Ongaku
PC rhythm action game gets a revamp, with new levels added and Halloween Theme Packs on the way.
12 OCTOBER 2010 MANCHESTER , UK
SmashMouth Games have today announced the release of re-vamped, award-winning 2D music game Ongaku, brimming with brand new and exciting game features, unique to the rhythm action-game genre. Developed by SmashMouth Games and released by Blitz 1UP, the game is already gaining critical success.
This updated version is a testament to three years of hard work by the SmashMouth Games team. The new focus of Ongaku is to appeal to the gamer of today, letting them play the game however they want, with whatever media they want, be it music, pictures, or even videos. The team have also worked on the game’s longevity and Ongaku now boasts 1000s of hours of replay value, supported by the downloadable Theme Packs. To add to the existing Dance, Pop, Rock and Pixel Theme Packs, SmashMouth Games are also proud to announce two new Halloween Theme Packs that will be available in the next few weeks; the Jack-O-Lantern Pack and the Zombie Pack.
Already the game has been greeted with critical success from a number of sites including Now Gamer: http://pc-mmo.nowgamer.com/reviews/pc-mmo/9470/ongaku
The game is available across a number of portals, including www.ongakugame.com, www.Blitz1UP.com/Ongaku, www.gamersgate.com/DD-ONGAKU/ongaku and http://games.gs1.net/games/ongaku#
Ongaku is a 2D rhythm action game combining an original score and stylised artwork. Players take the role of the magic crystal Ongaku and progress through the fantasy kingdom of Melody by popping paint bubbles in time to the music. If successfully popped, the paint bubbles reveal an artistic masterpiece, bringing the canvas to life with its unique artwork. There are endless possibilities with a wide range of new features to customise and share your experience:
Enjoy 11 brand new lusciously animated levels, each with their own new music theme Auto-generate playable levels from your favourite music tracks, pictures or videos using the Tune-O-Matic Discover you inner artist with the ability to import your favourite media and create your own levels using the Melody Maker Share the levels you've created with your friends and see their creations Five difficulty settings allow you to enjoy playing, whatever your level of expertise Ever-growing collection of new downloadable Theme Packs available, including Pop, Rock, Dance and many more The Flash prototype of Ongaku won the prestigious Armor Games Rhythm Action Competition and was then nominated for Game of the Year 2007 on the international website Newgrounds. The game has had nearly 500 000 downloads so far.“The team here at SmashMouth Games are very proud of Ongaku,” says Zuby Ahmed, Managing Director of SmashMouth Games. “Player feedback has helped shape a very special game; one where players can play what they want, how they want. We’ve aimed to give the gamer of today a product that can be played in new and exciting ways and we believe that Ongaku is something completely new and fresh. In a market where rhythm action-games are limited by the content the developers give you, our game is truly next generation. Beyond our really cool Story Mode, Ongaku lets you play with new, exciting features, such as the Tune-A-Matic, with its sophisticated media analyser, letting you mix your music, pictures and videos in cool, dynamic ways. There’s also a superb, yet simple to use level creator, along with tons of extra new content to download. 1000s of hours of fun for a bargain price, what more could you ask for? If you enjoy the game, please spread the word to everyone you know: ONGAKU!”
Adds Chris Swan, Blitz 1UP’s Business Development Director: “We’re incredibly pleased to be able to unleash the fantastic new version of Ongaku upon the world today. We’re really looking forward to seeing all of the crazy levels people will create with the in-game editor!”
Portals selling Ongaku as of the 12 October 2010:
www.ongakugame.com/
www.smashmouthgames.com/Webpages/Games/Ongaku.html
www.blitz1up.com/Ongaku?pr=1
www.gamersgate.com/DD-ONGAKU/ongaku
http://games.gs1.net/games/ongaku#
www.thegamecreators.com
Visit us at: www.smashmouthgames.com
Visit the Ongaku Site at www.ongakugame.com
To follow SmashMouth Games on Facebook, go here: www.facebook.com/pages/Smashmouth-Games
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For SmashMouth Games videos go here: www.youtube.com/user/SmashMouthGames
For screenshots of Ongaku and some of the other games in Blitz 1UP: www.flickr.com/photos/32483062@N08/
Interested in discussing business opportunities with SmashMouth Games? Please contact: contact@smashmouthgames.com
For all PR enquiries, contact Zuby Ahmed, Managing Director at zuby@smashmouthgames.com
About SmashMouth Games:
SmashMouth Games is an award-winning independent development company focusing on creating casual and innovative videogames for the download market. Since SmashMouth Games was established in 2006, the company has released a Flash Version of its first game, Ongaku, which achieved over 100 000 downloads in its initial two week launch (now nearly 500 000 downloads). Ongaku went on to become a leader in its field, winning the prestigious, "Armor Games Rhythm Action Competition" hosted by the international website Newgrounds - the most visited Flash-Portal on the Internet today. In May 2008, Ongaku was nominated for Game of the Year by Newgrounds. Currently the company is working on three projects, the first of which is Ongaku, for multi-platform release. SmashMouth Games is also a registered Wii Ware developer, Apple iPhone developer, and is part of the Microsoft Empower Program. The company also has successful educational ties with The University of Salford and is also based at Futureworks Manchester School of Media ( www.futureworks.co.uk/), both of which are situated in the heart of Manchester. For further information visit: www.smashmouthgames.com
About Blitz 1UP:
The Blitz 1UP initiative was launched in 2008 as an outlet for small, independent teams to bring their titles - finished and unfinished - to market on XBLA, PSN, PC, WiiWare, iPhone Flash and Mac. The scheme offers tailor-made packages to indie developers including PR, QA and access to its established distribution channels. The initiative provides a wide range of services, from design and production advice through to assistance with finding distribution and publishing partners.
www.Blitz1UP.com
About Blitz Games Studios:
Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Blitz Games Studios is based in Leamington Spa and was founded by industry veterans Philip and Andrew Oliver. It now has more than 220 staff and its six divisions encompass mature titles (Volatile Games), Serious Games (TruSim), family titles (Blitz Games), licensable middleware (BlitzTech), downloadable games (Blitz Arcade) and its education division (Blitz Academy). www.BlitzGamesStudios.com