Tiny Wings
| Tiny Wings | |
|---|---|
 App Store icon |
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| Developer(s) | Andreas Illiger |
| Publisher(s) | Andreas Illiger |
| Platform(s) | iOS |
| Release date(s) | February 18, 2011 July 12, 2012 (HD version) |
| Genre(s) | Arcade |
| Mode(s) | Single-player Local Multiplayer (on HD version for iPad) |
| Media/distribution | Digital distribution |
Tiny Wings is an iOS game developed by German game developer Andreas Illiger, released on February 18, 2011.
Contents |
Gameplay [edit]
In Tiny Wings, the player takes control of a bird whose wings are too small to fly. The goal of the game is to use hills in order to gain speed and flutter as long as possible. This is done by tapping and holding the screen in order to make the bird dive. The game play mainly revolves around timing your taps so that the bird slides down hills and flies up them. The game's day trip version is separated into several islands, which have procedurally-generated layouts. The game features special missions that allow players to upgrade their nest, which adds a score multiplier usually X2. These challenges revolve around reaching specific islands or performing certain tricks a number of times in one game. The game's visuals change daily along with the islands' layouts.[1]
Flight School [edit]
Flight School, a new mode introduced in version 2.0, is similar to normal gameplay, but it instead features a race between 4 young birds (which are siblings). The player can choose to control one of the birds while the rest of the birds are controlled by the CPU. The birds are listed here with their colors and are ranked according to their typical finishing positions (NOTE: The player can also change the birds' names):
- Flami – pink
- Peck – blue
- Peli – orange
- Owell – green
The goal in flight school is to reach mama bird first. If you are faster than the siblings you'll get the fattest fish. To unlock the next island players must finish in 3rd, 2nd, or 1st place. In 3rd place you'll get a small Blue fish, in 2nd place a medium-sized Cyan fish, and in 1st place you'll get the fattest Yellow fish. When a set of islands is completed by a bird, its nest is upgraded. This mode includes 2 new features: rubber flowers birds can bounce on, and watering holes that slow down the birds. The mama bird is dark green and is from the day trip mode. Not all levels are in daytime levels. Levels 1-3 2-3 3-4 are all nighttime levels. They contain a different song then the daytime levels.
Release [edit]
Tiny Wings was originally released with one mode (called Day Trip after version 2). Version 2 was released as an update in July 12, 2012, and added a new mode, Flight School consisting of a race between 4 birds, one of which is controlled by the player. The levels in Flight School are divided into islands, with 5 tracks in each. There are 3 island tracks they are Clown islands, Koi islands, and Orga islands. Also there will be more island tracks coming soon as updates. Flight School includes 2 new features on the islands. The July 2012 update also gives the ability to gift app. The HD version (released at the same time as version 2) includes Hill Party as the 3rd chapter.
Reception [edit]
The game has received highly positive reviews. Many reviewers praised the game's simple gameplay but complex nuances.[2] IGN gave the game a score of 8.0/10 and said that it "comes together as a very playable simple pleasure."[3] Slide to Play gave the game a perfect 4/4 and said that the game is "brilliant in its simplicity, originality, and ability to keep you coming back again and again."[4] Games Pundit gave the game 8.5/10 saying that "It’s one of those games that you can just pick up and play to eat up 10 minutes of time and have some fun too."[5] The game was featured by Apple senior vice president Scott Forstall as a "mind controllingly addictive game" at Apple's 2011 Worldwide Developer's Conference.[6]
The game has been a major commercial success. It was the top grossing game in the App Store for two weeks from late February 2011 to early March when Angry Birds Rio took its place.[7][8] The app was voted iPhone game of the year 2011[9] and has sold at least 6.5 million copies based on Apple's Game Center statistics.
References [edit]
- ^ Illiger, Andreas. "Portfolio, Tiny Wings". Tiny Wings. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "Tiny Wings Review: Is It More Than a Simple Arcade Game?". Fork This Llama.
- ^ "IGN - Tiny Wings Review".
- ^ "Tiny Wings Review at Slide To Play".
- ^ "Tiny Wings iOS- Review at Games Pundit".
- ^ WWDC 2011 keynote, http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/11piubpwiqubf06/event/, 40:00
- ^ "Top-Grossing iTunes App". Text " Tiny Wings Still The Top Paid App" ignored (help)
- ^ "Angry Birds Rio Now Availabe [sic] for the iPhone".
- ^ "iPhone Game of the Year 2011".
