Aurora Feint
| Aurora Feint The Beginning | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Danielle Cassley, Jason Citron |
| Platform(s) | iPhone, iPod Touch |
| Release | July 11, 2008 |
| Mode(s) | Single Player |
Aurora Feint The Beginning is a video game developed by Danielle Cassley and Jason Citron for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It combines the geometric shape manipulation of Tetris and Bejeweled with the character-driven elements of a role playing game. According to the developers, it will be eventually be updated to include features of a massively multiplayer online game.
Gameplay
In Aurora Feint, there are four locations: the Mine, the Store, the Smith, and the Tower. The Mine is where much of the gameplay happens, as a player acquires crystals and resources by manipulating blocks into combinations. Players then go to the Store to buy blueprints to skills and tool blocks (built at the Smith) and magicbooks (activated at the Tower) which improve mining efficiency.
There are 6 different types of tool blocks in Aurora Feint:
- Dreameater: When activated this block will detonate a given number of blocks which surround it. With increased levels, the radius of the blast increases, destroying more blocks.
- Alchemist: When matched it will destroy all other blocks on the screen of the same element type.
- Time Stopper: When activated stops the blocks from moving up the screen for a small period of time. Useful for planning combos. With increased levels, the time the blocks stop for increases.
- Strategist: When activated any blocks around the matched area will glow for a short period of time. Creating a further match with these blocks within the time period gives a X2 bonus for the matched blocks. With increased levels, the amount of time the blocks glow increases.
- Furie: When activated any blocks around the matched area will glow for a short period of time. If you can create a further match with these blocks within the time period you will get a X3 bonus for the matched blocks. With increased levels, the amount of time the blocks glow increases.
- Sorcerer: When activated any blocks below the matched blocks are also destroyed. With increased levels, the number of blocks destroyed below the matched blocks increases.
Synopsis
Details of the plot and story are limited but text in the game's opening trailer provides some hints:
"What is is that separates reality from fantasy? For one little girl, the only way to survive our reality is to live in her fantasy."
A new in-game item called 'scrolls' will be implemented in future releases of Aurora Feint and can be purchased using the in-game currency, crystals, to reveal more of the storyline.[citation needed]
Development
The Developers wrote in a forum post and discussed in an interview that the initial release of the game was created over the course of 10 weeks.[1][2] The developers set up and actively participate in an online forum at http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com/ where they address user questions and solicit feedback.
Soon after its initial release, reports circulated of privacy concerns regarding the game's community features.[3] [4] According to a forum post by the game's developers, on July 22 Apple removed the game from the iTunes App Store. The developers responded by explaining that the contact list was not actually stored on their server, asking for user feedback on alternatives, and asking for support on bringing the game back to the App Store.[5] On July 24, the iTunes App Store began carrying version 1.0.0.1 of the game. According to the developers, the new version addressed the privacy concerns.[6]
Reception
Aurora Feint was one of the first games released through the iTunes App Store and was initially met with acclaim compared to other free games in the App Store.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] One reviewer described it as "the most fun and addictive of the early iPhone games."[12]
References
- ^ Danielle Cassley (2008-07-11). "The Developers". Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Terry Terrones (2008-07-29). "Interview: The Creators of Aurora Feint". Retrieved 2008-09-07.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "App Store Application detected Collecting Personal Info". 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Is Aurora Feint the iPhone's first Spyware?". 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Latest On AF Missing From App Store". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ "And we're back... Update Style!". Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ Doug Aamoth (2008-07-16). "Mini Review: 'Aurora Feint' for iPhone/iPod Touch". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Benny Goldman (2008-07-17). "iPhone Apps We Like: Aurora Feint The Beginning". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Matt McCarty (2008-07-17). "Aurora Feint Review". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ MG Siegler (2008-07-18). "Aurora Feint: A great iPhone game — and it's free". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rick Broida (2008-07-22). "Five more must-have freebies for the iPhone and iPod touch". Retrieved 2008-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "iPhone Game Review: Aurora Feint". 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)