SAN FRANCISCO - (Business Wire) ngmoco (http://ngmoco.com), creator and publisher of games exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch, today announced its Touch Pets Dogs app is available from the App Store. The free app lets players adopt, nurture, play, personalize and socialize with virtual puppies. Developed by virtual pet genre pioneer Andrew Stern of Stumptown Game Machine, the Touch Pets Dogs app combines the magic of puppy ownership and virtual play with the connected interactivity of a fully realized Plus+ powered social network, designed exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch. In Touch Pets Dogs, players adopt, nurture and play with their virtual puppies through one-on-one interaction and go on play dates with other players’ dogs from around the world. Touch Pets’ innovative design team was led by Andrew Stern, one of the original creators of the genre-creating Petz franchise, a series of award-winning interactive virtual character games that has sold more than 3 million units worldwide.
The easy to use Touch Pets social network, integrated with Plus+, allows owners and dogs alike to build relationships with other players and their Touch Pets. Puppies’ social lives continue to evolve whether their owners are logged into the game or not, and the results are broadcast for the world to see on the integrated Touch Pets social network and Facebook.
“ngmoco is proud to collaborate with Andrew Stern and Stumptown Game Machine,” said Neil Young, CEO & founder of ngmoco. “The Touch Pets Dogs app combines artificial intelligence techniques with real-time 3-D computer animation and social networking to push the virtual pet genre to a new level of portable, connected play exclusively on iPhone and iPod touch.”
The Touch Pets Dogs feed weaves social aspects into every layer of gameplay. “Social play truly enhances and expands the game world, showcasing the virtual lives of your Touch Pets,” said Andrew Stern. “Dogs can go on adventures together, form emotional friendships and romances, love triangles and break-ups. Players can influence these relationships directly during play dates. Even offline antics and accomplishments are reported back to your friends and other players. The ever-changing news feed items are truly entertaining to follow.”
Players can also personalize their 3-D pups with new clothing, accessories, toys, grooming tools and other doggie gear. With seven different dog breeds to choose from, Touch Pets can be trained to fetch, catch and do tricks using a variety of toys, touch commands and accelerometer inputs. Puppies can grow in five exciting careers: Crime-fighting, Science, Rescue, Celebrity and Political tracks. The right training can prepare a Touch Pet for dozens of career missions where it can earn special reward items and mission postcards that further define its unique identity — on and off the dog feed.
Touch Pets Dogs is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://appstore.ngmoco.com/touchpets. Players can also use the In App Purchase feature to buy premium accessories and treats for their Touch Pets.
About the Plus+ Network
ngmoco’s Plus+ Network harnesses the latest OS3.0 technology for iPhone and iPod touch games to give a powerful social network to gamers. Centered on a persistent profile, Plus+ allows players of all skill levels to connect, share and socialize (http://www.plusplus.com).
About ngmoco
Headquartered in San Francisco, ngmoco was founded in 2008 by games industry veterans committed to the new mobile landscape opened up by Apple’s iPhone. ngmoco creates and publishes socially empowering games for iPhone and beyond with the best and brightest game makers in the world. Founded by Neil Young, Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu and Joe Keene, the company’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Maples Investments and Norwest Partners. To witness the lives and minds of the ngmoco team at work on the future of games, visit http://www.ngmoco.com.
fortyseven communications
Craig Sinel, 323-658-1200
craig@fortyseven.com
