The Official FIM Speedway GP 2013 Game races onto iOS and Android devices today
11 April 2013

LONDON, UK - 11 April 2013 - Independent European developer, Vivid Games, and BSI Speedway today announced the release of the official FIM Speedway GP 2013 racing game on the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore.

FIM Speedway GP 2013 is the latest addition to the successful series of official FIM Speedway Grand Prix mobile racing games which have collectively achieved over 1 million downloads. This latest game features all the tracks and riders for the 2013 season as well as new graphics and enhanced gameplay features.

As in the real thing, FIM Speedway GP 2013 game lets players compete in the dynamic and compelling world of speedway, the no brakes, one gear, motorbike racing sensation. Set during the 2013 FIM Speedway Grand Prix season, players will attempt to leave their opponents in their dust as they veer and power-slide round 12 real-world circuits, battling against 15 superstar speedway riders to be crowned World Champion.

FIM Speedway GP 2013 has a wealth of new and enhanced features including ‘Helmet Cam’ that gives players an adrenaline-fuelled first person perspective. For the first time ever, gamers can also play during a live Speedway GP event to earn double points. FIM Speedway GP 2013 also features a host of unlockable content and gives the player the ability to earn points and purchase enhancements for their bike and rider. The game also includes 4 bonus circuits from the 2012 season in addition to the 12 circuits from 2013. The game combines stunning 3D visuals and intuitive one-touch controls to deliver the ultimate heart-pounding racing experience.

Key Features:

• Rich 3D graphics and stunning gameplay that puts you right in the heart of the action 


• New Helmet Cam gives total immersion! 


• Race around 12 real-world circuits against 15 riders from the 2013 season 


• Earn bonuses for playing during live events 


• Play in either Casual or Pro gameplay modes 


• Includes 4 bonus circuits from 2012 season 


• Purchase upgrades to improve your performance & unlock circuits 


• Alternative tap or swipe controls 


• Watch your performance in 3D replay mode 

Real Boxing™ Enters the Ring on Android
13 March 2013

London, UK - 13 March 2012 - Independent Game Developer Vivid Games announced that Real Boxing™, is now available for Android devices on Google Play. Already a smash hit on iOS, Real Boxing™ is an ultra-realistic boxing game featuring lifelike graphics powered by the Unreal Engine as well as extensive motion capture from professional boxers. The game has been upgraded for Android with graphics optimised for devices that are powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. It’s featured in TegraZone – NVIDIA’s free app that showcases the best games optimized for the Tegra processor.

Real Boxing™ features an immersive Career Mode in which players fight through multiple tournaments and real-world venues in their quest to become boxing's World Champion. Whilst battling for the title, players must take on over twenty opponents, each with their own unique fighting style. Players can improve their boxer’s core skills through a series of mini games including skipping rope, heavy bag and mini bag. Players can also extensively customise the appearance of their boxer through hundreds of possible combinations of hairstyle, skin colour, facial hair, clothing and tattoos.

“We’re very excited to be bringing Real Boxing™ to Android devices,” said Remi Koscielny, CEO of Vivid Games. “Real Boxing™ has been incredibly well received by fans and critics alike for its console-quality graphics. The power of the NVIDIA Tegra processor on so many Android devices means that the game’s graphical polish and impact are being taken to a whole new level.”

Features include

• Amazing Unreal-powered graphics and motion capture create astonishing realism. See sweat and blood fly with every punch. 


• Optimised for Android and NVIDIA Tegra-powered devices. 


• Deep Career Mode with over 30 fights and three belt titles to win. 


• Train your boxer with mini games including skipping rope, heavy bag and mini bag. 


• Fight over 20 opponents with their own unique and adaptive fighting styles. 


• Play KO and Clinch minigames during a round for an energy boost. 


• See, hear, and feel the roar of the crowd across 6 incredibly detailed venues including Moscow’s Red Square. 


• Unlock new equipment, extra opponents and customised clothing. 


• Customise your fighter’s appearance: hairstyle, skin colour, tattoos and clothing. 

Ski Jumping Pro Soars onto the App Store for iPhone, iPad & iPod touch
31 January 2013

London, UK – 31 January 2013 - Independent game developer Vivid Games, the creator of hit game Real Boxing, today announced Ski Jumping Pro, its newest title for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Ski Jumping Pro is the latest addition to the popular “Ski Jumping” series of games that have so far been downloaded over 2.5 millions times overall. This new version includes advanced new graphics, exciting new courses and play modes, plus the ability to extensively upgrade and personalise your skier.

Ski Jumping Pro has been designed to accurately recreate the extreme winter sport through an immersive first person perspective. Fans of the sport will also recognise many of the thirty world-famous courses that have been individually re-created for the game to guarantee maximum authenticity.

The game also features intuitive controls that encourage new and experienced players alike to nail the perfect launch and shatter records. The new upgradeable character system and career mode adds extra depth and replayability as players compete to unlock new courses. A “Quick Jump” mode is also available for short gaming sessions.

Key features:

• Full 3D characters, hills and courses 


• Compete in a season of 62 events across 32 venues 


• Quick Jump and Career modes 


• Deep character customization, including gloves, skis, helmet, boots and suits 


• Use Flow Mode to perform risky record-breaking jumps 


• Two difficulty levels: Casual & Pro 


• Unlockable content such as new contests and venues 


• Watch slow motion replays of your best jumps 


• Replayable in “+” level for increased difficulty 


• From the creators of App Store smash hit Real Boxing

Real Boxing Delivers a Knockout Punch on the App Store
15 November 2012

London, UK – 15th November 2012 - Independent Game Developer Vivid Games is proud to announce the launch of Real Boxing, their highly anticipated new game exclusively for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Real Boxing is an ultra-realistic boxing game featuring lifelike graphics powered by the Unreal Engine as well as extensive motion capture from professional boxers. The game also introduces the V-Motion Gesture Control System in which the player controls the action on screen using real punches that are detected via the device’s camera.

Real Boxing features an immersive Career Mode in which players fight through multiple tournaments and real-world venues in their quest to become boxing's World Champion. Whilst vying for the title, players must take on over twenty opponents, each with their own unique fighting style. Players can improve their boxer’s core skills through a series of mini games including skipping rope, heavy bag and mini bag. Players can also extensively customise the appearance of their boxer through hundreds of possible combinations of hairstyle, skin colour, facial hair, clothing and tattoos.

“Real Boxing is breaking new ground for sports titles on the App Store by combining the raw power of the Unreal Engine with extensive motion capture and the unique V-Motion Gesture Control System”, said Remi Koscielny, CEO of Vivid Games. “The entire experience is designed to completely immerse the player in the fight and provide a near-cinematic experience. With its unparalleled realism and totally immersive gameplay, Real Boxing delivers a truly unique boxing experience for gamers that’s just like stepping into the ring for real.”

Features include

• Amazing Unreal-powered graphics and motion capture create astonishing realism. See sweat and blood fly with every punch. 


• Swipe and tap or control your boxer with your fists using the revolutionary V-Motion Gesture Control System and your iOS device’s camera. 


• Deep Career Mode with over 30 fights and three belt titles to win. 


• Train your boxer with mini games including skipping rope, heavy bag and mini bag. 


• Fight over 20 opponents with their own unique and adaptive fighting styles. 


• Play KO and Clinch minigames during a round for an energy boost. 


• See, hear, and feel the roar of the crowd across 4 incredibly detailed venues. 


• Unlock new equipment, extra opponents and customised clothing. 


• Customise your fighter’s appearance: hairstyle, skin colour, tattoos and clothing. 


• Plug into your TV for a truly console-like experience 


• Challenge friends in online multiplayer via Game Center

GYRO+ spins its way onto the App Store
25 October 2012

Independent game developer and publisher Vivid Games announces the launch of our latest game for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch GYRO+. Already a smash hit on other platforms, GYRO+ was originally developed by Submachine Factory. GYRO+ is an old school style arcade game in which players rotate a multi-coloured wheel through 360 degrees whilst ensuring that the coloured balls flying onto the screen land in the matching part of the wheel.

Gamers hoping for a gentle walk in the park shouldn’t be fooled by GYRO+’s ultra simple gameplay and one finger control. As time progresses, GYRO+ ratchets up the difficulty curve by throwing in more balls at greater speed making it a fast-paced game of skill and nerves. The aim of the game is for players to last as long as possible and rack up massive scores by unleashing a range of power ups including blast waves, shields and drones. GYRO+ also features two gameplay modes, a host of unlockables and full Game Center integration to allow gamers to challenge their friends high scores.

“GYRO+ marries ultra simple controls with fiendishly addictive gameplay to give gamers that ‘just one more go’ factor” said Remigiusz Koscielny, CEO of Vivid Games. “GYRO+ is pure arcade gameplay at it’s best, created to test any gamer’s skills to the max!” added Koscielny. GYRO+ is available immediately to download as a universal app priced at 0.99 USD.

Features: 

• Beautifully simple controls and design 


• Incredibly addictive arcade gameplay tests your skills to the max 


• Rack up massive scores by collecting power-ups including blast waves, shields and drones. 


• Arcade and Time-attack modes 


• Loads of unclockables including new wheel colour sets 


• Check your player ranks and challenge friends over Game Center


• Play to your own soundtrack

BMX Jam races onto the App Store for iPhone, iPad & iPod touch
11 October 2012

London, UK - 11 October 2012 - Independent Game Developer Vivid Games is proud to announce BMX Jam, their latest game for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. BMX Jam is a sideways-scrolling time trial game that lets players attempt amazing tricks, rack up mega high scores, and unlock new levels whilst trying to complete challenges in the quickest possible time. Players can also challenge friends on Facebook to beat their best time as they race across hair-raising jumps, loops, fiery pits and more.

The action in BMX Jam takes place across four real world locations in San Francisco, Beijing, Sydney and Rio - each with its own unique characteristics, each providing increasingly fresh and greater challenges to test players’ riding skills to the max. The aim of BMX Jam is simple: make it across each level in the fastest possible time, collecting as many stars as possible. Each course is packed with obstacles and hazards that require the player to execute audacious tricks including front flips, bunny hops, bar-spins, X-up’s and many more. BMX Jam is packed with exciting social features to give players endless hours of gameplay, including the ability to share challenges with friends on Facebook to beat each other’s best times in ‘ghost mode’.

“The popularity of BMX is rocketing and we wanted to make a game that captures all the excitement of the sport and brings it to iOS,” said Remigiusz Koscielny, CEO of Vivid Games. “In addition to giving players a ton of freedom to perform amazing tricks, we’ve also added a host of online and social features so that they can share the BMX Jam challenge with their Facebook friends,” Koscielny added.

Features: 

• Over 60 levels of adrenaline-fuelled action to unlock 


• Pedal your way across four real world settings - San Francisco, Beijing, Sydney & Rio de Janeiro 


• Perform amazing tricks and combos to improve your high score 


• Pick up tons of power-ups and boosts to trick out and perform awesome moves 


• Ride along girders, leap over mud holes and fire pits, bunny hop barrels, loop the loop and much more 


• Challenge your friends via Facebook. Beat each other’s times in ‘ghost mode’ 


• Watch your spectacular crash-outs in slow motion replay mode 


• Take on the death-defying ‘barrel’ challenge mini game 


• Beat your own best time with ‘ghost mode’ 


• Play along to your own soundtrack - choose from your iTunes library

More info on our Unreal powered iOS title Real Boxing
05 October 2012

Back in August, we announced the forthcoming release of our title Real Boxing for iOS. Response to the game has been amazing and we’re pleased to give you some more information on the gameplay as well as unveiling five more official screenshots at realboxinggame.com. Looking at the images, you can hopefully see the very visceral feel that the game is going for - with blood and sweat spraying into the air with each punch (Raging Bull style), as well as the realistic damage on the boxers faces.

Real Boxing’s just-unveiled features are: 

• Gamers swipe and slide their fingers to execute moves and hit their opponent or tap and hold on the screen to defend their character from dangerous jabs and uppercuts. 


• Just like in the best arcade fighting games, the energy bar on the top of the screen shows how much energy is left, and players will be able to plan different fighting strategies depending on the match they have to face. 


• 8 different characters that can be highly customised, from name and hair colour to the skin, tattoos, and clothes. The character’s appearance can be edited at any point, for example by adding more tattoos or improving gloves and shoes. 


• Players will be able to choose from several perks to assign them to improve the stats and skills of their character: KO resistance, improved escape from clinch, etc. 


• Four indoor and outdoor arenas and an additional training hall will be the location of Real Boxing’s fights.The stadiums have been inspired by existing buildings. 


• During the fight, the more damaging punches will reflect on the face of the characters, with head deformation, face emotions and visible body damage. 


• There will be a series of training mini games where players tap and swipe in time to boost the character’s energy, speed and strength, such as skipping rope or hitting the heavy bag. 

Hands-on with Word Explorer for iPhone
25 September 2012

You've been to space. You've hurtled in a car around a dusty track, firing at the cars in front of you using a roof-mounted machine gun. You've hobbled, slashed, smashed, gutted, and fled from zombies.

You've duelled with monsters, crushed NPCs, walloped aliens, disassembled robots, and condemned entire armies to summary execution by a firing squad consisting of you.

Now it's time to solve anagrams.

Word Explorer is the next iOS game from Tower Studios and Vivid Games, and it's a charmingly innocent departure given that the partnership's previous collaborations include the violent Speedball 2 Evolution and super-violent Shoot to Kill.

T-L-E-R-A-V (to move over large distances)

The game sees you ambling from map screen to map screen, unjumbling words so that you can learn about the places you're visiting.

You have to work your way through anagrams on a series of hexagonal grids and solve them using one-word clues or picture clues with descriptions. You can submit as many arrangements as you like without penalty other than the time you waste. If you don't manage to guess the minimum number of words in an area, you have to start again.

The words vary in difficulty, though they tend towards the easy end of the spectrum in the early stages, with the occasional outlying brain-buster (Tower has told us that it intends to tweak the difficulty curve before the game is released).

If you come across a tricky word then you can use a cheat, though you only get three of these at the outset, after which you need to pay for them with in-game currency that you accumulate gradually through play or rapidly through credit card transactions.

Once you run out of cheats the next best thing (short of paying) is to use the Ask a Friend feature, which generates an SMS to send the clue to a contact of your choice.

The next best thing after that is to submit guesses. Whenever you tap 'okay' the game lets you know which letters happen to be in the right places, and this is often sufficient to help you to the answer. If not you can always repeat the process until you get there.

O-S-V-G-N-I-L (arriving at a solution)

The theme tying the puzzles together is that you're exploring the world, unlocking photos and descriptions of flora, fauna, and other points of interest in one region before moving on to the next. Each grid takes the form of a journey, with a starting place and a destination.

Tower's Jon Hare claims that Word Explorer is "without doubt the largest single player word game that has ever existed". The build that we played only contained North America and South America, but after an hour's play we'd completed just five areas of Western United States.

That's because each of the areas in this region contains nine trips, comprising 30 words. The full game will contain 23,000 words across 250 levels, which will keep you going for a long, long time.

Hare also claims that Word Explorer is a sort of "21st century crossword", though this comparison is misleading if you're expecting cryptic clues or, well, anything crossword-related other than the straightforward anagram clues you get in quick crosswords. It's a game for casual rather than serious puzzle fans.

The pictures you collect are pretty and sharp, and the information the game gives you is interesting if you're fond of learning, but that's largely all there is to it. The single-player mode of Word Explorer is just a huge, pleasant, functional mashup of an encyclopaedia, a tourist brochure, and a book of anagrams.

To add a bit of gaming spice Tower and Vivid have included Special Collections (achievements you can earn by collecting sets of related photos) and Photo Packs (like football sticker packs, but without the swapping.)

U-F-S-I-N-E-D-I-N-H (not complete)

There will also be a multiplayer league mode whereby the game will generate a grid on which you play against an opponent. Results from these contests are added to a giant Game Center leaderboard.

Tower and Vivid haven't decided whether Word Explorer will be a paid or freemium game, nor how much of the world you'll be able to explore in the initial version and how much will come later in updates.

The studios are also in the process of tweaking the value of the game's IAPs - at the moment you can buy coins at a rate of 1,000 for 99c, 5,000 for $1.99, 10,000 for $4.99, or 25,000 for $9.99 to spend on cheats and other in-game items - and various other elements.

There are changes to be made before Word Explorer hits the App Store, Google Play, PC, and Flash later this year, but so far it's looking like an unostentatious giant of a puzzler that hopes to make up in breadth what it lacks in depth.

For an insight into the development process, check out our interview with Jon Hare.

Neon Blitz Lights up the App Store with Sequel to Smash Hit Neon Mania
20 September 2012

London, UK - 20 September 2012 - Independent game developer Vivid Games today announced the launch of its latest game for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch called Neon Blitz, sequel to hit Neon Mania.

In Neon Blitz, players need to trace a variety of neon shapes with their fingers as quickly and accurately as possible on the screen within 60 seconds. They can also earn power ups to boost their points and achieve the highest score. New features in Neon Blitz include enhanced social network integration, so that players can now challenge their friends on Facebook to beat their best score and also check their standing against thousands of other gamers in the global league table.

“This time round, we wanted to make a much more intense and much more social experience for fans and newcomers alike,” said Remigiusz Koscielny, CEO of Vivid Games. “The 60 second gameplay is perfectly suited to those moments when you want to grab a quick game. Plus the Facebook integration adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay. We’re also going to be releasing new weekly challenges and contests to keep the game fresh.”

Neon Blitz comes packed with over 800 colourful and vibrant neon signs for players to bring to life - including street signs, landmarks, party items, sporting symbols, music and more. Players can also purchase additional signs and new challenges using the in-game currency.

Key Features:

• Super simple addictive gameplay with over 800 levels 


• Get the highest score possible in a minute 


• Unlock constantly updated weekly contests and challenges 


• Collect boosts and power ups to max out your score 


• Challenge your friends via Facebook 


• Check your standing in the global rankings 


• Play along to your own soundtrack - choose songs from your music library

Vivid Games announces eight more titles for 2012
07 August 2012

London, UK, August 7 2012 - Independent European developer, Vivid Games has announced its roadmap of game releases for the remainder of 2012. The eight games to be released across iOS, Android and Sony PSP portable devices includes Neon Blitz, a sequel to their smash hit Neon Mania, which has had over 1.5 million downloads since launch as well as ultra-realistic boxing action title Real Boxing. The line-up includes:

• BMX Jam, a unique side-scrolling cycling game will land on iOS this August, and on Sony PlayStation Portable in October. 


• Neon Blitz, sequel to Neon Mania will be launched for Android and iOS devices by the end of August. The time-challenge title will include new contests for players every other week. 


• In September, puzzle game Gyro, one of the big Android hits of 2012 will be launching on iOS with the addition of some new, richer features. 


• The classic action game Speedball 2 Evolution will reach PC gamers in Q4 2012. 


• Real Boxing promises to be the most realistic boxing game ever for iOS, featuring motion capture taken from real professional boxers. It will also be optimised for new iOS 6 devices. 


• Throw The Cow will be launched at the end of November for iOS, Android and Blackberry. 


• Ski Jumping 2013 is the third title in the exhilarating Ski Jumping series and will launch in December. 


• Bright is a casual drawing game and will be released for Sony PlayStation Vita in December.