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Start your Wii, check out Wiiware, and you’ll find Pop waiting for you. The title, developed by Aussie studio Nnooo, was delayed slightly while localisation issues were sorted out.
Well, the wait is over! If you’d like to grab the bubble-bursting game, it will set you back 700 Wii points ($10.50).
Press release after the jump.
Along with the info that Nnooo is looking for fresh blood, creative director Nic Watt mentioned that it may give Apple’s sleek mobile a go:
As well as working on our next WiiWare title there is a strong possibility we will start working on Pop for other platforms and in particular the iPhone.
Many companies, including EA, Sega and even the Melbourne-based Infinite Interactive, are seriously considering the iPhone as a potential gaming platform. Makes sense that a developer with its eye on the casual market would be interested too.
According to Nnooo creative director Nic Watt, Pop has gone gangbusters in the States. I don’t know about you, but hearing that an Aussie developer is doing well overseas makes me all warm and hairy inside. I mean fuzzy. Warm and fuzzy. The game’s been so successful that the company is looking to take on more people. Specifically, it could do with a senior engineer and a concept artist/animator.
Currently the developer is working on its next WiiWare title, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of expanding to new platforms.
Nnooo is based in Sydney, so keep this in mind when you drop in your CV.
Jobs [Nnooo]
WiiWare’s in Australia. Fantastic news. But how about some pricing info? Not a problem – Nintendo Oz was able to supply us with the following:
Star Soldier R (800 Points)Toki Tori 2 (900 Points)Dr. Mario & Germ Buster (1000 Points)TV Show King (1000 Points)Lost Winds (1000 Points)FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King (1500 Points)
As for Pop, according to Nnooo! creative director Nic Watt, the game is still undergoing localisation for Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It’s not so much English that’s the problem, but all those other fancy languages that are slowing things down. Watt says he’ll let us know as soon as there’s a solid date.
WiiWare has launched in the States and, as usual, Australia is left sitting on its hands as Americans throw their Wii remotes around in delight. We do have one point to be excited about – Pop, the bubble-exploding game from Balmain-based developer Nnooo! – made it as a debut title for the service.
Nic Watt, creative director over at Nnooo!, has only praise for Nintendo’s platform for bite-size games, particularly its economical advantages over conventional distribution mechanisms:
The advantages [of]it are: being able to control the whole of the creation process, owning the IP, being able to distribute straight to the consumer, having a far better royalty split than we would ever get on a disc based title.
Microsoft has pushed XNA and Xbox Live Arcade as the perfect package for independent developers. Could WiiWare be a serious contender for the role? Can any developers provide their two cents?
Nnooo!’s press release for the launch can be found after the jump.
You’d better believe there’s money to be made on Nintendo’s upcoming WiiWare. An already-massive installed base, cheap development costs and no retail middle-man? It’s going to be like some kind of gaming goldrush (sans the toothless grins, fightin’ words and corseted lady-folk of questionable morals). Want to know, then, how to get a piece of the action and get a game on the service?
Nic Watt (pictured above) knows. And he knows that if you’re an aspiring developer with a big idea but a small bank balance, WiiWare might be just what you’re looking for. Watt’s Creative Director at startup Aussie dev Nnooo! Games, who are the team behind the recently-announced Pop for WiiWare. Being the first Wetern game announced for the service, and also being located in Sydney, I caught up with Nic and found out how he and his small team have turned a simple game idea from a lazy daydream into a real, honest-to-God WiiWare title.
Shortly after posting the original Pop story, we got in touch with Nnooo for more details and screenshots. Nic Watt, creative director on the game, replied with some happy snaps and the following info:
There is a sophisticated scoring system which includes not only chains, multipliers and power-ups [but]also a series of bonus rounds which are unlocked and played between stages.
Thanks Nic for the clarification. Nic also let me know that the game won’t launch until Wii Ware hits, which makes perfect sense. Unlike the “next week” from my original post. My bad.
UPDATE: Luke over at the mothership has his story up. He’s also fired off a Q&A to Nnooo, which we should hopefully see the answers to in short order.
Hit the jump for the images.
More PALGN scoops today, this time for a new Wii Ware title called Pop. According to PALGN, it’s being developed in Australia by newcomer Nnooo.
The description, from the official site (itself still under development):
Pop is designed to be enjoyed by all ages, either in single player or with up to three friends and allows people to steal points from opponents and use the controller to pump up the bubbles for bigger explosions. It is based around a simple concept which anyone can pick and play with layers of skill involved. Core gamers and those new to the Wiiâ„¢, or games in general, will all find it enjoyable.
Up to four players can compete in this bubble-exploding madness, and the controls are as simple as aiming at said suspicious-looking bubbles and pressing “A”. Repeatedly.
The site only has a release date of “soon”, which could mean next week or three months from now. Take your pick.
Pop for Wii Ware announced [PALGN] What is Pop? [Official site]
