Our friends at McSweeney’s asked us to help with the development of the iPad-exclusive comic Touch Sensitive by cartoonist Chris Ware. It’s available today for 99 cents as an in-app purchase inside the latest version of the McSweeney’s app. The app itself is now free and comes with a one-month subscription to the Small Chair, a weekly selection from all branches of the McSweeney’s family.

Here’s what McSweeney’s says about it:

In the briefest of flirtations with non-corporeality in this, his first (and likely final) iPad-only comic strip, our otherwise normally corporeal cartoonist and former McSweeney’s guest-editor Chris Ware attempts to address how, in some relationships, the act of touching seems to shift over time from that of affection to aggression. Chock full of his trademark constipated drawings and strained, overwrought text, the reader will also be pleased not to afterwards find him- or herself laden with a pamphlet or book to discard the next time he or she changes apartments, homes or relationships; like the 99 cents that instantly vanishes from one’s bank account upon purchase, all 14 speedily-swipable digital “pages” with their tucked-away animations and mildly disorienting transitions may easily be wiped from one’s computer’s memory with precisely the opposite degree of difficulty which one simply cannot forget that night of screamed obscenities at one’s (now ex-) girl- or boyfriend. (Please note, however, that all 99 cents and the rights attendant thereto remain, in perpetuity, the sole property of McSweeney’s and its satellite concerns.)

Touch Sensitive is a comic and unlike the other e-books in this store. It was crafted specifically for the McSweeney’s app and is available only in iPad format.

July 18 – August 21 2011
Spirits for iPad will be exhibited at FILE Festival that will take place at the SESI Art Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.

August 5 – 7 2011
Andreas will attend No More Sweden which this year is happening in his adopted home in Stockholm, Sweden.

August 15 2011
Mattias and Marek will give a presentation at GDC Europe about how visual art influences perception of game mechanics, and how visual design and game design can interact.

September 16 – 18 2011
Mattias and Marek will speak about the importance of having a strong connection between visual art, code and game mechanics at the Resonate New Media Festival in Belgrade. (Backed up by Andreas as best boy electric.)

In other news, we’ll also attend GDC this year where Spirits got an IGF honorable mention in the “Best Mobile Game” category. Being 37,5% Scandiavian, we’ll also make a small contribution to the KILL SCREEN VS SCANDINAVIA party during GDC. The party is run by the crazy folks from Copenhagen Game Collective, so you REALLY don’t want to miss it.

If you happen to be at DICE in Las Vegas or at GDC in San Francisco and would like to meet up with us, just write us a mail. We’re looking forward to see you there!

If you are in Berlin come and play Spirits at the A MAZE United exhibition, which takes place at Torstrasse 68 in cooperation with the Transmediale 11. We will be at the gallery on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The exhibition is open 6 – 10pm from February 2nd – 5th.

From the A MAZE. website:

“By combining courage for experimentation and joy in gaming, A MAZE. celebrates the convergence of computer games and art. A MAZE. plans to unite people via interaction, light and movement. The four-day event A MAZE. United at systM gallery shows an intimate selection of works, which are part of the future playground. In cooperation with Born Digital, an electronic art collective from Utrecht, Ciant the International Centre for Art and New Technologies in Prague, and Ludic Interfaces, a future European Masters programme, it will bring you closer to the magic of video mapping, audio visualisation and playful interaction betwwen knowledge and passion. systM gallery, a well-know venue with a regular changing and interdisciplinary arts programme, will host the event.”

Spirits for iPad – $2.99 (regular $4.99)
Spirits – $0.99 (regular $2.99)
Mr. Bounce – $0.99 (regular $1.99)

Grab it while it lasts and tell your friends! 

“Beautiful visuals, a wonderful sound track, and really innovative puzzles combine to make one of the best puzzle apps available on the iTunes store. Fans of Osmos will find the same atmosphere, and the same type of sensibility that made that game so different.”

“Didn’t like the graphics nor the concept at first. But it grew on me. Amazing puzzles. Disorienting at first. Saving spirits? Spirits sacrificing themselves? The beauty of the design becomes apparent as you go on. Challenging. Then it becomes kind of fun saving the little spirits. Hard to put down, as with all great puzzle games. 5 stars.”

“A truly innovative game with clever puzzles and so many beautiful details.”

“Great design and super smooth play, it’s great to see the Spirits make it to the iPad! The game has real grace and gets you really hooked on its little intricate world. Highly recommended!”

“It’s one of those games where you want to hug your iPad. Very atmospheric, great gameplay, unique graphics!”

“This game is currently my favourite. It has a calm, hypnotic elegance that suggests it was a work of real love.”

“You have to think quickly, but this is no twitching reaction type experience and there’s a great feeling of satisfaction seeing your train of spirits make it home. And that’s the payoff: while many puzzles rely on the player suddenly “making a great shot”, here you need a great plan. Your reward is seeing it being carried out.”

“Tricky … yet very peaceful. Extremely well done.”

“A really intriguing game different from all the other games.”

We are happy to get so much positive feedback. Thanks to everyone who wrote a review!

We are extremely happy with how the iPhone version of Spirits came out and think it was well worth the extra work. We’re looking forward to get your impressions!

Martin has been quite prolific in the last years creating the soundtrack for various indie games, from Understanding Games to Trauma, which was nominated for the IGF “Excellence in Audio” Award. He’s also up for new game projects, so make sure to get in touch with him if you need music and SFX for your next game.

Today is a special day for us: Our second game Spirits for iPad is available on the AppStore today! It’s yours for USD 4.99 (or 3,99 EUR) and if you ask us, it’s worth every cent. Some people think so as well:

“Striking art and innovative gameplay makes Spirits the belle of the Sense of Wonder Night ball.”
–The Escapist, Fintan Monaghan

“Where Spirits really innovates is in its look and feel. When the wind physics start to do their thing, the experience is pretty magical.”
–TUAW, Mike Schramm

“Spirits is an outstanding blend of puzzle and strategy.”
–DIYgamer, Arsen Nazaryan

“There is so much attention to detail in this game that once you have finished it you will want to play it all over again.”
–CreativeApplications.net, Filip Visnjic

When we started to work on Spirits we somehow thought we can develop the game within one month. Looking at it today after one year of work, we’re more than happy that we gave the game the time it needed. We are immensely proud of the result.

A huge Thank You to our beta testers and everyone who supported us. It’s probably never been a better time to be an independent game developer and we are thankful to be part of such an inspiring community.

Also – Mom & Molly, Happy Birthday!

PS: You can find more information and screenshots for Spirits on our promotional page.