FlipSide5 Blog

Touch Tanks rolling toward release

2010-02-23T12:59:00.001-08:00

We are anxiously preparing for the big day. Touch Tanks has evolved into something we think is going to be very special. We will support online 4 and 6 player gameplay over 3G, WiFi and Edge. We use Apple hardware, Xserves, on the back end so the whole game is built on Apple tech.(We will have more on the server technology later.) We were shaking out our production hardware yesterday with some people playing from Germany and some people playing from the US . We think we will be able to support gameplay world wide based on what we have seen in terms of network latency.

In terms of gameplay we have added three power-ups, an optics power up, a health power-up and a cloaking power-up. We have also added the ability to upgrade your tank munitions and armor as your earn experience. You can deploy mines to set up defensive positions. Take a look at these gameplay screen shots to get an idea:

2010-01-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Nice mention for FS5 in PC World about the upcoming tablet.

Like everyone else we are very curious about what will be announced next week.

FlipSide5 joins Plus+

2009-11-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

We have partnered with NGMoco:) and joined the Plus+ network, see the press release here

Turning over the network to Nothing But Nets

2009-10-08T11:39:00.001-07:00

This weekend we are going to do something different, we are turning our entire in-game ad network over to the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign.

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria by sending long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to families in Africa. Malaria is a leading killer of children in Africa and refugees are especially at risk. Approximately two million people will play a FlipSide5 iPhone or iPod touch game over holiday weekend and when they do they will learn about the Campaign and the fight to stop malaria.

Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the easiest and cost-effective methods of preventing the spread of the malaria. Bed nets prevent malaria transmission by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. It costs just $10 to purchase and deliver a net to a refugee in need, and to educate the recipient on its proper use.

To learn more please visit NothingButNets

So while you are playing one of the games this weekend take a little time out to learn how you can help prevent malaria and protect some of the world's most vulnerable.

Sneak peek at the new CheckersFS5

2009-10-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the persistent turn by turn feature in the next release of CheckersFS5,

let us know what you think.

play by play provided by our own bshirley

CheckersFS5 now available in the App Store

2009-09-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

Checkers leverages FlipSide5’s multi-player platform with internet, WiFi and Bluetooth game play available. Game players can push game play invites to their AIM buddies using the iPhone’s push notification capabilities. Checkers also includes worldwide leaderboards based on a innovative player rating engine. With two modes of game play and 5 levels of computer player artificial intelligence, Checkers has engaging gameplay for both the casual and serious game player.

Checkers is our most socially networked game ever and we hope that with its industry leading game play and network features it will develop a strong following in the iPhone and iPod touch communities.

Checkers comes in both free and paid flavors.
Free
Paid

The paid version shows of a new online matching feature where you will be matched against a player who's ranked similarly to you. That way your challenged but not blown off the board every time you play.
Also, Checkers tweets here: checkersFS5

Touch Hockey Reaches 10 million Unique Game Player Milestone.

2009-09-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

During the week of August 24th Touch Hockey, FlipSide5’s ground breaking air hockey game for the iPhone and iPod touch reached 10 million unique game players. Since its launch in October 2008 Touch Hockey has been one of the most popular games on the iPhone platform. Touch Hockey’s with its industry leading graphics and multi-player game play over Wifi and Bluetooth showcases the iPhone’s breakthough capabilities for mobile gaming.

You can find the full press release here: the full press release

FlipSide5 Leads iPhone Social Network Gaming with “Mancala: FS5”

2009-01-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

RESTON, VA - FlipSide5, Inc. proudly announces the release of “Mancala: FS5”, the best-of-breed, social-networked Mancala board game for the iPhone. It leads the social gaming iPhone market with full AOL AIM integration.

Mancala: FS5 is currently the #1 board game for the iPhone with 250,000 downloads during its first week. Users are raving about the game calling it “addictive” and a “must-have”. The online gameplay and AIM integration keeps players coming back.

Mancala: FS5 brings leading social-networking capabilities along with best-in-class graphics, sounds and game play to the classic game of Mancala on the iPhone. In addition to three difficulty levels in one-player mode, the game supports three styles of two player game play: local area network, anonymous internet play, and internet play between AIM buddies with full instant messaging capabilities.

“Mancala: FS5 is the first iPhone game to have integrated the OpenAIM protocols - allowing AIM users to play games with their buddies while on the go. FlipSide5 has opened up new possibilities in social gaming on the iPhone.” said Todd Brannam, Chief Architect of AOL’s iPhone Application Team. “I look forward to seeing the evolution of social gaming from FlipSide5.”

“We have learned a lot with our previous social-networked games and wanted to push the envelope.” said Michael Sanford, President of FlipSide5, Inc. “We have also licensed our social gaming engine to Zerion Software in their new game ‘Rochambeau’.”

Mancala: FS5 joins the FlipSide5 product suite of Touch Hockey, Tic-Tac-Touch and Touch4. FlipSide5 games are currently on over 4 million iPhones and iPods with over 1.5 million online iPhone games played a month. Over the last 3 months, FlipSide5 has seen over 6.5 million downloads of their games.

Mancala: FS5 is being featured in the App Store in the “Best Family Games” section by Apple.

Pricing and Availability:
Mancala: FS5 is available today for $1.99 and a fully-featured ad-supported version is available for free.

FlipSide5 Re-Launches with Social iPhone Gaming Lineup: Grabs Top Spot

2008-10-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RESTON, VA - FlipSide5, Inc. re-launches entire iPhone lineup; Touch4, Tic-Tac-Touch and the current #1 iPhone download, Touch Hockey. This lineup features social gaming highlighted by its “one-tap play” technology, instant messaging and online gaming support and all for free. The extreme popularity of Touch Hockey validates FlipSide5’s social and online gaming strategy.

In this re-launch, FlipSide5 brings WiFi multi-player local networking support to each of its iPhone games. Online gaming support is also provided for FlipSide5’s ever popular 4-in-a-row game, Touch4. FlipSide5’s “one-tap play” technology enables two iPhone gamers to instantly connect to each other with a single button tap over a local network. Other iPhone games require a more complex and cumbersome process for multi-player gaming.

FlipSide5 released, Touch Hockey, its first arcade multi-player game this week. Touch Hockey became the #1 most popular iPhone application in just two days. Touch Hockey is on pace to eclipse the one million download mark in just over one week.

“Our strategy has always been to be a top 10 iPhone game company by delivering best-of-breed social and online games. Touch Hockey solidifies this strategy in a big way.” said Michael Sanford, President of FlipSide5, Inc. “The same engine that drives Touch Hockey is embedded in Touch4 and Tic-Tac-Touch. We have already licensed this technology and are extending our licensing efforts. We have exciting projects in our pipeline. The best is yet to come.”

One FlipSide5 user wrote, “You rock! I just downloaded all three games, and they're awesome. I'm your biggest fan! I played 1 and 2 player and multi-player online and with wi-fi. My son and I have an iPod Touch and my daughter has taken over mine because of your games. I'm spreading the word to all of my friends, as will my son. Thanks again for the heads up. My wait was worth it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

All of FlipSide5’s current titles are now free using an ad-driven model. FlipSide5’s games are officially labeled “Touch4: FS5 (FREE)”, “Touch Hockey: FS5 (FREE)” and “Tic-Tac-Touch: FS5 (FREE)”. Search for “FS5” in the App Store to easily find FlipSide5’s games.

FlipSide5, Inc.
Touch4 App Store Link
Touch Hockey App Store Link
Tic-Tac-Touch App Store Link
FlipSide5 Products

FlipSide5, Inc. is a world-leader in iPhone casual gaming. FlipSide5 offers Touch Hockey, Touch4 and Tic-Tac-Touch. FlipSide5, Inc. began in 2007 to bring the world’s best software on the world’s best mobile platform by delivering the world’s most compelling applications to every single user in the world.

###

Michael Sanford
President
703-963-4619
United States
msanford@flipside5.com

FlipSide5 Releases Touch Hockey: Best-of-Breed Air Hockey for iPhone

2008-10-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Reston, VA - FlipSide5, Inc. proudly announces the release of Touch Hockey, the best-of-breed air hockey iPhone game. Instant Replay, Multi-Player Network play, realistic air hockey topping game play and real-time 3D rendering highlight it's break-through features. Touch Hockey is FREE and available in the App Store today.

Touch Hockey outclasses every air hockey game available on the iPhone and iPod touch with the fastest animations of any game, instant replay, multiple levels for 'smart' one-player game play and multi-player WiFi network play. Touch Hockey runs at 60 frames per second when playing in one player mode, two player mode as well as when playing over your WiFi network.

"I have bought lots of games for my iPhone, including a few of the $10 ones. No question that Touch Hockey's animations are the smoothest and most responsive I've seen in any game so far." said one Touch Hockey beta tester. "The intelligence and challenge in one player mode is truly addicting".

"We took a step back and said how could we outclass everybody in this game. The instant replay, animations, 'smart' one-player support and multi-player WiFi network support set this apart." said Michael Sanford, President of FlipSide5, Inc. "A movie in a movie theater runs at 24 frames per second and Touch Hockey runs at 60 frames per second even when playing another Touch Hockey player over a network. The technology that went into this game is pretty substantial and we think users will love it."

Touch Hockey joins the FlipSide5 lineup which currently includes Touch4 and Tic-Tac-Touch, the best 4-in-a-row and Tic-Tac-Toe game for the iPhone. Touch Hockey, Touch4 and Tic-Tac-Touch all have multi-player network support. Touch4 also supports multi-player internet support.

Pricing and Availability:
Touch Hockey is available today on October 15, 2008 and is FREE. FlipSide5 also makes Tic-Tac-Touch and Touch4 for the iPhone.

FlipSide5, Inc. is a world-leader in iPhone casual gaming. FlipSide5, Inc. began in 2007 to bring the world's best software on the world's best mobile platform by delivering the world's most compelling applications to every single user in the world. Copyright 2007-2008 FlipSide5, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Computer in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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FlipSide5, Inc. Announces more Games Ahead of iPhone 3G Launch

2008-07-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

FlipSide5, Inc., makers of the already popular iPhone games Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch, is expanding its native iPhone game product line with Touch Tennis and Touch Hockey. Touch Tennis will be available on July 11, 2008 when the iTunes App Store is launched. Touch Hockey will be released in August 2008.

Touch Tennis is the premier arcade-style retro table tennis game for the iPhone and iPod touch. Touch Tennis presents increasingly fast-paced ball matches against the computer or friends with both 1 player and 2 player match-ups. Choose from different paddle sizes to increase the challenge and from various match lengths to suit your mood! Accurate arcade physics, beautiful graphics and sounds will keep users coming back.

Touch Hockey is the ultimate air hockey game experience for the iPhone and iPod touch. Touch Hockey offers 1 player and 2 player gaming with adjustable goal sizes and match lengths so it is great for everyone every time. The high-speed puck floats on a cushion of "touch" and with the physics, graphics and sounds you would expect in a world-class game.

"Touch Tennis and Touch Hockey are going to be two games that everyone will want to play." said Michael Sanford, President of FlipSide5, Inc. "These are world-class casual games that everyone is familiar with at an unbeatable price. We are delighted with the tremendously positive responses we have had already."

"This game has been a blast to test." said one Touch Tennis beta user. "I play when standing in line and my kids are always occupied in the backseat with Touch Tennis. We love it."

FlipSide5's web games, 4InARow touch Web Edition and Tic-Tac-Touch Web Edition, have been some of the most popular games played available for iPhone with more than 2 million games played.

Pricing and Availability:
Touch Tennis will be available on July 11, 2008 for $1.99 USD. Touch Hockey will be released in August 2008. Previously announced Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch will also be available on July 11, 2008. Tic-Tac-Touch is just $1.99 and 4InARow touch, which includes FlipSide5's unlimited online game service, is only $4.99.

iPhone Web Apps vs iPhone Native Apps

2008-06-23T07:48:00.001-07:00

iPhone Web Apps vs iPhone Native Apps

We have received many emails asking “when can I buy 4InARow touch and Tic-Tac-Touch” or “how do I buy FlipSide5’s games?” The simple answer is that you can buy the games in early July. The games will work great on the current iPhone, an iPod touch and the upcoming new iPhone 3G. 4InARow touch, with the unlimited online game service, is $4.99 USD and Tic-Tac-Touch is $1.99 USD.

Simple enough, right?! Now for the more detailed answer. The current free versions are simply web pages that will work in any web browser; i.e. 4InARow touch Web Edition and Tic-Tac-Touch Web Edition. Our “native” iPhone/iPod touch games are available for purchase through the iTunes App Store. The App Store does not exist yet, but will be available in early July. Existing iPhone users will have to upgrade their phones (for free) through iTunes when the App Store update is available. Just like the iTunes Music Store, you will be able to buy our games through the iTunes App Store. You don’t even need to have your iPhone or iPod touch plugged into your computer.

So what is the difference between the web apps and the native apps? Simply put, the native games are way way more fun with much better game play, animations, sounds and lots of compelling features like playing an opponent online, remembers your scores and more. The native iPhone games do NOT require an internet connection unlike the web counterparts. So now you can play on the airplane, on the train, or the kids can play in the backseat of the car no matter where you are driving. During our beta testing we have had some users stop referring the the games as the “web app” or “native app”, but as “the bad app” and “the cool app”. It is very exciting to see how much fun games can be on the iPhone with such great features, especially when compared to other mobile devices.

Our beta users, are really surprised how much better our games are than the traditional “real-world” games. No more pencils, paper to keep track of scores or a mess on the table to be cleaned up. The favorite feature so far is turning the iPhone upside down in 4InARow touch and watching the chips fly out the top! For the lucky ones that will have the new iPhone 3G, there will be no reason to upgrade to get the App Store as the iPhone 3G will have this already.

If you would like to be notified when the native iPhone/iPod touch games are available to be purchased, please contact us and we will notify you. Our waiting list is growing fast and we hope you will enjoy these games as much as our beta users.

peace,
- mike

FlipSide5 Games are #1 and #2 Most Popular iPhone Apps

2008-05-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

The first couple of days have been very exciting here at FlipSide5. Tic-Tac-Touch is still the featured iPhone game by Apple and ranked as the most popular application. 4InARow touch is the second most popular iPhone application. This has been the case since we launched our games.

We have received lots of phone calls and emails from our users requested to purchase these applications now. Please note that as soon as Apple lets companies sell software for the iPhone we will be there first in line. We have always targeted for the end of June to sell our games. This is when Apple opens the iTunes App Store. Not just music, videos, TV shows, podcasts, but now iPhone and iPod touch applications will be able to be purchased in the next 4 weeks.

Over the last 25 years, the vast, vast majority of high-demand consumer software has had a common theme of ease-of-use. Being first to market is important, but being the easiest-to-use to king. Examples of this are numerous. Nothing underscores this dynamic more than the Apple iPhone. Similarly, we are not the first to bring four-in-a-row and tic-tac-toe to the iPhone, but we wanted to make it something extraordinary. Our software here at FlipSide5 has designed to be fun! You know when you are working on the computer and you get frustrated, take a deep breath and force yourself to continue working. So much of software in the world has this frustrating theme. On the “flip side” is a joyful, fun, pleasing experience. We spend an extraordinary amount of effort to not just remove that frustration, but bring “simple, fun, wow” to the user.

"Great job! Finally someone made a real game that works. Wonderful product!" said a new FlipSide5 user.

This is exactly the reaction we strive for at FlipSide5.

Our web edition games will always be free. Our native iPhone games are low priced and make the experience 100 times better. It is amazing how natural, effortless and fun the user experience can be with all the technologies wrapped up in the iPhone and iPod touch. We can’t wait to get the native iPhone games into our users’ hands.

For those that come over to the "flip side" on a regular basis here is a fun trick. When you are playing 4InARow touch or Tic-Tac-Touch you can get a hint for the best next move by tapping the 4InARow touch icon or Tic-Tac-Touch icon at the top. In 4InARow touch, you will see a chip drop in the suggested column and then disappear. In Tic-Tac-Touch, the X or O will display for one second before disappearing. Give it a try, but remember this is the best move the game can come up with during the game. It is possible and reasonable at times that you could come up with a better move than the suggested hint.

Lots more to come so keep coming back…

FlipSide5 Launch is Amazingly Successful

2008-05-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

The first twenty-four hours after Apple posted our games to their website, there has been a tremendous response. We are thrilled with the feedback from our users. This has exceeded our expectations for FlipSide5's launch. Within the first twenty-four hours, there were nearly 42,000 games played (that's 42,000 pageviews, for all you techies out there) by approximately 22,000 users. Also, Tic-Tac-Touch has been selected by Apple as the featured iPhone application on their site.

We've already had a number of users requesting to purchase 4InARow touch and Tic-Tac-Touch games. When the iTunes App Store is available on the iPhone, we will be there to sell our games.

At FlipSide5, our commitment is "simple, fun, and wow"; having something simple and easy-to-use AND a fantastic user experience in everything that we do. Coincidently, both of our games have been selected by Apple as Staff Picks and have been in Apple's Top 10 Most Popular Web Apps. flipside5.com has also been listed on the popular showcase sites, CSS Mania and DesignSnack. Working with seyDoggy, on creating our slick website, graphics and corporate identity, has been a real pleasure and really "gets it" when it comes to design.

FlipSide5 continues to develop great software for the iPhone and iPod touch. We have and will continue to bring more "simple, fun, and wow" software to enhance our users' lives. That guarantee is the soul of who we are and what we do. Be sure and stay tuned...

FlipSide5, Inc. to Deliver World-Class iPhone Games

2008-05-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Popular games, Tic-Tac-Touch, 4InARow touch, to go from web apps to iPhone apps.

Reston, VA—May 27, 2008—FlipSide5, Inc., makers of the popular web editions of Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch are now launching versions to download and install, allowing players to own these games on their iPhone and iPod Touch. Both these products, Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch, are designed to be amazingly "simple, fun and wow", refreshing these ageless classics for today's generation.

Back in November 2007, Michael Sanford, President of the newly formed FlipSide5, Inc. created the now popular iPhone web apps, Tic-Tac-Touch Web Edition and 4InARow touch Web Edition. There have been over 1,500,000 games played so far and FlipSide5 has received thousands of emails from their users requesting native versions of these games, available to download and install on the iPhone and iPod touch.

“Why not take something ordinary and make it into something extraordinary,” says Sanford. “Everyone plays these classic games already, so popularity is guaranteed.”

“Great for iPhone. One player or two." said one 4InARow touch user, "I travel with my daughter by train almost every weekend. This is a great way to pass the time.”

FlipSide5, Inc. was founded with one thing in mind; world-class quality. That mission carries through to their work with Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch for the iPhone and iPod Touch, using compelling technologies like multi-touch, accelerometer support and sound. Play against opponents online via EDGE, WiFi or 3G, taunting or encouraging their efforts with instant messages. Also, using the built-in iPhone location technology, see the country where your online opponent is located. Instant messages are translated automatically to your opponent's native language (supported languages only). Many more features are listed on FlipSide5's website.

About FlipSide5, Inc.
In 1997, Michael Sanford co-founded a Java development tools company, InLine Software. After selling his share in 2001, Michael was on the lookout for projects he could pour his heart and soul into. Six years later in November 2007, Sanford founded FlipSide5, Inc. in Reston, Virginia. The goal is to bring "simple, fun and wow" software to iPhone/iPod touch users.

“My 6 year old son would say ‘Dad, I’m bored’, so I developed Tic-Tac-Touch for him. Millions of web hits later, FlipSide5 was born,” says Sanford, FlipSide5, Inc. Founder and President. “We are very excited about our first two offerings, Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch, through the iTunes App Store. We are even more excited about what we have in our pipeline”.

Pricing and Availability
Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch will be available when the iTunes App Store is available; summer 2008. Tic-Tac-Touch is priced at a very low price of $0.99 USD. 4InARow touch is priced at only $4.99 USD. Free Web Editions are available immediately for both Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch from the website:

Tic-Tac-Touch FREE Web Edition and Screenshots
www.flipside5.com/products/tictactouch

4InARow touch FREE Web Edition and Screenshots
www.flipside5.com/products/fourinarowtouch

Contact info:
Michael Sanford
President
FlipSide5, Inc.
www.flipside5.com
P: 703-963-4619
msanford@flipside5.com

FlipSide5, the FlipSide5 logo, Tic-Tac-Touch, 4InARow touch are all trademarks of FlipSide5, Inc.

FlipSide5 Coming soon

2008-05-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

We are hard at work to bring FlipSide5.com online as soon as possible. Stay tuned for some great news about great products and a great website really soon.