Nitrome
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| Company type | Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Browser games |
| Founder | Mat Annal Heather Stancliffe |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Various games |
Number of employees | 11 |
| Website | nitrome.com |
Nitrome Limited (more commonly known as Nitrome) is an independent game development company based in London, England, United Kingdom. The company makes Flash-based games. Their games are recognizable by the pixel art design and cartoon-like appearance, along with a jingle to the start of every game and chiptune tunes. Nitrome was originally started by Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe, two graphic designers,[1] intending to create games for mobile phones. Instead, the company began taking on commissions Internet-based flash games and have continued to do so since, making up to two games a month.[1] Nitrome's games are published on their website and are often available to license on other websites such as Miniclip and MTV Arcade.
History
Nitrome's creation stemmed from a conversation between Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe, in which Mat suggested that they made a game for mobile phones. Heather was initially hesitant, but Mat persuaded her that it could be a successful idea.[2] The temporary website for their upcoming project was first launched on April 3, 2005,[3] with a preview video of Chick Flick, their intended first game.[4] On May 20, 2005, Mat's brother Jon joined the Nitrome team to help with the pixel art.
Skins
Nitrome's website is primarily aimed at broadcasting and publicising the games the company has made, which is obvious in its design. There are various links to different games about the page and a slideshow on the front page demonstrating in-game videos from the sixteen most recent games.
The website lets the user select which skin to view the pages with, from a choice of winter, retro, horror, party, classic, or the newest, snowman.[5] Users have the option to either save the skin they have selected or use the most recent skin.
Games
The games made by the company can be put into four main categories. "Hot games"[6] are the most recently made games, and thus considered the most popular (hence, "hot"). "Main games"[7] tend to have full storylines, varying gameplay and multiple levels though not necessarily recent enough to be considered "hot". "Mini games"[8] are shorter, sometimes with only one level, whilst "Multiplayer games"[9] are designed for more than one person to play at once.
Nitrome has made games for MTV Arcade[10], Candystand and Miniclip. The company has also made "advergames", which, unlike the aforementioned, are made to advertise a product or service. The company allows for webmasters to place certain games on their websites, for a predetermined fee.[11]
Most of the games are divided into levels (usually between 20 and 50), and also give the player the option to replay any level they have completed, even if they have lost. Some games also feature the concept of bosses.
Some games (i.e. Mutiny, Twang) have won awards in various areas.
In July 2009, Nitrome Limited released Twin Shot 2, their first game to use MochiCoins, a system allowing players to pay for extra content in browser games.[12] Mat Annal said that Nitrome were "trialling" and that they "don't intend to use it in every game".[13] They used MochiCoins again in B.C. Bow Contest, which they have updated twice.
Characters
As most games do, Nitromes games all have main characters, most of which are unnamed in-game and are named by the title of the game. Most characters have super powers, special abilities, or weapons to help get them through the level. The most common of these include: flying, bombs, arrows, shooting some kind of fire ball, and climbing walls. Some characters bases have been used twice, (yetis appear in both Snowdrift and Cold Storage, although they have different designs and powers)and also, the Hazmat Hero appeares in Toxic and Toxic II, this is sequel so it could be expected.
Crew
Nitrome started out with just two members, Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe, but now employs eleven individuals. Most of their games are created in two member teams, one person creating art and another programming. The game's design and level creation is shared between the two team members. Finally, music is added by one out of two of Nitrome's house musicians. Each game takes about one month to create. All games are overseen by Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe.
| Name | Artwork | Design & game ideas | Music | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat Annal | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Heather Stancliffe | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Lee Nicklen | No | No | Yes | No |
| Chris Burt-Brown | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dave Cowen | No | No | Yes | No |
| Aaron Steed | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Jon Annal | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Markus Heinel | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Jay D Smith | Yes | Yes | No | No |
References
- ^ a b "Developer Spotlight: Nitrome". MochiLand.
- ^ "about us". Nitrome Limited. 2006-06-19. Archived from the original on 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
One day Mat said to Heather: "Y'know all this web stuff's ok, but wouldn't it be great if we could just make whatever we wanted?" [...] "I don't think anyone's gonna give us free reign [sic] to do just do whatever we want!" [...] "Well, why don't we make a mobile phone game?"
- ^ "Web Page Launched". Nitrome Limited. 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
We've launched our temporary web page today.
- ^ "Chick Flick Video". Nitrome Limited. 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
Exclusive first showing of our soon-to-be-finished java mobile phone game.
- ^ "Nitrome - Skins".
- ^ "Nitrome - Hot Games".
- ^ "Nitrome - Main Games".
- ^ "Nitrome - Mini Games".
- ^ "Nitrome - Multiplayer Games".
- ^ "MTV Arcade".
- ^ "Nitrome - Services".
- ^ Annal, Mat (2009-07-20). "Twin Shot 2: Good and Evil". Nitrome Limited. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ Annal, Mat (2009-06-25). "Twin Shot 2... more info". Nitrome Limited. Retrieved 2009-07-20.