Async Corp.

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Async Corp.
App icon recreation, Async Corp.svg
App icon
Developer(s) Powerhead Games
Publisher(s) Powerhead Games
Director(s) Jason Schreiber
Producer(s)
  • Jason Schreiber
  • Jason Teirstein
Designer(s) Matt LoPresti
Programmer(s)
  • Randall Li
  • Ed Pereira
Artist(s) Chris Makris
Composer(s) FearofDark
Engine UIKit
Platform(s) iOS
ReleaseJune 28, 2011
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Async Corp. is a 2011 puzzle game developed and published by Powerhead Games. In the game, the player must clear a pair of grids by swapping squares. Released on June 28, 2011, for iOS, the game had been nominated for Best Mobile Game at the 2012 Independent Games Festival. The game has garnered a positive reception.

Contents

Gameplay

In Async Corp., the player must prevent a rising meter from reaching the top of the screen. They must swap tiles from two separate boards to create bigger 2-by-2 squares termed "pallets". [1] [2] Outside of the main game, the player can choose one of three modes: Quota, Zoning, and ASYNC. [3]

Development

Powerhead Games is a five-person indie studio based in New York City. [4] They had previously created Glow Artisan, a puzzle game for mobile devices. [4] Async Corp. was developed with UIKit. [1] Ed Pereira, a programmer at Powerhead Games, developed a prototype for Async Corp. a year prior to development. [1] Production took place over four months. [1]

After his experience listening to "Star Guitar" by The Chemical Brothers, Matt LoPresti decided to implement the landscape nature of the iPhone. [1]

Reception

The game has a "generally favorable" Metacritic rating based on six critics. [5]

The game was well received. [7] [6] [9] [8] [10]

Async Corp. was nominated at the 2012 Independent Games Festival for Best Mobile Game. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schreiber, Jason; LoPresti, Matt; Makris, Chris; Li, Randall (February 24, 2012). "Road to the IGF: Powerhead's Async Corp.". Gamasutra (Interview). Interviewed by Eric Caoili. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ Totilo, Stephen (June 29, 2011). "Finally, a Corporation Worth Playing For". Kotaku . Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ Fletcher, JC (August 1, 2011). "Portabliss: ASYNC Corp. (iOS)". Engadget . Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Yoon, Andrew (June 20, 2011). "Powerhead Games' ASYNC Corp to release, as team gets laid off". Shacknews . Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Async Corp.". Metacritic . Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Schilling, Chris (July 11, 2011). "Async Corp.". Pocket Gamer . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Campbell, Nissa (July 1, 2011). "ASYNC Corp. Review – Matching Puzzles for Productive Workers". TouchArcade . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Flodine, Dave (July 21, 2011). "Async Corp. Review". AppSpy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Thompson, Mike (July 4, 2011). "Async Corp. Review". Gamezebo . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Heisler, Steve; Agnello, Anthony John; Nelson, Samantha; Kaiser, Rowan; St. James, Emily; Teti, John (July 18, 2011). "July 18, 2011". The A.V. Club . Async Corp. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  11. ↑ Mattas, Jeff (January 10, 2012). "IGF 2012 Main Competition finalists announced". Shacknews . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.


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