Joystiq

Disney buys iPhone music game giant Tapulous

Randy Nelson — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you own an iPhone or iPod touch, there's a pretty good chance you've played one of the Tap Tap Revenge games. Like, for instance, Nickelback Revenge. Well, Disney has evidently been keeping an eye on the developer of those games, Tapulous, because it's gone and struck a deal to make the company a wholly-owned subsidiary. (Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.)

Tapulous founders Bart Decrem and Andrew Lacy will take on new -- yet still key -- roles within the Disney Interactive Media Group. As for the Tapulous development staff, they're staying put, but will be required to wear comically large white gloves from now on. (We kid. Hopefully.)

Steve Wadsworth, president of DIMG, commented on the deal, saying, "We welcome the Tapulous team to the Disney family and look forward to integrating their popular games into Disney's offerings." Yes, Tapulous will keep making games for iDevices -- they'll just probably feature more anthropomorphic animals.

Disney buys iPhone music game giant Tapulous originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nickelback gets own Tap Tap Revenge, suddenly considers music games 'very cool'

Randy Nelson — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Tapulous, maker of the popular Tap Tap Revenge rhythm games for iPhone, has announced the arrival of the latest entry in the series: Nickelback Revenge. Now, this normally wouldn't rate very high on our interest-o-meters, if not for the critical comments about music games made by Nickelback signer Chad Kroeger back in late 2008, telling gamers to "put down the Guitar Hero" and start real bands.

Today, Kroeger is signing a different tune. "The combination of our music and Tapulous' gameplay is very cool," the band's frontman said of the game. "We're excited to give our fans a fun, interactive way to experience our music." Surely not more fun or interactive than playing a real guitar, in a real band. Right, Chad? Right?

Hey, at least Nickelback hasn't let its music appear in any other music games, let alone one that uses plastic guitars. What? Oh.

Nickelback Revenge (Tapulous, $4.99): App Store Link

Nickelback gets own Tap Tap Revenge, suddenly considers music games 'very cool' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of Wolf and Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica on iPhone

David Hinkle — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 EST

Tapulous, a company specializing in games for the iPhone, has added another to its ranks: Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica. The game is available right now in the App Store and fuses the band with the established Tap Tap Revenge experience, allowing gamers to poke their iPhone through some of the band's most famous ditties such as "One" and "Enter Sandman" -- with ten total tracks available.

The new edition also sports some added functionality over its regular ol' boring Tap Tap Revenge counterparts: Aside from the usual career mode, there's now a more fast-paced arcade mode where players are "challenged with bombs and other special objects" and a new Bluetooth battle mode that lets players challenge others -- granted you're within the appropriate distance of each other -- to see who's the better iPhone-screen-poker.

For those diehard Metallica fans who aren't satisfied with an entire game themed around the band, the title also has other features that allow one to ~~stalk~~ be more in tune (sorry!) with the band's current activities -- including a news ticker and a live message board.

Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica ($4.99)

Of Wolf and Tap Tap Revenge: Metallica on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone apps stats revealed, games dominate list

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST

With game applications taking up nearly half the list (12 of 25), the rankings for iPhone apps released this week by internet information company comScore may be aimed at advertisers, but tells us a ton about the newest gaming platform. For instance, of the 15 million iPhone users in the US, 32 percent (nearly one in every three) have installed Tap Tap Revenge, making it the most popular application by an ice cold five percent.

Furthermore, of the 12 game applications listed, 75 percent of them were developed by small startup companies or, in one case, a single individual. Actually, aside from Pac-Man, Hangman, Sudoku, and a version of Solitaire, all the games are original IP, with number one title Tap Tap Revenge serving as the prime example. We're starting to understand why the iPhone dominated the IGF this year and will likely continue to do so for years to come.

iPhone apps stats revealed, games dominate list originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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