Flappy Bird creator teases his next iOS game

We haven’t heard much from Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen since he removed his smash-hit game Flappy Bird from the App Store just over three months ago. After tweeting that the popularity of the game was ruining his life, the Vietnamese developer went quiet for over a month. Since that time, the App Store has been bombarded with dozens of copycat games such as Flappy Bird: New Season.

Then, just yesterday, Nguyen confirmed that Flappy Bird will be returning to the App Store in August with less addictive gameplay and a new multiplayer mode. Building upon that news, the indie game maker has now announced that he is also working on a brand new game that will involve a character jumping from building to building. He gave a sneak peek of what the game looks like in a recent tweet… 

The name for this new game has yet to be announced, but it looks like it will be a similar side-scrolling platform game with graphics reminiscent of the original Flappy Bird. Nguyen hopes that the new game will take people’s minds off of Flappy Bird, which accumulated over 50 million downloads before it was pulled from the App Store in early February.

Flappy Bird was seemingly an overnight success on the App Store earlier this year, leading many to question if Nguyen manipulated the rankings with fake downloads and reviews. At one point, Nguyen was making upwards of $50,000 per day off the game in mobile ad revenues. iPhone users that downloaded the game before it was removed can still play the game.

It will be interesting to see if Nguyen’s new game can replicate the success that Flappy Bird enjoyed, or if it was simply a one-hit wonder that has already gone by the wayside. But, no matter what, Nguyen and Flappy Bird have influenced the way App Store developers approach games. Over the last few months, we’ve even seen Angry Birds creator Rovio jump on the bandwagon with its new Retry game.

Are you excited for this new game?

Atmospheric puzzle game Year Walk is now available on Mac OS X

Just in case you haven’t heard of the thought-provoking and innovative atmospheric puzzle survival game Year Walk, it was a hugely popular iOS title based on Swedish mythology that was impressive, to say the least. Its dark theme and bizarre characters stood out amongst the droves of Angry Bird clones that flooded the App Store.

Simogo just launched a Mac OS X version of Year Walk that includes some big changes, including new puzzles, new areas to explore, and new graphics. It’s like getting to play the game for the first time, all over again…

Year Walk for Mac is a lot like its iOS counterpart. Players take part in a Swedish mythological vision quest – going on “walkabout,” if you will. In the game, the protagonist meets a variety of folkloric creatures that he must outwit by solving puzzles.

After the yearlong walk, the protagonist goes back to his home village. Without spoiling the story, stuff happens and you get to play the game a second time through. Be sure to read the companion guide for help.

The Mac OS X version has been updated with new locations, new puzzles, and improved graphics. Additionally, the companion guide that comes as a separate download on iOS is integrated into the game for easier access.

The development team at Simogo has also redesigned the game’s controls for laptop and desktop gaming. It is not just a port of the original title. It has been reworked to have its own feel on a computer screen. Players use the WASD keys on the keyboard to move around while controlling a cursor with the mouse. The cursor is used to interact with the environment.

Some of the original puzzles in the iOS version were specific to the mobile device’s tilt and touch gestures. The OS X version has been updated with redesigned puzzles that fit the desktop mechanics (you won’t have to tilt your 27-inch screen). Plus, some puzzles have been replaced entirely with new ones.

This version also has menus, maps, and a hint system to help get you through the adventure without feeling lost (which you might feel anyway as soon as you walk out of the cabin door).

Year Walk is available on Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later for $5.99. Download it in the App Store today.

Did you play Year Walk on iOS? Will you be getting it on your Mac?

Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf is Apple’s new Free App of the Week

Today’s obviously the day a new Apple-curated app goes temporarily free for a week. Released by publisher Bulkypix, Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf is a half gamebook and half action role-playing game based on the works of Joe Dever.

The author himself was involved in this game from the get-go, working with the studio to adapt the storyline so it fits with the original continuity. In addition to a brand-new story, Lone Wolf features great graphics, a new combat system, non-linear gameplay, lock-picking mini games, the dynamic turn-based combat system and lots more.

Lone Wolf is available free until next Thursday so best thing you grab it now before it goes back up again to its normal asking price of five bucks a pop…

Lone Wolf is laden with beautifully hand-drawn illustrations, 3D locations and the powerful enemies and characters that’ll be instantly familiar to the fans of the series.

You can “write your own story” by making different choices and exploring new paths and fighting styles, which adds up to the game’s replay value. The combat system is real-time. Lock-picking mini games and puzzle mechanics add an extra layer of skill and strategy.

Check out the screenshots below.

How about that awesome graphics?

The game is comprised of four acts in total.

Act 2 called Forrest Hunt became available in yesterday’s update.

The story continues in the Sunken Forest, with meaningful choices, alternative paths, brand-new 3D locations and a magical minigame that will put your wits to the test!

Last but not least, “Forest Hunt” features one of the most iconic and fearsome enemies you could face in Lone Wolf’s world: are you ready to face the fearsome Gourgaz?

Here’s the official trailer.

And this is your short and sweet Act 2 teaser.

You can unlock Act 2 in the in-game shop or pre-purchase all episodes with the Season Pass, available as a one-time $12.99 in-app purchase.

“If you have already purchased the Season Pass, Act 2 will be launched automatically when you finish Act 1 or when you load a proper game save,” noted Bulkypix.

Download Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf free in the App Store.

The universal download comes in at 799MB and requires iOS 5.1 or later.