Pinch ‘n Pop Multi-Touch Puzzle Game
posted October 14th, 2008 11:34 AM EDT by arn in $3.99, Puzzle, iPhone games, iPod touch games
Chaotic Box has released a multi-touch color matching game into the App Store called Pinch ‘n Pop [App Store].
Pinch ‘n Pop! is a new breed of frantic color matching fun that challenges both your wits and dexterity. Push, flick, and squeeze the self-replicating Squirms to keep their population under control, and maximize your score with color chains and well-timed powerup bursts.Designed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod touch, Pinch ‘n Pop! is a unique arcade experience featuring realistic physics and true multi-touch interaction.
While we know most of you are tired of color-matching games, we appreciate the developer’s effort to design an iPhone-specific game.
The gameplay video shows the game in action:
App Store Link: Pinch ‘n Pop ($3.99)
October 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Definitely looks like a lot of fun for the initial playing. So the question is: How’s the re-playability? Any long-term value to it, or is it a gimmick?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Some color-matching games are all good if they’re at least unique like this one is. I really like Scriball personally, I jut hope they update it soon.
Can you use more than two fingers at a time in tis game? It seems to be the only way you could get big combos.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Definitely looks very polished. The graphics, sounds and animation are very nice. I hope they do well!
NotYou: Funny you mention it, both ScribBall and this game use my physics engine. http://code.google.com/p/chipmunk-physics/wiki/Games
October 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
PnP developer here…
@ tosui
I hope I’ve come up with a game that has some longevity, but this is a difficult quality to quantify. The game was designed in classic arcade fashion (think Pac Man). It starts out difficult, and gets more and more difficult, requiring changing tactics as you level up.
@ NotYou
You don’t get combo points by mashing a bunch of stuff together at once however. They always pop in groups of 3 or 4, and you get a chain bonus for popping squirms of the same colour in succession. So you might reach a higher chain bonus quicker if yer good with a bunch of fingers, but using 2 or 3 fingers usually works best. The YouTube video shows how to play for points, though beginners are advised to play to survive at first.
You can use up to 16 fingers - if you have them to spare and can fit them all on the screen at once
@ slembcke
Chipmunk rocks!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Suchtfaktor Pinch ‘n Pop
Pinch ‘n Pop heißt das neue Spiel von ChaoticBox. Nach ersten Test kann man nur sagen, dass der Suchtfaktor ungeheuer hoch ist…
October 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
wow, looks like fun. I wonder if it is as addictive as Skizzle…
October 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
How sad is it that I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I own a house and two cars, and yet $3.99 feels a bit too rich for my blood?
October 14th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Man, this game is fun but VERY face-paced! lol!
October 16th, 2008 at 5:07 am
The cool thing about multitouch is you can design new kinds of games, like this one..
October 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
BTW - Despite the article title and category tag, this is *not* a puzzle game. There is obviously a strong color matching component but if you’re expecting a Bejewelled clone you’ll be sadly disappointed. Pinch ‘n Pop! is all about skill, coordination, and fast decision making. Version 1.1 (coming very soon) will include easier skill levels to provide a more casual experience for less hardcore players, but I fear my critter designs may have turned out too cute for the intended audience. :-/
October 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Unfortunately not available in the UK app store just yet but I’m looking forward to this
October 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Sorry - the app was down for most of Monday due to a screw up on my part when I submitted an update. Version 1.1 should be available everywhere now, and I might even be willing to put easy mode in the “casual puzzle” genre - but just barely
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 am
A good update, it is better balanced now for different moods. Hard is still hard (frantic) a few minutes in. I really love this game! very original arcade style rush.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Great game and very high quality.
Steve from Demiforce (of Trism fame) wrote very nicely about it which made me buy it.
http://demiforce.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-can-save-appstore.html
I think implementing Demiforce’s upcoming Onyx Online, online scoreboard into this game would make it even better, as you could them compete against other players for the best score.
Maybe something you can consider for a future update (maybe you already are working on it??).
@3Dave, Yeah it’s ridiculous that one would find a $4 app expensive - we are getting spoiled with all these cheap apps, just consider what games for the Nintendo DS or the PSP will cost you and you’ll find that even the $10 apps are a bargain.
$1 apps is not good for anyone in my opinion, they simply will not generate enough cash for any serious programmer, but if they make people think that $4 is expensive they push out talented people like the creator of this game which is really sad.
I also find myself thinking twice about games that cost more than $5, which is stupid as I can easily spend more than that just on a cup of coffee at a fancy café.