Available for iPhone and iPod Touch
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.
Here at Squigs headquarters we’ve been working around the clock to give our loyal Squigs fans and newly addicted players even more ways to get their hands on those colourful characters. After thinking long and hard about how best do this, we decided on the perfect solutions: Squigs Free!
An arcade take on the full iOS versions released in 2011, Squigs Free allows players to progress to harder levels more quickly in order to tackle those dark Squigs. The new free version is all wrapped up in a fast-passed, five-level, high-score driven game style.
Squigs Free is perfect for new players looking for their first quick taste of Squigs, as well as veteran players seeking a fresh Squigs hit. It’s great for a dull commute or while waiting in line at the sales. Squigs Free is for all ages and skill levels, and of course features addictive, retro-style, match-three gameplay.
So whether you’re already playing Squigs or if you just want to try Squigs before committing to the full app, Squigs Free is for you.
To download the Squigs Free visit the Apple App Store. For more information on Squigs news and mobile gaming trends visit our Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Earlier this week, a new study by market research firm NPD revealed the extent to which iOS and Android are dominating the US smartphone market. Between January and October this year Apple’s operating system grew its market share by 38%, while Android expanded by another 28%. iOS now has 29% of the total market – stunning figures for a one-company operating system – while a plethora of Android vendors now own 53% share between them.
All of this is of course very bad news for RIM and its BlackBerry, which saw 59% of its share dissolve, leaving it with just 10% of the market. Other smartphone operating systems such as Windows Mobile (3%), Windows Phone 7 (2%), Symbian (1%) and Palm (1%) are barely making an impact these days.
So if you’re thinking of developing an app for smartphone users, iOS and Android should be the only systems in your thinking. And if you take our advice, you’ll opt for iOS and Apple’s superior App Store. Games account for around 15% of all iOS apps on the iPad, with only books accounting for a higher percentage. Apple now serves up over 350,000 apps with Android not expected to catch until at least 2012. By that time we’re sure Android Market, which has always been playing a very rapid game of catch-up with the App Store, will also have settled down somewhat and put a stop to all the frequently reported issues, such as this week’s SMS fraud problems.
For now at least, iOS is the most certain home for your gaming app – if you’d like to hear more about our experiences with Squigs on the App Store, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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.
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.
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”
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.
Things are busy here at Squigs Central Command because if you haven’t heard, we’ve re-launched Squigs for iOS, our new take on our classic Amiga computer game.
If you remember Squigs from 1993 then it won’t look too unfamiliar: we’ve stayed relatively true to the original character designs with multi-colored Squigs, though we’ve been busy adding in upgrades such as a new soundtrack, new animations and high definition images. Also in the new version, all players will be able to track and compare their high scores and achievements with other players around the world via Apple’s Game Center.
In the weeks leading up to the launch, we have spent countless hours getting this site ready, as well as blogging, adding content to our Facebook page and launching our Twitter feed.
We’re convinced that Squigs for iOS will leave our original Squigs players, as well as new fans, wanting more. Go to the Apple App store to download the newest version. We hope you have fun playing and we look forward hearing your feedback!
Welcome to the Squigs blog. Here, my team and I will be giving you a first hand look into what’s going into the development of the game. We’ll also be sharing our thoughts on the games industry, giving our reactions to news, and answering any questions you might have. To kick off, I want to give a quick background on the history of Squigs and why we’re bringing it back on iOS (to start), via the App Store.
I’ve been developing games my whole life. I’ve worked on dozens of games in one capacity or another, spending many a happy hour to create entertaining and engaging player experiences. When I was 16 years old, I created Squigs for the Amiga computer system. Before that point I hadn’t had any commercial success – most of the work I had done had been enjoyed by players, but it hadn’t exactly been lucrative.
After I developed Squigs, I received a letter from Amiga Power, a magazine devoted to all things about the system, saying they would like to publish my game. I was thrilled – from my perspective I’d made it big time! All I had to do was resize the game for easy distribution – around 363 kilobytes.
Today we’re carrying around laptops with over 100 gigabytes of storage space, and playing games that require 10GB plus installs. My first game was 363 kilobytes. It’s startling how far we’ve come.
Needless to say, I resized the game, received coverage in Amiga Power and realized my dream of having a game distributed to a wide audience of passionate gamers. It proved to me that I had what it took to be a developer.
Over the years, I’d run into people time and time again that had enjoyed the game. It may not have made me a millionaire, but when I hear people like the game, it gives me a sense of great personal satisfaction. It’s the best feeling in the world to know you’ve created something people love.
And that’s why we’re bringing Squigs into the 21st century. iOS is such a perfect platform, with so many users, that the opportunity to bring this unique puzzle experience couldn’t be passed up. I’m looking forward to sharing the game with you, and my thoughts about game development through this blog, as we move closer to release.
As you can probably tell, we’re excited about Squigs, and hope you’ll be just as excited when you play it. It’s out next week, so keep your eye on the App Store.