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Rolando (video game)
Encyclopedia
Rolando is a puzzle-adventure
video game developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco
. It was released for the iOS on December 18, 2008, and uses the Box2D
game engine
.
Rolando's gameplay revolves around navigation of "Rolandos", small ball-like creatures, throughout a fictional world known as "Rolandoland". Rolando has received generally positive reviews by the video game community, and a sequel, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
has since been released. A third game was announced and later cancelled.
or iPod Touch
and using different bonus items like conveyor belts and elevators.
The Rolandos proceed through a series of worlds before eventually finding and defeating the leader of the shadow creatures.
Each stage has a required number of Rolandos that must escape if the player wants to advance to the next stage. Players can manipulate objects in the world and can tilt an iPhone
or iPod Touch
to move the Rolandos through the stage.
The player rolls the Rolandos either one at a time or in groups, selected by drawing boxes over the intended Rolandos. By swiping one's finger up, the selected Rolandos jump. The player gets help from the Rolando commandos, an elite group of sticky balls that grip surfaces and defy gravity. In contrary to normal Rolandos, these creatures can also stick to the ceiling. This game also features tutorial levels in the first world, which explain the controls and how to play. One may be very familiar with the controls, but it will take a long time to master them.
, a British
DJ
who lent many of his songs to the game. Such songs include "Spandex Man" (from Keep It Unreal
), "Shrimp", "Ug" (from Trouser Jazz
), "Donkey Ride", "Kalimba", "Stockport Carnival" (from Ninja Tuna
), and "Mice At The Organ" (from the Large Pies EP). Simon Oliver, Rolando's creator, called Mr. Scruff's contribution "icing on the cake" for the game.
All of the art for the game was created by Mikko Walamies, an illustrator
based in Finland
. Oliver sent Walamies videos, level layouts, and other development media without ever meeting the illustrator in person. However, Oliver described the relationship positively, saying that their "ideas always seem to be in sync." Walamies made available high-resolution art from Rolando on his website in February 2009.
gave the game a 9.5 out of 10 rating. The game was voted as Best iPhone Game of 2008 by the Boston Herald
, VentureBeat, and 148 Apps and is winner of Pocket Gamer
's Platinum Award. Edge Online
gave Rolando a 7 out of 10 rating, criticizing the game for using graphics and ideas similar to LocoRoco
.
Version 1.2 of the game was released on April 21, 2009 and added two more secret levels based on the Fire Canyon theme, and reveals the remaining secret levels as locked icons, bringing the final level count to fifty-six levels. The game was updated weekly with more levels until the release of Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
.
Rolando Lite was released February 4, 2009 and includes the first eight levels in Honey Cup Meadows, and later, one secret level in the Rolando Lite 1.1 update.
is similar to its predecessor in that it is a puzzle-based platformer, however, new characters and settings allow new types of movement and some offensive action against the antagonists.
Also new to Rolando 2 are "Golden Idols" which, when acquired, will allow a player to skip some of the more challenging puzzles. Golden Idols are found throughout the levels of Rolando 2.
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
video game developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco
Ngmoco
ngmoco, Inc. is an American-based publisher of video games for the iOS and Android platforms, and a subsidiary of DeNA. The company was founded by former Electronic Arts executive Neil Young in July 2008. Since its founding, ngmoco has had more than seven million combined game installs...
. It was released for the iOS on December 18, 2008, and uses the Box2D
Box2D
Box2D is a free open source 2-dimensional physics simulator engine written in C++ by Erin Catto and published under the zlib license. It has been used in Crayon Physics Deluxe, Rolando, Fantastic Contraption, Incredibots, Angry Birds, Tiny Wings, Transformice, Stripe physics2, and many online Flash...
game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
.
Rolando's gameplay revolves around navigation of "Rolandos", small ball-like creatures, throughout a fictional world known as "Rolandoland". Rolando has received generally positive reviews by the video game community, and a sequel, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is an adventure/puzzle video game developed by HandCircus, published by ngmoco, and distributed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Rolando 2 was released on July 3, 2009. It is the sequel to Rolando, which was released in 2008...
has since been released. A third game was announced and later cancelled.
Story
The goal of the game is to save Rolandoland from an invasion of little shadow creatures. The inhabitants of Rolandoland are the Rolandos which are little ball shaped creatures. Rolandos must be directed to safety by tilting the iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
or iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
and using different bonus items like conveyor belts and elevators.
The Rolandos proceed through a series of worlds before eventually finding and defeating the leader of the shadow creatures.
Gameplay
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
or iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
to move the Rolandos through the stage.
The player rolls the Rolandos either one at a time or in groups, selected by drawing boxes over the intended Rolandos. By swiping one's finger up, the selected Rolandos jump. The player gets help from the Rolando commandos, an elite group of sticky balls that grip surfaces and defy gravity. In contrary to normal Rolandos, these creatures can also stick to the ceiling. This game also features tutorial levels in the first world, which explain the controls and how to play. One may be very familiar with the controls, but it will take a long time to master them.
Music and art
The soundtrack for Rolando is largely from the discography of Mr. ScruffMr. Scruff
Mr. Scruff is the recording name of Andy Carthy , a British DJ and artist. He lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University...
, a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
who lent many of his songs to the game. Such songs include "Spandex Man" (from Keep It Unreal
Keep It Unreal
Keep It Unreal is Mr. Scruff's first major release. It includes the hit single "Get a Move On", which samples Moondog's "Bird's Lament ". The album ends with "Fish", a track made up of samples about marine life, which is a motif of Mr. Scruff. Samples used in the track include the likes of David...
), "Shrimp", "Ug" (from Trouser Jazz
Trouser Jazz
Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr. Scruff's second "proper" album Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr. Scruff's second "proper" album Trouser Jazz is an electronic album by Mr. Scruff, released in 2002. It's Mr....
), "Donkey Ride", "Kalimba", "Stockport Carnival" (from Ninja Tuna
Ninja Tuna
Ninja Tuna is an album by Mr. Scruff. It was released on a newly created record label, also titled Ninja Tuna, a collaboration between Scruff and the record label Ninja Tune.-Track listing:# "Test the Sound"...
), and "Mice At The Organ" (from the Large Pies EP). Simon Oliver, Rolando's creator, called Mr. Scruff's contribution "icing on the cake" for the game.
All of the art for the game was created by Mikko Walamies, an illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
based in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Oliver sent Walamies videos, level layouts, and other development media without ever meeting the illustrator in person. However, Oliver described the relationship positively, saying that their "ideas always seem to be in sync." Walamies made available high-resolution art from Rolando on his website in February 2009.
Reception
Rolando currently has a 4 out of 5 star rating on the United States' App Store. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a 9.5 out of 10 rating. The game was voted as Best iPhone Game of 2008 by the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
, VentureBeat, and 148 Apps and is winner of Pocket Gamer
Pocket Gamer
Pocket Gamer is a website and video game magazine that focuses on handheld video games. It was launched in 2005 and is published by Steel Media. The publication covers all major portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, Android, PSP and the various versions of the Nintendo DS and was...
's Platinum Award. Edge Online
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
gave Rolando a 7 out of 10 rating, criticizing the game for using graphics and ideas similar to LocoRoco
LocoRoco
is a platform video game released worldwide in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable handheld game console, and developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was developed by Tsutomu Kouno, striving to create a game that was different than other titles being released for the PSP at...
.
Version history
Version 1.1 of the game was released on March 16, 2009 and includes five secret levels with the Honeycup Meadows theme.Version 1.2 of the game was released on April 21, 2009 and added two more secret levels based on the Fire Canyon theme, and reveals the remaining secret levels as locked icons, bringing the final level count to fifty-six levels. The game was updated weekly with more levels until the release of Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is an adventure/puzzle video game developed by HandCircus, published by ngmoco, and distributed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Rolando 2 was released on July 3, 2009. It is the sequel to Rolando, which was released in 2008...
.
Rolando Lite was released February 4, 2009 and includes the first eight levels in Honey Cup Meadows, and later, one secret level in the Rolando Lite 1.1 update.
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
In February 2009, ngmoco announced two sequels to Rolando. Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden OrchidRolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is an adventure/puzzle video game developed by HandCircus, published by ngmoco, and distributed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Rolando 2 was released on July 3, 2009. It is the sequel to Rolando, which was released in 2008...
is similar to its predecessor in that it is a puzzle-based platformer, however, new characters and settings allow new types of movement and some offensive action against the antagonists.
Also new to Rolando 2 are "Golden Idols" which, when acquired, will allow a player to skip some of the more challenging puzzles. Golden Idols are found throughout the levels of Rolando 2.