DOWNWARDS trailer is out!

Check out the trailer for DOWNWARDS! Now you can see the rotation mechanic of the game (and the cute animations) in action.

We’re wrapping up development and are hoping to release in a few weeks. See you soon!

Stories and screenshots

DOWNWARDS is coming along pretty well! Most of the game is programmed in, as are about 90% of the levels. The game art is done too, and we’ll be putting in some sweet animated cutscenes to explain the story throughout the game as well.

Speaking of story, DOWNWARDS does have one; despite being just a casual puzzle game, we thought it’d be more interesting for your character to actually have a raison d’être for running around these rotating levels:

Digital disaster! A dangerous virus, the cute and cackling VIRULZ, has infiltrated your smartphone! Guide our fearless little antivirus robot through the digital landscape of your device to stop this bothersome bug and save your precious technology.

The idea for this came from the very physical nature of the game. Since you’re rotating your iPhone to help along the avatar, we thought it’d be more interesting if that physicality was included in the story. The iPhone that you’re rotating is the same iPhone that the robot is saving. The idea of the robot protecting your phone is also something that we hope will resonate– who can’t relate to worrying about the tech that’s become so part of our lives?

We’re on track to release in September, so here’s some more promotional screenshots to whet your gaming palate!

DOWNWARDS in Development!

Hello world!  This is Studio Downwards, an indie game development duo based in Cambridge, MA, and with the opening of this site, we’re proud to announce our in-development iOS game DOWNWARDS.

DOWNWARDS was based on a class project at MIT, first envisioned by our programmer Justin as a puzzle-platformer that adds a new dimension of gameplay– instead of a linear pathway with a few vertical jumps, the entire level itself can be rotated, turning the platform into a more exciting, fully-two-dimension playground.

DOWNWARDS is set for release in September 2011.  In the meantime, we’ll be posting updates, concept art, teaser trailers, and a little behind-the-scenes info about the game itself on this site.  Please look forward to it!

DOWNWARDS Press Release: Aug 3, 2011