalgia addictions, retro-gaming remains inexpensive and accessible for us all. You can track down your regional equivalent of Game On or scour eBay for titles you craved for as a youth but can now pick up for just a few pounds. Or even more conveniently, why not install a console emulator on your laptop, or better still just tap the mobile app market, notably Apple’s AppStore, for seamless ports of classic thumb-numbing fun?
As Bill Loguidice, managing director of the superb video game history site Armchair Arcade told the Houston Chronicle: “Every time there’s a new platform, you inevitably see versions of these games on it. There’s just something timeless about these games.”
We couldn’t agree more. And we’re keen to hear your own take on retro games, especially if you’re an iPhone or iPod Touch gamer. When do you play? What games do you long for? Please complete our survey here.
Squigs releases awesome new 1.1 version
If you can’t get enough of Squigs, the addictive, three-in-a-row retro style puzzle game, then you’re in luck. This past week Squigs released version 1.1, adding even more great features.
This latest version of Squigs adds both hard and easy level options as well as updated About and Help menu tabs, updated icons and more. The awesome, fun-for-all-ages puzzle game also features the high-definition controls and enhanced sound added for the first time in this year’s iOS release.
Originally released for the Amiga Computer in 1993, Squigs challenges you to rearrange the falling characters to match and eliminate vertical, horizontal and diagonal groups. By continuing through multiple levels, you’ll uncover all nine Squigs.
Job Hibbins, the man behind the original game as well as the modern development team said, “The new version of Squigs fuses proven, addictive gameplay with exciting modern concepts… a perfect fit for Apple iOS devices, and a satisfying experience for Squigs veterans and new players alike.”
To download the newest game, visit the iTunes store today. To read the entire release, go here. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the most up-to-date Squigs news.
Mobile gaming habits: Squigs wants to know what’s on your iPhone
Over the last few days we’ve been conducting a survey to find out more about iPhone / iOS users and their gaming habits. We’ve asked which games people are downloading, how often they play, where they play, plus a few questions that are close to our Squigs hearts – such as which retro games iPhone owners miss the most.
We’re already receiving some great responses both online and offline, so if you’d like to participate, then please spare just a few moments and fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/squigs-survey
We will be sharing the full results over the next few weeks, so please have your say today.
Meanwhile, a big thank you to all of you who are downloading and playing Squigs! Please leave us AppStore reviews to let us know how much you’re enjoying the game, and if you haven’t played it yet, then be sure to check it out.
Squigs: Gaming that is retro AND cutting-edge…
You may have encountered Squigs for the very first time as an iPhone or iPad app, but like all great retro games, it has had a long and interesting history. Long before Jon (Hibbins) developed the iOS version which was released on the App Store on 7 November this year, he created the first version of Squigs for the Commodore Amiga microcomputer.
The game was first released on a cover disk for Amiga Power Magazine back in September 1993. For the Amiga 500 (A500). Though by that time Commodore had already launched the Amiga A4000/030 – a hugely impressive home computer of its time and seemingly light years ahead of its A500, A2000 and A3000 predecessors. But just how advanced was this powerful desktop system compared to the throwaway smartphones of today? 
We thought it might be fun to compare a few facts and figures to see how a trusty 1993 Amiga would stand up in 2011.
Processors:
Amiga A500: Motorola 68000 microprocessor running at 7.15909 MHz (NTSC) or 7.09379 MHz (PAL), 32-bit
iPhone 4S: Dual-core Apple running at 800MHz
RAM:
Amiga A500: 512 kB of Chip RAM upgradable to 1024 kb
iPhone 4S: 512MB
Storage:
Amiga: 880 kB standard Amiga disks
iPhone 4S: Up to 64GB HDD and no removable media
Graphics:
Amiga A500: PAL mode: 320 × 256, 640 × 256, 640 × 512 (interlace), 704 × 576 in overscan.
NTSC mode: 320 × 200, 640 × 200, 640 × 400 (interlace), 704 × 484 in overscan. from a palette of 4096 colours.
iPhone 4S: 3.5” retina display with 940×640 pixel resolution at 326ppi, SGX 543MP2 dedicated GPU producing 30fps HD video
Operating system
Amiga: AmigaOS 1.2+
iPhone 4S: iOS5
Connectivity:
Amiga A500: Two DB9M sockets for joysticks or mice (as popularized by the Atari 2600),A parallel port (DB25F).Analogue RGB 50 Hz PAL and 60 Hz NTSC video output,A floppy drive port (DB23F) and Stereo audio
iPhone 4S: WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, Stereo Audio, Video Output, GPS…
Dimensions:
Amiga: 390mm(L) x175mm(W) x360mm(H)
iPhone 4S: 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37”
’18 years after its first release’: 148Apps reviews Squigs
We’re excited to announce that the first review for Squigs has come in. With a nod to past gaming greats on home platforms such as the Amiga, as well as an appreciation for recent surge of retro games being converted to iOS, Jennifer Allen at 148Apps has crafted a great review of Squigs. 
“It’s nice to see games from that era being converted to iOS, even more so when it’s done by the original developer,” Jennifer said. She also goes on to describe Squigs as, “entertaining stuff that’s bound to be rather addictive.”
To see the entire review, go here. To give your personal opinion on the game, leave comments here, tweet at us (@SquigsGame), or comment on our Facebook page.
Please ‘Like’ Squigs on Facebook
Even though the Squigs come from the far-off land of Squigstopia, they won’t stop fighting until they’ve taken over every planet and person they can, including the 60 million users on Facebook. But they can’t do it without your help. Login to Facebook today to ‘Like’ Squigs and join the effort to get the word out about this awesome and addictive game. Who doesn’t love a retro-style mobile game, complete with colorful characters?
By getting involved with Squigs on Facebook, you’ll have access to real-time game updates, survey questions, contests, and more.
Go to Facebook now to ‘Like’ Squigs and encourage your friends to do the same. Because the last things you want on your hands are a bunch of angry Squigs.
Welcome back to Squigtopia, earthling
So you’ve returned. Years ago, you tried to invade and overrun Squigtopia. We’ve been preparing for your return and we’re armed and ready to keep you off our planet. We’ve been training and brought in extra help this time. To take our land and planet, you’ll have to go through every tribe from the eight Squigtopia moons who have come together to defeat you.
You must learn to identify each of my brethren and consider if you’re up to the challenge of trying to defeat us.
We fear no one, and you had better be prepared for the battle ahead. I, Panogo, and my friends Vergris, Autora, and Radion, are the first Squigs you will encounter in Squigstopia. Although the four of us may seem manageable, we stack up quickly. Get used to us because it will take much skill to stop us from falling. As you continue further in your battle, be on the lookout for Squigs from other tribes such as Fendor, Helidor, Lorgan, and Mirora. They join in the fight if you’ve proven yourself too strong for our initial attacks.
While all of my fellow Squigs are out to defeat you and all other invaders, there is one Squig that will be your side. The evil Dark Squig was banished from Squigstopia and will do anything to defeat me and the tribes to regain his place as ruler of our planet. He uses his powers to eliminate entire defense lines of Squigs. Use him sparingly though, as he will be your only ally.
And finally, if I can give you any advice, don’t underestimate us. We may have been gone for years, but we are great warriors and still determined to defeat you. Good luck trying to take Squigtopia from us – we look forward to the battle.