First Game Jam Game 'Gravity Sling' Launched (Free + DLC)

posted November 5th, 2009 10:50 PM EST by arn in Free, iPhone games, iPod touch games, Puzzle

Riptide Games has released the first game that was the product of the 360 iDev Game Jam. The Game Jam was an all night coding session for developers to try to create a game in 10 hours. This particular game was created in conjunction with Jonathan Hartstein of Pyro Monkey Productions and Eric Lannan of Crucial Games.

Gravity Sling is an inertia based puzzle game, where you must try to get the astronaut back to the space shuttle safely. In order to do this you'll need to take advantage of gravity from the nearby planets as you sling the astronaut through space.

Here's a promotional video showing how the game is played:

Rather than releasing the game at the expected $0.99 price point, Riptide games has taken advantage of Apple's new policy allowing games to be distributed for free with the ability to purchase additional content. 15 levels are included in the free version, with 30 additional levels available in-app for $0.99. This eliminates the need for a Lite version and could be a peek into how things may evolve in the App Store.

App Store Link: Gravity Sling, Free

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misfitskater6

Space Penguin!
misfitskater6

Space Penguin!
rich_952000

Riptide Games, the game is really fun and quasi-unique. Gravity Golf is another App Store game of similar principal, yet I feel Gravity Sling is much more polished and fun. I also like that they offer the initial gamepack free of charge. This helps to eliminate some of the excess "lite" games on iTunes, also if I decide to upgrade I don't have to replay what I've already accompolished.

Btw, some of the designs I've been creating just by orbiting are phenominal and I like that there is an option to take a screenshot after every successful goal. I'm planning on buying the first level pack and hope there will be more to come. Thanks,

Richard
rich_952000

Riptide Games, the game is really fun and quasi-unique. Gravity Golf is another App Store game of similar principal, yet I feel Gravity Sling is much more polished and fun. I also like that they offer the initial gamepack free of charge. This helps to eliminate some of the excess "lite" games on iTunes, also if I decide to upgrade I don't have to replay what I've already accompolished.

Btw, some of the designs I've been creating just by orbiting are phenominal and I like that there is an option to take a screenshot after every successful goal. I'm planning on buying the first level pack and hope there will be more to come. Thanks,

Richard
hapz

beautiful game.. reminds me of the bits of plastic pen thing we used to play with in the retro years
hapz

beautiful game.. reminds me of the bits of plastic pen thing we used to play with in the retro years
Lukeb

Got it (the free levels)- great. Who doesn't love inertia? Only thing is, some stages could theoretically take very long to complete. Right now I have what appears to be an infinite orbital established on in the level "Big and Little." The target distance is given as 135k, whereas the distance covered so far is already over 2 million! Based on rate of orbital enlargement, it looks as if the man will get to the shuttle in about another hour (!). I'll take a screenshot when he gets there, but could the level's designer have intended this path? It reminds me of watching the sand pendulum at the Museum of Science. Anyway, this is a fun little free app that everyone should pick up.
Lukeb

Got it (the free levels)- great. Who doesn't love inertia? Only thing is, some stages could theoretically take very long to complete. Right now I have what appears to be an infinite orbital established on in the level "Big and Little." The target distance is given as 135k, whereas the distance covered so far is already over 2 million! Based on rate of orbital enlargement, it looks as if the man will get to the shuttle in about another hour (!). I'll take a screenshot when he gets there, but could the level's designer have intended this path? It reminds me of watching the sand pendulum at the Museum of Science. Anyway, this is a fun little free app that everyone should pick up.
Lukeb

Now the orbital seems to have stabilized. It might have been a fluke that the noted progress was being made.
Lukeb

Now the orbital seems to have stabilized. It might have been a fluke that the noted progress was being made.
Eric

I think evolve is a pretty strong word. Developers are still going to strive to be at the top of both Paid and Free lists. Not so much an evolution as it is a new avenue.
Eric

I think evolve is a pretty strong word. Developers are still going to strive to be at the top of both Paid and Free lists. Not so much an evolution as it is a new avenue.
br1an

Spirograph.
br1an

Spirograph.
Mark

Let's say the levels were going to be 1.99 - if the dev decided to drop prices how do they generate the publicity? Others do this to move about in lists but if the price is set inside the game surely that could be an issue?

And yes I know this applies to all such games.
Mark

Let's say the levels were going to be 1.99 - if the dev decided to drop prices how do they generate the publicity? Others do this to move about in lists but if the price is set inside the game surely that could be an issue?

And yes I know this applies to all such games.
nodoctors

i can't believe two guys pumped this game out under pressure in ten hours. the story alone made it worth the download. the fact that it's fun and almost like creating art to back it up is just beautiful. great job guys.
nodoctors

i can't believe two guys pumped this game out under pressure in ten hours. the story alone made it worth the download. the fact that it's fun and almost like creating art to back it up is just beautiful. great job guys.
GnarKill

Actually it was 3 of us who cranked the basic game out in 10 hour. Brian Robbins, Eric Lannan and Jonathan Hartstein all worked on it at the 360idev game jam
GnarKill

Actually it was 3 of us who cranked the basic game out in 10 hour. Brian Robbins, Eric Lannan and Jonathan Hartstein all worked on it at the 360idev game jam
http://www.riptidegames.com/ Brian Robbins

Check out the screenshot of Big & Little I posted up a couple weeks ago
http://www.riptidegames.com/2009/10/gravity-sling-coming-soon-for-free/

It's definitely possible to get a huge score on that level, but it's also very possible to get stuck around the planet.
http://www.riptidegames.com/ Brian Robbins

Check out the screenshot of Big & Little I posted up a couple weeks ago
http://www.riptidegames.com/2009/10/gravity-sling-coming-soon-for-free/

It's definitely possible to get a huge score on that level, but it's also very possible to get stuck around the planet.
http://www.backflipstudios.com Backflip Studios

Nice work Brian. Congratulations.
http://www.backflipstudios.com Backflip Studios

Nice work Brian. Congratulations.
Peter

I don't like the gravity in this game. the falloff of gravity seems to be very abrupt which makes for wrong looking transitions between planets. Of course the game makers did this to make it easy to orbit steadily and then pass off to another planet without getting flung into space, but for me who loves physics games it just feels wrong and is no fun.

I much rather play slingshot. It has a much better physics engine, you can also get into nice orbits, but they're actually looking plausible. Of course your goal there is not to orbit and collect points that way, but to reach the goal (i.e. hit the opponent). Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kRjkHBytDU
Sorry I couldn't find a video where they show off more complex gravity like orbits or passing in between two planets or arrays of planets of different size, but for any physics lover it's loads of fun to try to get your opponent the hard way through rather than around the planets.
Peter

I don't like the gravity in this game. the falloff of gravity seems to be very abrupt which makes for wrong looking transitions between planets. Of course the game makers did this to make it easy to orbit steadily and then pass off to another planet without getting flung into space, but for me who loves physics games it just feels wrong and is no fun.

I much rather play slingshot. It has a much better physics engine, you can also get into nice orbits, but they're actually looking plausible. Of course your goal there is not to orbit and collect points that way, but to reach the goal (i.e. hit the opponent). Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kRjkHBytDU
Sorry I couldn't find a video where they show off more complex gravity like orbits or passing in between two planets or arrays of planets of different size, but for any physics lover it's loads of fun to try to get your opponent the hard way through rather than around the planets.
Steve H

hypotrochoids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotrochoid
Steve H

hypotrochoids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotrochoid
Steve

Is it out?
Couldn't find in it the apps store.
Steve

Is it out?
Couldn't find in it the apps store.
Ian

no showing up in my app store (via app) either. it does show up in iTunes app store itself, however.
Ian

no showing up in my app store (via app) either. it does show up in iTunes app store itself, however.
http://www.riptidegames.com/ Brian Robbins

What country are you in? It took a little bit to show up for me in the US store, but it's definitely there now. You may need to follow a direct link (http://toucharcade.com/link/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=336233522&mt=8 ) or search for it (if you search gravitysling seems to work better than gravity sling).
http://www.riptidegames.com/ Brian Robbins

What country are you in? It took a little bit to show up for me in the US store, but it's definitely there now. You may need to follow a direct link (http://toucharcade.com/link/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=336233522&mt=8 ) or search for it (if you search gravitysling seems to work better than gravity sling).
sancho

I am stuck in an infinite loop in big and little. 4 million and counting. maybe ill take a photo and upload it, but trust me this is weak.
sancho

I am stuck in an infinite loop in big and little. 4 million and counting. maybe ill take a photo and upload it, but trust me this is weak.
GnarKill

yeah it is. I have had issues finding it at first but if you search for gravitysling as one word I believe it will show up for you
GnarKill

yeah it is. I have had issues finding it at first but if you search for gravitysling as one word I believe it will show up for you
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

Damn - and there was me quite happy with my Big & Little level score

http://i34.tinypic.com/2zi5xso.jpg

But a million point run is very impressive, don't think i'd have the patience
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

Damn - and there was me quite happy with my Big & Little level score

http://i34.tinypic.com/2zi5xso.jpg

But a million point run is very impressive, don't think i'd have the patience
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

There is many many levels it's possible to get stuck in an infinite loop... why waste your time coz you'll never get to cash in the score...

Touch the screen and start again ya numpty
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

There is many many levels it's possible to get stuck in an infinite loop... why waste your time coz you'll never get to cash in the score...

Touch the screen and start again ya numpty
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

This game is pretty damn fantastic..... very fun... like a physics puzzler crossed with Spirograph

My only issue is... there's a couple of levels where you have to position the arrow around the area the option for 'main menu' appears (after you've crashed into a planet)

I kept hitting the option for main menu when trying to tweak my arrow position - VERY ANNOYING... but i can't offer any suggestions how to solve the issue
http://f1stockcars.com/ Ade

This game is pretty damn fantastic..... very fun... like a physics puzzler crossed with Spirograph

My only issue is... there's a couple of levels where you have to position the arrow around the area the option for 'main menu' appears (after you've crashed into a planet)

I kept hitting the option for main menu when trying to tweak my arrow position - VERY ANNOYING... but i can't offer any suggestions how to solve the issue
Adam

Nice rip-off of spaced-penguin... which i was playing in 2002
http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/spaced_penguin/#
Adam

Nice rip-off of spaced-penguin... which i was playing in 2002
http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/spaced_penguin/#