How did we got the idea for the game ?

After releasing our first casual game, Fire Flower, we already had several ideas for next project. This is the one which actually made it.

It was clear from the beginning that we should make a game with animals. It's just that we didn't know what kind of game. There were several ideas, like classic match 3, sim game where you would take care about the animals. Any of these ideas seemed to be either too moch of a cliche, or too complicated to make in just a few months.

In the end it was decided to make animal matching game, but to step up a lot from match 3 type of the game.

As a result of that, we got this amazing game which has something that drives you playing it for hours.

Main storyline

There's a viscious virus out there, and it's killing the animals around the Planet. Bright young scientist, professor Jane Pinckleport is called for help. Whole rescue operation is conducted by World Animal Preservation Organization, in short W.A.P.O.

So where do you as a player fit in the whole story ?
Well, you're an assistant trying to help in this crisis. With great help of yours, Jane will find the cure and rescue the animal kingdom.

Your task is to collect various DNA samples for the research. Jane is starting you off with some basic notes, what to do and how to collect the samples. While you're on your journey, there are various dangers that you'll face. So be prepared to fight back and stay on the course with our main character and her grandfather August. Since we have already mentioned her grandfather, let's say a few words about the old guy.

August is scientist as well, but retired for years. This is all very exciting for him, so he's helping Jane by informing her about the news by talking to her on the phone. Since Jane is out there in wilderness, she's not able to read her mail. Every time she gets letter from WAPO, August is giving her a call and updating her what to do and what is the next location.

As you're advancing through the game, the story gets even more complicated. At certain point Interpol is getting involved into whole thing, big corporations are under investigation. In the end, you realize that this virus thing is not coincidence, but there's something or someone behind the evil plot.
It's up to you to crack the case and find out what's going on.

Core mechanic

When we started messing around with matching mechanic, one thing was for sure, we didn't want to make match 3 game. There're just too many out there, so what's the use of making another one ?

Let's describe our thinking about the twist and how did we come to it. First thing when you start with the game, there's golden frame you're introduced to. The Golden Frame, is the twist !

If you pay closer attention to classic match 3 mechanic, where you swap two pieces on the board, what you're doing is, actually trying to fit 3 pieces of same kind inside invisible horizontal or vertical x3 frame.

When we have realized that, we decided to extract that invisible frame and to make it visible. Once we had horizontal x3 frame on top of the pieces, various ideas came to our minds. One of those ideas is, now when we have that frame visible, let's make variation in its shape. This idea of changing the shape of the frame brought up whole new perspective on the game. It allowed us to create such gameplay experience which was never seen before in match 3 games.

Now, player has to create its own strategy to fit the pieces inside the frame, and for each frame type, different strategy is required. Besides that, it also created situation where player has to create several layers of strategy, and that's something what made the game even more interesting and challenging in general.

By adding various rules how to match animals on the board, we created powerful variation in gameplay from level to level, making the game interesting all the way through. Each level has something different, either being matching rule, frame type, different goals on animals or obstacles. All this combined, gives you a game with lots of variation on basic gameplay, lots of features, effects, awards. In general lots of everything for the money you're paying for the game.

Mini games

As you will already notice, there are bunch of arcade mini games. After each completed stage, there's one arcade mini game waiting for you. All the mini games are part of the story, so you'll be fighting nasty spiders, feed hungry bears or collect valuable gems in pachinko mini games.

Technology used

These mini games, were also some kind of test for our proprietary advanced 2D physics technology, Xtrema Physics 2D. We wanted to see how it behaves in full production, and how it can help us to bring something new and entertaining into casual game.

One thing is for sure, it passed the test and we'll be using it even more in our future games. The level of interacitvity we're achieving by using this technology, is helping us to make better and original games. That way, we all benefit, especially players, because the games are more interesting and fun to play.

Looks and feels

You can notice from the very beginning the whole atmosphere of the game is kinda warm. As you'll advance through the game, you'll realize that each environment in the game has its visual identity. For example, while rescuing the animals on North Pole, everything is white and light blue, while being in the Desert, you can notice the sand, palms leaves decorations.

Besides that, each environment in the game has its own music which is specually tailored to fit there. So in general, we have really paid attention to all those small details which will, we hope, make you confortable to play the game for hours.

Conclusion

We're glad that we can finally see this game being live on the market. After all these months of hard work, whole team is really sattisfied how the game looks and feels.

One thing which is for sure, this game offers a lot for $20. That was one of our main goals actually. To create a game which will provide quality entertainment for the price you're paying. Many others agreed with that, and that's something what makes us happy.
We just hope that you'll enjoy the game, at least as we did while we were developing it.

Stay tuned to our web site, because there are some amazing new games we're working on right now.

Sincerely,

Team Ocean Media