Fishing Cactus development blog » shift

Shift Gains a Nintendo 3Ds twist in Shifting World

Bruno Urbain — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:07:11 +0000

More than 20 million players have enjoyed the Shift series of puzzle platformers on Flash, iPhone and Android. Today Fishing Cactus, Armor Games and Aksys Games are proud to announce once again a new venture in the Shift series with a brand new version which will be available for the Nintendo’s 3D handheld. The title? Shifting World!

For those who missed that piece of unique gameplay, Shift is a simple platforming game turned inside-out with the addition of a shift function that allows the player to flip between the black and white portions of the game map, forcing them to warp their perceptions to proceed. It’s pretty much perfect as it is.

Working for more than 2 years on the Shift series, we thought we can make this game even more perfect with a specific take on the Nintendo 3DS. Shifting World takes the shifting element from the original game (rotators, keys, doors, spikes) and adds an additional layer of complexity (and new mechanics) by allowing players to shift between 2D and 3D. As far as the changes made, the story has also been revisted and will introduce new twists in a brand new funky universe!

Game is planned to hit the stores early Q2 2012. Stay tuned for more and in the meantime enjoy the screenshots!

Gamersdailnews grants a gold award to Shift Extended!

Bruno Urbain — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:11:15 +0000

Another great review of Shift Extended (available on PSN Mini) has been posted on GamesDailyNews. On top of an extraordinary score (9.5 out of 10) we also got a Gold Award. Nice isn’t it?

“Who knew that black and white could be so much fun? It’s a very mature puzzle platform title that, while almost looking retro, is very modern and extremely interesting to play. I look forward to more like it.”

The full review can be found at this URL: http://www.gamersdailynews.com/articlenav-2808-page-1.html

Firesale – Shift Extended on PSP/PS3 -50%!

Bruno Urbain — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:46:58 +0000

Hello everyone,

Today we suggest you turn your brain upside down at half-price! That’s right, we’re launching a special offer for SHIFT extended which can be downloaded in the Minis section of the PlayStation®Store! Download SHIFT extended on PlayStation®3 and PSP™ only for €1,99/$1,99 until March 15th!

A short reminder about the game: In SHIFT extended you’re an experimental subject in a strange lab. You don’t know what you’re doing here and no explanation at all is given to you. All you have to do is solve the many puzzles that are put in front of you. The thing is…you don’t really have a choice. Let the experiment begin…

With twice the content from the original version and brand new gameplay mechanics to push the challenge even further, SHIFT extended is the most complete experience of the series!

• A unique concept ; press one button and turn the level upside-down to reveal new paths.
• An amazing life-expectancy, thanks to its 120 levels;
• Entirely new game mechanics never seen before in the SHIFT series;

First “lab-tests” of SHIFT extended

« Curiously addictive » GamrReview by VGChartz

“SHIFT extended is a very good puzzle/platform game [...] If you’re looking for an addictive platform game, then SHIFT extended is the game for you.”. PSPMinis.com 9/10

“This isn’t your average lifeless port, but a new version boasting a few more features for your cash».

Eurogamer 8/10

ConsolPlus.de 4/5

CapsuleComputers 9,5/10

Consol.at 4/5 Zpad.net « Must buy »

GamingXP 87% TerminalGamer 8/10

DealSpwn 9/10

DirtyMindsGaming 9/10

Gamereactor.fi 8/10

Download SHIFT extended on PlayStation®3 and PSP™ only for €1,99/$1,99 until March 15th!

Fishing Cactus on Android!

Christophe Clementi — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:26:07 +0000

Hello world! Our games on the Android platform have just been released!

SHIFT

Android device owners (2.1 and up) can now enjoy our Shift, the critical acclaimed platform/puzzle game when and where they want.

This version of SHIFT was developed together with Handmark, whose SHIFT page is the central point to find all the necessary information about the game.

Click here to check it out!

2 other brand new games are available

OXO is similar to the Tic Tac Toe game you loved as a child, but a bit more challenging and now available wherever you go with the mobile game.

If you’re a fan of challenging casual puzzle games such as sudoku, crossword puzzles, jumble, dots – OXO is the game for you!

This game is available both as a free ad-supported and a classic ad-free versions.

Subway is a fun retro, arcade-style game testing your reflexes! Control your own subway network by triggering rail switches to make sure the trains arrive on time to prove you are a cool-headed station master! A retro 2D game featuring fast-paced gameplay that will get you hooked ’till the last train has reached its stop!

Featuring 5 survival maps with different art and music, Subway is a stylish survival game!

Now go ahead on the Android Market to get hours fun!

Shift Extended lands on EU & US PSN stores

Bruno Urbain — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:20:26 +0000

Shift Extended, a brand new version tailored for the minis and, of course, based on the successful Shift series, is now available on both EU and US PSN stores (available on both PSP and PS3 in the minis). It is available for 3.99$ / 3.99€.

It features unique set of levels (160 in total) as well as never seen game mechanics in the Shift series. If you don’t have an iPhone, are addicted to platform games and you have a PS3 or a PSP, this is a must buy!

Zallag, our publisher on this game did a great communication job and posted several trailers around the web. Here is the second one!

Shift 2 iPhone featured and new Shift2QRcode

Bruno Urbain — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:06:36 +0000

A nice achievement for Fishing Cactus and ArmorGames as almost all AppStores (US, BE and FR at least) featured Shift 2 iPhone.

With an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #27 out of 100 on the paid AppStore, we can say that we are on the road for another Apple success. Not to say we moved our asses and brought some great values to the sequel (120 levels, 30 bonus levels, 35 achievements, leaderboards, challenge friends online) and I must say the level designers at Fishing Cactus did a great job when designing all those new levels! We are all very excited and proud that you, players out there, liked what we created.

And for those who are waiting for it, here is a new Shift2QRCode (use your camera to unlock a new level in the game):

And for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, this QR code unlocks a unique level in Shift 2 iPhone and if you get them all it will unveil something special. The question is: are you smart enough to discover the secret?!

For those who are still undecided here are some great reviews of the game:
- AppSpy (4/5)
- 148Apps.com (4.5/5)
- AppSafari (4/5)

You can download Shift 2 on the AppStore by following this link.

Stay tuned for more Shift news, we have some heavy work under progress we hope we’ll be able to share soon.

Shift 2 level contest

Bruno Urbain — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:42:47 +0000

As some already guessed, Armor Games and Fishing Cactus are bringing Shift 2 to the iPhone, and we need your help. We are looking for users to create and submit levels for ‘Shift 2′ that we can feature in the game.

If we end up featuring your level in Shift 2 (iPhone) you’ll get your full name in the credits as well as a free copy of the game in the app store.

The rules for the contest are as follows:

1. E-mail your level codes to support@fishingcactus.com
2. Make sure you include your full name to be listed in the credits
3. Lastly, submit an e-mail address that is easiest to reach you so the game can be sent to the winners.

Armor Games & Fishing Cactus wishes all contestants the best of luck! To get started, click here. Follow us on Twitter to know in real-time what we think about the levels submitted!

Behind the Level Design of Shift 2

Samuel Languy — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:10:30 +0000

Yes, you heard me, that’s what I’m talking about. The Level Design process of Shift 2 levels.

Who knows? We might have something related in developement…

Let’s face it, designing batches of dozen and dozen levels while keeping our beloved player entertained can be tricky. So here are some tips and tricks we use in the making of the levels for our unique platformer (as a reminder created by Anthony Lavelle and Armor Games).

Evolution

While Shift 1 was featuring only 2 kind of level elements (doors and spikes) Shift 2 is featuring brand new elements which greatly improve the level design possibilities, hence, player experience. Let’s have a quick look at those.

Rotators:

This feature is a trigger represented by a 4 direction arrow placed on any simple black or white tile. If the player walks on it, the level rotates in that direction.

It is a very big change that introduces 2 new ways of seeing the level for a player. It also allows the design of much more aerial/platform-oriented levels, in which the player has to gracefully jump back and forth, avoiding deadly spikes while being rotated at each landing. Lot of fun in perspective !

Shift impermeable material:

This level element creates platforms which are not black or white, hence impossible to shift!

Impermeable material disolver:

This bonus goes with the previous, picking it up will transform a non-shiftable material that the designer has preset into a black or white shiftable square.

Customisable door:

We can now set 5 different lengths for the door. Yay! It means that it is possible to think of much cooler dynamic mazes using the doors to block or open path.

Design process

Let’s see what we got now… Design process, or how to use all the elements we talked about in order to create fun, challenging, and varied levels.

Find a base to start with:

It is nearly impossible to think of a Shift 2 level in one shot. Something will most probably go wrong and you’ll find yourself with a level impossible to finish, or really easy to exploit. As it is really difficult to plan out a level straight ahead, it is better off to start with a base. It can be some randomly placed platforms or a simple layout or a theme (such as the aerial level, for instance). Better not place any special elements such as door or rotators yet and keep them for the end.

Iteration:

It is common to almost every design process (be it game or level): Think about what you want to do, do it, test, redo, test, redo so on so forth until you have a satisfying result. The “redo” basically means to implement new elements if you have new ideas while testing, or fix the level (difficulties, impossibility to finish, exploits etc…). If you think you are done do not forget to have your levels tested by another person! At Fishing Cactus we have several designers and most of them will test your level at will. Of course once this step is done, the good thing to do is to playtest them with a completely unfamilliar tester (this is what we do when we externally playtest the game). By the way if you’d like to become a playtester for our games, stay updated we are currently setuping the playtest web form for you to register.

Design tips and tricks

Now here are just some hints on how to spice up a level. Some ideas to compose with, of course there is no special alchemy that works 100% of time.

Foresight:

When you design a level it is important to always foresee what will happen in the game. When you place a new element for any reason, always check if you do not block a previous step of your level. It can save you some time of test! For instance, a door once rotated can easily block a previous path you had setup.

Action repetition:

Get the player to perform the same action over and over for few seconds, like “jump+forward”. Doing so generally introduces a “robot” rhythm and the awareness of the player goes down, a good time to set a trap that will remind the player to stay alert! In a nice and not too frustrating manner of course . But what would be a puzzle/platform game without a whee bit of frustration?

Obvious path:

The obvious path is a way you can set the level to suggest a path to the player with subtlety. An open way with a useless bonus which is in fact a deadly trap is easier to go for the player than analyzing the possible paths if he would shift. Using rotators arrow can also be a nice trick, because of the directional aspect of the element, players are more tempted to follow the direction.

Surprises:

The surprise element is always good to have. In Shift 2 you can create such effects pretty easily as the player never knows what will change in a level when he picks up a key or a dissolver bonus. Example: you can push the player to a “leap of faith” where he has to take a chance jump right towards spikes, but there is a bonus to catch during the fall! It might save him, a door could turn and create a platform right above the spikes. Or not.

Confuse the player:

Using the dissolvers and keys you can literally transform the structure of the level. Now add the rotators and you will confuse the player so well that he will have the impression he is playing a new level.

Variations:

There are various other little ways of creating fun and various level. From real puzzle to pure platform, Shift 2 is really a nice game to develop level on! Do not forget to add some pure fun level (easy to do, but fun theme) to give the player some rest once in a while and you are good to go!

Contest?

You’ll get more information about this one soon enough

:Shift: free game of the day but only today :)

Bruno Urbain — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:04:28 +0000

Hey everybody, :Shift: released almost a year ago by Fishing Cactus and Armor Games on iPhone is now free, but only for today. I suggest you to take this opportunity and grab it as soon as you can (if you don’t have it already).

For those who don’t know anything about the game, :Shift: has a sharp presentation and ingenious level design which will make you flip the gameworld around to get your character to the exit. There’s not much to it, but what there is still make your head hurt. As a reminder, :Shift: has been featured in Edge as one fo the 100 best games on iPhone.

For those who don’t have an iPhone, no worries, :Shift: is also coming on Samsung Bada very soon!

:Shift: iPhone featured in Edge

Bruno Urbain — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:45:02 +0000

Shift has been featured as one of the best 50 iphone / ipod touch games in the famous gaming magazine EDGE.

Here’s what they say about the game: “The sharp presentation and ingenious level design will make you flip the gameworld around to get your character to the exit. There’s not much to it, but what there is still make your head hurt.”

I take the opportunity of this post to remind you that we made a big and free update on the game adding several brand new levels.