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Glow Interactive and USA Network Raise the Bar, Deliver New Type of Casual Game

Glow — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:19:45 +0000

“Strange Attraction” Developed for USA Network’s CHARACTER ARCADE Goes Beyond Flash-Based Casual Gaming Experience.

NEW YORK, NY — 12/09/10 — Glow Interactive (www.glowinteractive.com), a leading New York-based interactive marketing, advertising and creative agency, today announced it has developed and launched a new game for USA Network’s CHARACTER ARCADE (www.characterarcade.com). Unlike so many game properties in the crowded world of casual games, “Strange Attraction” (http://www.characterarcade.com/games/strange-attraction) bridges the gap between hardcore and casual gaming. The episodic adventure does so by integrating elements from hardcore gaming — including skill, developed characters, episodic plots and action to provide a richer experience — into a game that users can play, pause and return to anytime, which is key for casual gamers with less time to invest.

“‘Strange Attraction’ was developed to mirror the approach the network has when developing hit series — original characters and strong story arcs,” said Jesse Redniss, vice president of digital, USA Network. “This game gives us the ability to introduce new audiences to USA’s style, but also provides a new gaming experience to our loyal and returning fans. ‘Strange Attraction’ is a first in that it takes the best styles from more hardcore and casual gaming structures to offer something completely new.”

To create story arc that captures a unique character-focused creative approach synergistic with USA Network and its audience, Glow Interactive worked to develop an unsuspecting, likable hero named Gus and crafted a mysterious plot that unfolds as players advance throughout 24 levels and three different worlds. The game begins with a comic book, episodic story that introduces the player to the hero of the game as well as the plot (which involves the villagers being captured by a strange machine) and goals (for Gus to save his friends). The adventure begins by “training” for the first phase of game play to become familiar with the controls and most importantly the “gravity switch,” a major component to master in order to rotate the environments within the game to solve and complete puzzles required to advance to the next levels. Collecting coins, achieving points and defeating villains will occur throughout the game, and completing the game means not only solving all levels in the game, but it also means completing the story and seeing how Gus will fare in his quest.

“While we developed and designed ‘Strange Attraction,’ the goal was to appeal to the largest percentage of users and appeal to their skill level,” explained Ted Kacandes, co-founder of Glow Interactive. “We’ve found that while many casual players enjoy old school games like Mario Brothers, they often don’t have the time investment to ‘beat’ the game. ‘Strange Attraction’ is a type of game that players can leave and return to whenever they’d like. In these types of games, if your character dies, you are basically respawned and start right where you left off. That also allows players to come and go to the game as they please and as their schedule allows, yet gives them the eventual satisfaction of completing the game in their own time.”

The game was developed under the GlowPlay brand, a subsidiary of Glow Interactive that focuses on developing casual, mobile and social games for clients, as well as independent releases.

Game Release – Ski Magnifique

Ted Kacandes — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:46:19 +0000

This first person 3D ski game is an office favorite. Collect time, speed and jump bonuses and avoid the sun flares, blizzard and slow motion items to maximize your track times. Take to the slopes of Mt. Saint Junior and challenge its five tracks. There is also a free-ski mode for players that just want to practice or bomb a hill. So, grab your passport and prepare to face the ferocious peaks of Mt. Saint Junior. But be warned, one wrong turn and you’ll be out cold. See how fast you can “Ski Magnifique!”

Game Release – Mahjong Goes Green

Glow — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:39:27 +0000

Go green by playing the eco-friendly version of this classic game. It is a 2D style game (not the 3D “tower” style) where your goal is to match identical tiles and clear them from the board. Once all of the tiles have been removed, you’ll advance to the next level. So put your thinking cap on and continue the mission of saving the environment, one step at a time!

Game Release – Bugs Gone Wild & AME

Glow — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:00:59 +0000

Bugs Gone Wild & Attack on Mother Earth are two throwback arcade style games that were created for USA Network and SYFY respectively. The same game engine was used for both games with a unique visual scheme implemented to each. The games have 20 levels that increase in difficulty through the addition of new enemy chains, bosses and amplified pace.

Have what it takes to stop the Bugs Gone Wild or Alien Invaders? If you like old school games give them a play. Bugs Gone Wild. Attack on Mother Earth.

Game Release – Steady State

Glow — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:57:38 +0000

Steady State is a combination puzzle and skill game. It requires players to create “buildings” out of various shaped game pieces in order to reach a designated height. Each level the player has to build the structure higher and higher. Properly organizing and balancing the building blocks is the key to success. Bonus points are awarded for using more pieces to create the building. Do you have what takes to work for Steady State Construction Company? Play here.

Game Release – Geo Trail

Ted Kacandes — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:15:22 +0000

Geo Trail is a spatial cognition game where the objective is to navigate a block across a gridded game board in a way that it will fall through a specified hole in the game board. The solution gets progressively more difficult over 100 levels. The game borrows from the online hit Bloxorz. Geo Trail differentiates from Bloxorz in a few ways. First the game boards are dynamically created. Secondly our game implements a feature where the game board becomes unstable when the player repeatedly hits portions of the game grid making you chose your moves wisely.

“Pete the Penguin can’t navigate his way across the frozen tundra without your help. Guide him across the ice blocks so he can enjoy a tasty meal.” Give it a shot.

Game Release – Orientation Express

Ted Kacandes — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:49:37 +0000

We created this 3D game for USA Network’s Character Arcade. The game challenges players as they try to rotate and spin random 3D objects in order to match them spatially against a 2d cutout of the object. The game gets progressively more difficult as levels advance by increasing the amount of rotations required to make a match and decreasing the time available to solve it.

“This is the final call for all players traveling on the Orientation Express! Orient the cargo in each rail car as you trek cross-country, “All Aboard!” Give it a play.

Game Release – Alpha Fusion

Glow — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:35:05 +0000

Alpha Fusion is neat word game that that requires players to create a chain reaction by successfully fusing adjacent letters to form words 3 letters or more long. To complete each level players must connect cells together so that the chain stretches from the top of the game board to the bottom. As the levels progress difficulty increases as “frozen” cells form on the game board. Get nuclear…play now.

Game Release – Mole Mayhem

Glow — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:06:41 +0000

Remember the hit game Plumber? It was a simple yet great game. We took a tune from that game and created Mole Mayhem. We like to think we improved on the game through more advanced coding and visual application. The game basics – create a path by rotating the jumbled earth in a way that creates a path for Manny the Mole to travel.

“Manny the mole wants to bring an apple home to his sweetheart, but an earthquake scrambled the path to his home. Help Manny to unscramble the path so he can impress his lady!” See if you can keep her happy, play now.

Game Release – Letter Matrix

Glow — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:48:57 +0000

Letter Matrix is a fast paced word game that tests your word forming skills. As letters drop from the top of the game board players have to form words as quick as they can to prevent the letters from filling the play area. The pace quickens with each level forcing the player to react faster. Score is based on word size and specific letter value.

“So you think working in a library is easy, huh? Let’s put your Dewey decimal skills to the test. As returned books pile up, so does your stress level. So compile volumes wisely, and stash them away quickly.” Play it now!

The game was created for USA Network’s Character Arcade and had such great success it was ported over to the iPhone. Get it free here.