Doodle Jump
| File:Doodle jump icon.png App Store art | |
| Developer(s) | Lima Sky |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Lima Sky |
| Platform(s) | Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian, Java ME, Xbox 360 Kinect, (Windows Phone - removed) |
| Release | iOS April 6, 2009 Android March 2, 2010 Symbian May 1, 2010 Windows Phone 7 June 1, 2011 Xbox 360 June 28, 2013 |
| Genre(s) | Platforming |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Doodle Jump is a platforming video game developed and published by Lima Sky for Windows Phone, iOS, BlackBerry, Android, Java Mobile (J2ME), Nokia Symbian, and Xbox 360 for the Kinect platform.[1] It was released worldwide for iOS on April 6, 2009, and was later released for Android and Blackberry on March 2, 2010, Symbian on May 1, 2010, and Windows Phone 7 on June 1, 2011. It was released for the iPad on September 1, 2011.[2] Since its release, the game has been generally well received. The game PapiJump by Sunflat Games inspired the gameplay of Doodle Jump,[citation needed] and characters featured in Doodle Jump were based on Elise Gravel's illustrations.[citation needed] The game is currently available on nine platforms.
Doodle Jump was renowned for its selling rate by iTunes standards, which counted 25,000 copies sold daily for 4 consecutive months (later overtaken by Angry Birds). As of December, 2011, the game sold 10 million copies over iTunes and Google Play and reached 15 million downloads across all platforms.[3][4] The game has been developed into a video redemption game for play at video arcades.[5]
Gameplay
In Doodle Jump, the aim is to guide a four legged creature called "The Doodler" up a never-ending series of platforms without falling. The left side of the playing field is connected with the right side. For devices with an accelerometer, players tilt the device from side to side to move the Doodler in the desired direction. Players can get a short boost from various objects, such as propeller hats, jetpacks, rockets (having the longest boost), springs, trampolines and invulnerability shields (some levels only). There are also monsters and UFOs that the Doodler must avoid, shoot, or jump on to eliminate. Aiming is performed by tapping on different parts of the screen, on the Android and Windows Phone versions of the game there is also an automatic aim mode. Depending on the game mode being played, projectiles may fly in a straight line off the screen or be affected by gravity and fall downwards. There is no definitive end to the game, but the end for each gameplay session happens when the player falls to the bottom of the screen, jumps into a monster, gets sucked into a black hole, or is abducted by a UFO. Players can choose from several different themes including Original, Christmas, Halloween, Rainforest, Space, Soccer World Cup, Underwater, Graveyard, Ice Blizzard or Ninja. The themes change the look of the Doodle Jumper, his enemies, and the background. Furthermore, the player may enter the names of one of the Pocket God pygmies and the Doodler will turn into one of pygmies. Alternatively, the player can enter the name "Bunny" and the Doodler will wear a bunny suit, just like the one in the Easter stage.[6][7]
There are also two other separate apps for iOS, Doodle Jump Christmas Special (a new Christmas theme) and Doodle Jump Hop, (a new Easter theme) where the player character is E.B. from the movie Hop.
A free version also exists. This version is nearly identical to the original, but features such as UFO's are not present, advertisements are shown and there is a limit to how high the Doodler goes.
Reception
Doodle Jump has received favorable reviews critics, with TouchGen mentioning the fact that the game is 'fun as heck' and also praising the sound and cartoon graphics which they feel give the game charm. The review ends by saying that the game is a 'joy to play' and that it's obvious that a 'lot of love went into this game'. Tom Love of Pocket Gamer called the game "unbelievably addictive, immediately accessible, and enjoyable every time you pick it up".[8]
Doodle Jump has sold 100 million copies on iTunes and Google Play to date, and reached over 150 million downloads across all platforms currently available.
Criticism
Lima Sky received criticism due the fact that they did not attempt to prevent players with jailbroken devices from manipulating and uploading their high score, hence possibly corrupting the leader boards system.[citation needed] However, Lima Sky later responded to the criticism by updating the game in order to make it more difficult for players to manipulate their high score.[citation needed]
Cultural references
The Doodler has made cameo appearances in several other iPhone games, such as Parachute Panic, The Creeps, Finger Physics and Pocket God, just like the Pocket God Pygmies are playable in Doodle Jump.
In episode 48 ("The Adhesive Duck Deficiency") of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper makes a reference to Doodle Jump when he sees someone playing the game in a hospital. It is also later referenced in episode 82, "The Zarnecki Incursion" where Sheldon Cooper gets offended when Penny referred to World of Warcraft as a "game". According to him, "Doodle Jump is a game; Angry Birds is a game; World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing... technically it's a game".
In 2012, the company Sprint ran a commercial featuring Kevin Durant that implies a viewer missing a sport game's winning shot because they had used up all their data plan quota by downloading Doodle Jump.[9]
During episode 72 ("Sex Education") of Parks and Recreation, Tom Haverford explains his internet addiction saying that he'd rather play Doodle Jump because of the emptiness in his life.
References
- ^ "Doodle Jump is coming to Kinect".
- ^ Acevedo, Paul (2011-06-01). "Doodle Jump has landed on the Marketplace". WPCentral. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
- ^ http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/03/16/doodle-jump-sales-hit-10-million-heads-to-xbox-360/
- ^ http://www.vg247.com/2011/03/16/doodle-jump-hits-10-million-sales-propelled-onto-xbla/
- ^ "Doodle Jump Arcade". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ^ Kim, Arnold (2009-03-20). "Doodle Jump Takes PapiJump to the Next Level". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ Cowdell, Lisa (2009-12-31). "Doodle Jump Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ Tom Love (2009-10-15). "Doodle Jump Review". PocketGamer.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^ Lippstreu, C.J. (February 27, 2012). "NBA Star Kevin Durant Slams Doodle Jump in New Sprint Ad". smartkeitai.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-05.