14 DAY TRIAL // California-based start-up Studio Pepwuper, has just announced the availability of its first title, called “Megan and the Giant”, for the iOS platform. The first episode of the series is dubbed “The Giant of the River Thames” and is a 'family stealth adventure' game.
Studio Pepwuper has a strict “No Guns” policy, which means that their games are purely educational and non-violent.
The developers explain their decision to avoid using guns in their games because “there are enough games with guns, and we'd like to offer something different.”
The gameplay is very basic, as players will have to guide Megan, the main character of the game, on a journey to rescue a mysterious new friend.
The story takes place in London, so players will have to sneak Megan around the city by simply tapping on the screen.
“I took my inspiration for the game from children’s story books such as Roald Dahl, inspirational comic characters such as those seen in Disney films, and the emotive story lines in movies from the Ghibli studio. Also, a trip to London in 2009 gave me the idea for the story’s setting”, said Brandon Wu, the founder of the Independent games studio, Studio Pepwuper.
Some of the key features of the game include:
- Cute illustration-style 2D characters mixed with a colorful 3D environment; - Easy, minimum effort control. Just tap on the screen and move around; - 30+ Levels, 4 Chapters taking you through different London scenery; - Lifelines! Bananas, Cardboard Boxes, Cups of tea and more; - Gain new items to help you as you advance through the game; - Escape scenarios from the London City Police, Angry Dogs (not birds), and other fun pursuers throughout the city; - Kid-friendly story and gameplay.
“I hope to create games that my wife and mother would enjoy playing. I want to change the view that video games are violent and mind-numbing, and show the world that games can be an inspiring, motivating and educational form of entertainment”, concluded Wu.
Episode 1 “The Giant of the River Thames” is available for download from App Store for just $0.99.
The game is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPod Touch 3G (32GB/64GB) or iPod Touch 4G and requires iOS 3.2 or later. However, the developers promised support for earlier devices, as well.
