EarMonsters(tm)

EarMonsters is almost ready for submission to the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch!

 

Description
EarMonsters™ is a fast-paced, arcade-style action game for iOS devices that requires a keen ear and quick reflexes. What makes EarMonsters so unique is that its fast-paced action relies on sound rather than visuals for the gameplay, using custom 3D audio processing engine to place aural enemies around the listener.  You can’t see the monsters, but you certainly hear them!

The Game
EarMonsters is a quick, arcade-style 3D audio game that uses 3D sound technology to place Monsters around the listener.  Gameplay couldn’t be simpler to understand: Hear a Monster, kill a Monster.  Oh, and don’t forget to defuse time bombs and defend against aerial attacks.  EarMonsters is simple to learn, but difficult to master, challenging the player as their skill improves, awarding higher scores for faster hits and throwing some surprises at the player along the way.

Features

• Fully interactive 3D audio gameplay
• Simple to learn, but difficult to master
• Increasing difficulty keeps players challenged
• Timed arcade-style gameplay, with bonus time
• Untimed practice feature lets you hone your skills
• Unlockable 3D Sound gallery with all-original 3D sounds, unlocked by achieving gameplay milestones

Game History
Designer and Developer Brian Schmidt is a 26-year veteran of the game industry.  His interest in using sound as a core gameplay element dates back to his work in 3D sound in the 1990’s, where he developed the 3D sound chip used by Capcom’s arcade games. 
Using surround sound, he ventured, a traditional video game could expand the playing area beyond the TV screen in front of the player.  And in his former role as audio architect for Microsoft’s Xbox™, he saw that vision realized and was the driving force behind integrating Dolby Digital Surround Sound to the original Xbox.
Of course, those games were videogames, which used 3D and surround sound to enhance the visual experience. 
So what would happen, he thought, if we turned that on its head, and made sound the primary driver of gameplay, with visual only as a supporting role.  While there have been some great ‘audio games’, none had the fast action and quick gameplay of classic arcade games or modern casual games.  EarMonsters is the result of his 20 + years of passion in games, sound and game technology.

Accessibility
Although not designed as a game for the blind per-se, EarMonsters is a fully Accessible game, making extensive use of Apple’s VoiceOver technology and other features for the visually impaired gamer. 

ScreenShots
Interesting thing about screenshots for an audio game!  There’s not a lot to show, so I encourage you to listen—with headphones—to some of our EarShots of gameplay as soon as we get them posted

But for those of you who like screenshots, here you go!

Gameplay:  That’s you in the center.  The Monsters are there, but you can only hear them, not see them!

The 3D Sound Gallery lets players hear custom 3D sound effects from the game:

In the practice arena, you can see as well as hear the enemies

You can really rack up the points by defending from an aerial attack (which you, of course, can’t see, but can hear overhead)