The Basics
| Title ⇢ | Pangolin |
| Developer ⇢ | FEEDTANK (based in Brooklyn, NY) |
| App Store Link ⇢ | http://bit.ly/PANGOLIN |
| Release Date ⇢ | December 15th, 2012 |
| Platforms ⇢ | iOS (iPhone only) |
| Website ⇢ | http://www.feedtank.com/pangolin |
| Price ⇢ | Education world (10 levels) for free. Exploration world (40 levels) for $1.99. ($0.99 for a limited time on release) |
Description
Short Description
Pangolin is a physics-based arcade game that turns the classic platformer on its head. Instead of controlling the character, you control the platforms.
Create trampolines to bounce a small curious creature though a surreal landscape filled with colorful curved slopes, sadistic spikes and teleporting targets. Testing both your reflexes and wits, Pangolin combines quick arcade action and challenging puzzles to create a game that's difficult to categorize, but easy to play. It’s distinctive visual style, soothing soundtrack and unique gameplay make for an experience unlike any other.
Expanded Narrative Description
One misty morning, high in the mountains, a small, scaly anteater named Pangolin travels from his centuries-old monastery to a nearby mountaintop for his daily meditation. As the devoted young monk waddles through the thickening fog, he loses his bearings and stumbles upon a surreal landscape filled with colorful curved slopes, purple trampolines, and teleporting targets, beckoning him to take a world-hopping journey of exploration and self-discovery.
Using a unique, multi-touch interaction, create trampolines of varying strength to propel Pangolin past spikes, around moving obstacles, and through stacked crates, collecting coins and gems along the way. Challenges of increasing difficulty test your timing, reflexes and aim, allowing you to gradually perfect your bouncing skills while watching Pangolin fly through the air, roll down hills, and ricochet off walls.
Video
Trailers
Game Tutorials
Animated GIF
Press
Awards + Features
- New and Noteworthy in over 40 countries!
- Nominated for Best Mobile Arcade Game of 2012
- IdN's Magazine's Pick of the Month
Written Reviews
Video Reviews
History
Pangolin was initially envisioned as a side-scrolling, endless runner called Bouncer. A spherical character would continually run and jump from platform to platform. Using a two-handed multi-touch interaction, the user would create angled trampolines to help the character bounce and reach the next platform. The game idea was documented in Jonah's sketch book early 2011.
Timeline
- In May 2011, Feedtank was looking to create its first self-published iOS game after over two years of making apps for clients. After considering a number of ideas, Feedtank decided to explore the multi-touch interaction described in the Bouncer sketch.
- Later that month, a simple prototype was created by Steven using cocos2d and box2d. It allowed a user to bounce a curled up creature by creating trampolines using a multi-touch interaction. The potential of the interaction as a powerful game mechanic was immediate.
- After researching different animals that are either spherical in nature or curl into balls, Feedtank discovered the endangered Pangolin, a small, scaly anteater found in Africa and Southeast Asia. They also learned that the word Pangolin came from the Malay pengguling, which means "something that rolls up."
- Shortly thereafter it was decided the game's aesthetic would be informed by the main character's region of origin. The game's art, design and sound were all influenced by Asian art, calligraphy, and music.
- Summer and Fall of 2012 were about game design. After 40-50 levels were created for the game, they were all scratched or completely redone using the lessons learned in their creation. The line work in each world were also reworked to match a consistent theme. The Education world features lines bulbous and organic, while Exploration's were inspired by Asian calligraphy.
- Pangolin was submitted to the App Store for approval late November, 2012.
Feedtank's Bio
Feedtank is a small interactive studio specializing in the creation of playful interactive experiences. It's constantly experimenting with new technologies, coming up with ideas, and creating prototypes. Feedtank's goal is to create experiences that allow people to interact with technology in new ways, making it more human, approachable, and fun.
Feedtank began in 2004 as an artistic collective whose focus was interactive installations. Jonah and Steven made experiences which allowed participants to use their entire bodies, often using computer vision. These installations, always playful and game-like, have been shown in galleries and festivals around the world (including WIRED's NextFest and Art Basel). A few of these early installations include:
Starting in 2010, Steven and Jonah started working on Feedtank full-time, attempting to strike a balance between finding the right commercial work and keeping its experimental roots. They've transitioned from installations to apps, where they've continued their exploration of new, direct forms of interaction. They have done a number of apps for clients, however, were always itching to put their heart and soul into a self-funded game project... which is how Pangolin was born.
Logos & Icons
Credits
| Concept ⇢ | Jonah Warren and Steven Sanborn (Feedtank) |
| Design ⇢ | Jonah Warren and Steven Sanborn (Feedtank) |
| Programming ⇢ | Steven Sanborn (Feedtank) |
| Art ⇢ | Jonah Warren (Feedtank) |
| Level Design ⇢ | Jonah Warren (Feedtank) |
| Theme Music ⇢ | Jonah Warren (Feedtank) |
| Sound Design ⇢ | McBride Sound Design |
Contact
| All inquiries ⇢ | [email protected] |
| Website ⇢ | http://www.feedtank.com/pangolin |
| Facebook ⇢ | http://www.facebook.com/pangolin.game |
| Twitter ⇢ | http://www.twitter.com/feedtankllc |