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25

Jun. 2024

Piggy Payback! Press Kit

Welcome to the Press Kit page for Piggy Payback!, an Android & PC game. Please let us know if you need any additional information, or any of the information in a different format.

Fact Sheet:

  • Steam Page: Coming soon...
  • Itch.io Page: https://dangerous-mind-games.itch.io/piggy-payback
  • Developer: Dangerous Mind Games

  • Founded: February 12, 2021

  • Business Headquarters: Campbell River, BC, Canada

  • Number of Employees: 3

  • Game Platforms: Play Store, App Store & PC

  • Price: Free on Mobile, $3.99 on PC (Boss Hog Edition)

  • Editions: Basic - Free (Google Play Store only)

  • Boss Hog Edition: $3.99 - Extra power-ups, lives & unlockables

  • Language: English

  • ESRB: TBD (E for everyone)

  • Press Contact: Contact@DangerousMindGames.com

  • Website: DangerousMindGames.com/Piggy-Payback-1

Description:

Introducing Piggy Payback! A mobile turn-based action / spatial puzzle pig ricochet game. In this silly, fun mobile game, the player lights the fuse of the piggy cannon with their finger, and their pig is launched into the air. It then bounces around the 2D level, squashing those moody little birds and stealing their eggs.

Launch pigs, squash birds, collect every egg, beat levels, customize your pigs, level up and become the greatest poultry pulverizer of them all!

Beat your friends, top the leaderboards for both points scored and eggs collected, and enjoy endless hours of fun and competition.

It's time to help our pachyderm pals get some payback on those mad flying freaks who picked on them for so long!

Piggy Payback! is a combination of genres, as well as some mechanics and concepts never before seen in a video game. There are many things that you, the player can enjoy in the game. From beating levels and getting the high score, to unlocking power-ups and upgrades, to customizing and caring for your very own pet pig!

  • Handcrafted levels

  • Handcrafted puzzles

  • Large range in level & puzzle difficulty

  • Simplistic to learn, but requires pre-planning & quick reactions to master

Problem We Want To Solve:

The problem we see in the gaming world is that there are too many games made by money-hungry studios, built around micro-transactions and not around fun game play. These studios seem to be focused on quick money, rather than a solid long-term strategy.

Solution:

Our solution is to develop a game with the primary goal of being a fun and enjoyable experience first, and then possibly add in-app purchases, but only to enhance an already great game experience. We aim to build a strong sense of trust with out community, to create a sound long-term strategy for growth.

 

How To Play:

To play piggy payback!, first you select your launch power, then choose your angle of launch based on the configuration of the level and its features/collectibles. Once your pig is in the air, you tap either side of the screen to engage the corresponding paddles in order to keep the pig bouncing around. Use these paddles to utilize any of the many in-level mechanics in the game. Hit birds and eggs to squash them and score points, hit bumpers, blow up crow-bombs, hit buttons to unlock new areas of the game. Complete tasks and score the minimum required points to beat levels, and become the number one bird blaster in the world!

Who Is Piggy Payback! For:

Piggy Payback! is for anybody who loves games that are challenging, but on more than one level. Anybody who loves challenges involving pre-planning mixed with quick reaction times, who needs a casual game they can pick up and put down at any time, and anybody who wants to improve their planning skills and reflexes. Oh, and this game is definitely for you if you love pigs, or want to learn about how amazing and adorable pigs really are!

Strong Points

  1. Unique Concept: Piggy Payback! brings a unique and entertaining concept to the table with its combination of pig launching, pinball-style gameplay, and bird-squashing objectives.

  2. Addictive Gameplay: The game offers addictive and engaging gameplay loop with the challenge of launching pigs, navigating through levels, and strategically squashing birds to achieve high scores and completing tasks.

  3. Diverse Mechanics: The inclusion of diverse mechanics, such as pinball-style paddles, bumpers, buttons, power-ups, and special moves, adds depth and variety to the gameplay, keeping players entertained and providing strategic opportunities.

  4. Multiple Game Modes: Piggy Payback! goes beyond the primary bird-squashing gameplay with additional modes like 'Pinko' and 'Pet Piggy.' This variety enhances replayability and offers different ways for players to enjoy the game.

  5. Customization and Personalization: The "Pet Piggy" mode, where players can unlock and buy various accessories for their pigs, adds a layer of customization and personalization, allowing players to showcase their unique style.

  6. Cute & Humorous Theme: The game's humorous and light-hearted theme, evident in characters like Chicken Thugget and the overall concept of pigs squashing birds, contributes to its charm and makes it stand out.

  7. Competitive Element: Piggy Payback! introduces a competitive element through leaderboards, encouraging players to compete with friends and others globally, fostering a sense of competition and achievement. The point multiplier based on the pig’s velocity when it squashes a bird means that the max score in any given level is almost impossible to achieve, giving the game huge replayability potential.

  8. Endless Fun: With at least 100 levels to explore, Piggy Payback! offers a substantial amount of content, providing players with many hours of entertainment and challenges.

  9. Cross-Promotion Potential: The game's stylized and engaging visuals create cross-promotion potential, especially if collaborating with other games with a similar aesthetic - We already have a Piggy hip-hop album out on Spotify called Piggy Drip.

  10. Mobile and PC Compatibility: Being available on Mobile and PC expands the game's accessibility, allowing players to enjoy Piggy Payback! across different platforms.

Video Trailer:

Images:

Main menu screen from Piggy Payback!
GIF of the item store in Piggy Payback!
GIF of the TNT crates in Piggy Payback!
GIF of the physics spin gate in Piggy Payback!
GIF of the cannon or piggy launcher in Piggy Payback!
GIF of the crow bomb in Piggy Payback!
Image of the item store in Piggy Payback!
Image of one of the levels in Piggy Payback!
Image of one of the levels in Piggy Payback!
Piggy_Screenshot_CrowBomb_1.png
One of the levels in Piggy Payback!
One of the vertical levels in Piggy Payback!
Crow Bomb about to explode in a level in Piggy Payback!
Piggy_Screenshot_CrowBomb_3.png
Piggy_Screenshot_FillBar.png
Piggy_Screenshot_TNT.png
Piggy_Screenshot_PointMultSlots.png
Piggy_Screenshot_Map06.png

Company Story:

Dangerous Mind Games was established in February 2021 by Bo Vandergriendt, who became disillusioned with the greedy and uncaring nature of many existing game studios. Bo's mission was to create a different kind of game studio—one that prioritizes players and emphasizes fun and enjoyable gameplay in every game it develops.

Bo embarked on a journey to master all the essential tools for game development, including business, marketing, and game design theory, as well as all the practical tools involved in the trade. Recognizing the need for expert collaboration to accelerate his learning and bring his vision to life, Bo sought out skilled professionals to join his team.

Bo connected with Technical Artist Andrew Shane online, and they decided to work together. They began developing their first game, Piggy Payback! To complete their team, Bo recruited Layla Blum, a talented 2D artist responsible for the game's backgrounds, sprites, and icons.

With over 20 years of combined game development experience, the team at Dangerous Mind Games is confident in their ability to tackle any challenge and create exceptional gaming experiences.

Studio Logo:

Dangerous Mind Games logo

Game Logo:

Piggy Payback! logo

Team Bios:

Bo Vandergriendt:

DMG Owner, Programmer & Artist:

The owner of DMG is Bo Vandergriendt, a lifelong gamer turned indie developer in B.C., Canada. He has been learning the ins and outs of game development for two years and has been coming up with ideas for games for more than ten years. Bo has some business experience from college, as well as some psychology training, which he uses to make his games as psychologically enjoyable as possible. He plans to continue to grow the studio into an indie powerhouse and beyond. Bo has an undying passion for making games to the best of his ability, and sees great things for the future of Dangerous Mind Games.

Bo Vandergriendt, DMG owner is a gamer turned indie developer in Campbell River, Canada.  He has developed many small projects in his few years in the industry.  As a lifelong gamer, from the pain of the dog from Duck Hunt, to developing and testing Piggy Payback!, he has an undying passion for all things video games. But over the past decade he has been growing more and more concerned about the trajectory of the
industry. Seeing companies that don’t care about their customers, and that use cheap tactics to make a quick buck that only enrage the gamer community, he had finally felt that he had to do something different.

He decided to take all of the game ideas he had been writing down to give to the studios of the games he
plays, to improve them, and start his own studio. He now has a team of 3 working together to
create fun and enjoyable experiences with a twist.  Bo plans to master level design and AI in the future, and to continue to grow the studio over the years.  He vows to always make unique games built around fun concepts and mechanics, and to never make a cookie-cutter game. Bo is a huge fan of pigs.  Although he doesn’t have any himself, his sister is an avid piggy parent, so Bo has spent a lot of time in the pig world. He says that pigs are highly intelligent and as good of a companion as any animal you can name. Clementine and Walter the pigs are the inspiration for Piggy Payback!, as well as Chris P. Bacon, the famous pig on wheels!

Andrew Shane:

Lead Programmer & Technical Artist:

Andrew is a talented and experienced  video game developer based in B.C., Canada.  He has been using the Unreal Engine to create immersive and interactive games since  2015, and  has also gained proficiency in tools such as Blender and Photoshop to enhance his capabilities as a developer.

Andrew is highly dedicated to creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences for players, and has a particular  passion for designing clean and minimalist user interfaces. In addition to his professional pursuits, Andrew also has a great sense of humor and enjoys spending time with his partner, playing online video games with friends, and indulging in his love for good food. Whether he is working on a new project or simply enjoying some leisure time, Andrew is always striving to improve and grow as a developer and individual.

Layla Blum:

2D Artist:

Layla Blum is a self-taught digital artist who  has developed her skills  through a  combination of innate talent and hard  work. Despite not having a formal degree, she has built a strong foundation in the field and has honed her abilities through both her professional affiliation and freelance projects.

In addition to her  passion for digital art, Layla has a  diverse  range of  interests that enrich her life and inspire her work. Whether it's discovering new cuisine as a foodie, losing herself in a good book, or capturing the beauty of her travels through sketches and drawings, these experiences bring a unique perspective to her art.  Layla believes that a well-rounded life, with a balance of work and personal pursuits is essential to
creating meaningful and impactful artwork.

Demo Tester Testimonials:

Profile picture of one of the Piggy Payback! reviewers

Karla Wray

Piggy Payback! is such a fun game to play while taking a break from life. I also like that you can play short sessions or just go for hours. I find that I replay the levels to get all the birds and their eggs! This game is awesome!

Profile picture of one of the Piggy Payback! reviewers

Louis Whittmore

I had a blast playing Piggy Payback! Once you grasp the mechanics, you won’t wanna stop playing until you win!

Profile picture of one of the Piggy Payback! reviewers

Elin Hagg

I love how fast paced and skill-based it is thanks to the flipper elements! A good combination of strategy and real time skills that makes engaging gameplay you can't get enough of!

Profile picture of one of the Piggy Payback! reviewers

Edras Ramirez

I have seen Piggy Payback from the drafts of characters to the level design and I'm excited to see all the different puzzles, rewards and challenges the game is preparing. Definitely tons of content to come! I love the theme and the sound design. (Before he joined the team).

Social Media Accounts:

LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/dangerousmind.games

Piggy Payback! Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNCZ613f0nQ&list=PLEHiM_uUvTU6PwieL38UbYgUhfXrlC2PV

LinkedIn:

@Dangerous Mind Games

www.linkedin.com/in/dangerous-mind-games-882896222

 

Instagram:

@DangerousMind.Games

https://www.instagram.com/dangerousmind.games/

 

Youtube:

@Dangerous Mind Games

https://youtube.com/channel/UCa6nUYr3FVpUGqOfHDR5y5w

 

Twitter:

@_DangerousMind_

https://mobile.twitter.com/_dangerousmind_

 

Facebook:

@Dangerous Mind Games

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073032112764#_=_

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