Freeverse

Wingnuts Moto Chaser for the iPhone: A First Look

Editors Note: Since our NDA prohibits us from showing all the cool stuff we've been working on (which is frustrating Brian, our Marketing guy!) we've decided to have an intern at Freeverse "review" our new racing game for the iPhone / iPod Touch: Wingnuts Moto Chaser. We have some game art for you and what's best described as the subjective side of his review. We had to "edit" a little bit of his review to make sure we weren't breaking our non-disclosure agreement. Hope you enjoy it and lets hope third-party apps come out soon!

We can't actually show you screenshots, as per our NDA, but here's some art taken from our Mac level building utility and cutscenes.

I'm sitting at my desk in Freeverse's new Brooklyn office, nursing an ice-cold can of Mountain Dew. The iMac's screen stares back at me while I watch the blinking cursor marking my place in this writing. I prefer to write in full-screen, thus eliminating all of the distractions normally associated with multi-task computing. It's serene, really. A moment of quiet in what will soon become an insane work environment. Or will it?

With WWDC next week and the iTunes App Store on the horizon, developers must be scrambling to get their products out as quickly as possible. No one wants to be left behind  when the doors open and happy iPhone users get a first look at what's available. The developers, at the time of this writing, are probably one bug away from a nervous breakdown.



Freeverse, however, seems to exist in the eye of the hurricane. Although we are very aware of deadlines, no one is running around like some kind of apocalypse is coming. Spirits are pretty high around these parts, actually. We still peer out of the new office's windows, still not entirely used to the amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge. The occasional Nerf fight breaks out. Is this unusual for a developer in the midst of a major product launch? I think it just shows how much faith we have in Wingnuts Moto Chaser.




Moto Chaser was one of the first few iPhone _____ ____ ___ _____ ___ _ ____ __. _ ______ ___ _______ _______ ___ ___ _______ _____ ____ enough at the time, but not for me. I recently got a chance to play Moto Chaser, and I must say that it was amazing. Now, I'm not normally a fan of racing games; I've just never been good at them. I'll constantly veer off the track, smash into obstacles, and generally have an unpleasant time. But Moto Chaser, well, that was a completely different story. When I first held the developer iPod Touch to try the game out, I wasn't too sure what to expect. There were no instructions, no prompts yet, but just __________ ______ ____ ________ _____. When the race started, I wasn't prepared. ___ _____ _____ ____ _____ __________, _____ ___ ____ ____________ ________ ______ ____ ________ _____ ______ ___ ______ ___ ____.

_____ ____ _______. _________ __________ _______ ________ ________ ____ _____ ______ ____ ____ __ ______ _____ _____. _____ ______ ___ ___ _____ ___________ _____ _________ _____ ___ _____ ___ ______ ________ ____ _____ _____ __ ___ _________ _____ _______ ______ _____ ________ ____ _____ ___ _ ____ _____ _ _______ ___ ____ _____ _______ ___ _______ ____ ____ __________ ____ ________ ____ ________ ___ high-quality game play.




A bend in the track quickly approached. With no instructions given to me or even traditional controls to manipulate, I had no idea what to do. Previous racing games have told me that I didn't want to veer off the track; I wanted to turn my bike to the left and remain on the road. In a last moment of desperation, I _____ ______ ____ _______ _____ __. Just like a Mac application that works "the way you expect," Moto Chaser behaved perfectly. ________ _____ ________ ______ ________ _____ ______ ____ _____. It just makes sense.



As I piloted my craft through each quickly approaching checkpoint, I began to fear my ability to complete the race. No, I began to fear my ability to complete just half of the race. As I said, I'm terrible at racing games. This one, though, had a very arcade-like feel to it. You don't need know the complicated workings of a motorcycle gear system to have a blast with this. Just pick it up and go. That's the kind of attitude I like in a game. It's the kind of attitude I've come to expect from Freeverse.



When the iTunes App Store finally opens its virtual doors, forget about the iPhone as "just a phone." On that red-letter day, whenever it happens to be, the iPhone will be well on its way to become a premiere gaming platform. You'll have games like Wingnuts Moto Chaser to thank for it.

About Me:
I'm Doug, the new intern here at Freeverse. I'll probably be blogging more about life in the office throughout the summer. I like awkward things like penguins, scarves, and Moleskine notebooks. Quirky bits of Mac software that reek of charm and style make me happy, too. You can find me on Twitter (penguintuition) or just e-mail me.