Today marks the birthday of Greedy Bankers on the iPhone: it went live in the App Store exactly one year ago. It's been an exciting year, with big updates, the iPad sequel, Greedy Bankers vs The World, and the game being exhibited live at Eurogamer Expo, GameCity Nottingham, the Guardian Gamesblog social at BAFTA, and the GEEK Expo in Kent just last week.
Of course, Greedy Bankers is an ongoing project, and I'm certainly not finished with it. There's a brand new entry in the series heading to the iPhone very soon... Greedy Bankers: Bailout!
Within the next few weeks, Greedy Bankers on iPhone should see a major new update. New features such as colour-blind support and a level-skip option have been carried over from vs The World, as well as the bombs that blow up the robbersThe new game will sport two brand new game modes:
Mystery Mode
Modelled here by its rather fetching programmer, Mystery mode hides the colours of the gems, and requires the player to memorise which colours have been placed where. It's up to players to decipher the game board and find a strategy to maximise their revenue. It really is mindbending!
Bailout ModeA two-minute time-attack mode, this is about making as much as humanly possible in a short time. Bonus-multiplier gems drop in, and it's up to you to make the best use of them you can. And once the bailout is announced, you'll get a big influx of gems, so timing and strategy are key to success!
... but wait! There's more!!
Brand new soundtrack
Musician and sound designer Tom Parfitt has joined the Bank of Greedy to provide brand new music and sound effects for the game. The new music is bolder, buzzier, and catchier, and the sound effects are brighter and richer. I really can't wait to get this new music out there, and you should definitely check out Tom's work!
…and a brand new product!
In March I will be launching Greedy Bankers: Bailout! The new game is a free-to-play update of Greedy Bankers for iPhone. The standard arcade mode will be given away, fully featured, completely free, with the alternate modes available by in-app purchase. I hope to add more modes after the new game is out, so do watch this space.
I did an interview for Pocket Gamer on my decision to make the Greedy Bankers series free, so take a look at it. Pricing models can be one of the biggest barriers to exposure for small indies, and I really want to get as many people playing as possible. Hopefully players will enjoy the game enough to want to explore the alternative modes, or they'll recommend it to their friends, who won't be put off by having to pay a price.
I really can't wait to get the new version out there, and see a whole new influx of players.
Tell your friends, the Greedy Bankers are back and for the first time ever, they're giving you something for nothing!