Astraware StarPop - Game For All Ages

Astraware's latest release, StarPop, is a game for kids of all ages.

StarPop!

The game has a very simple purpose - pop everything that is moving on the screen. What exactly do you pop? Balloons, candy, bubbles, money etc. Popping is very simple - you just tap on the items as they move across the screen.

This may sound overly simplistic for an Astraware game, but there's a reason for this -- anyone can play this game. It's one of the first games I've seen where 3 year old and a 90 year old could play without much difficulty.

The idea for StarPop came about when Astraware CEO Howard Tomlinson observed his daughter's fascination with Bejeweled. This idea grew and with the help of his talented crew at Astraware StarPop was born.

Game Play

The main point of the game is to pop the moving objects on the screen. For those that remember the classic Asteroids game from the early 80's the concept is similar. As you pop a large item it breaks into smaller items. The smaller items then pop into more, even smaller items. Points are scored for every pop.

Let the popping begin!

After the initial Asteroids-like mode there is a "falling objects" mode where you try to pop the items before they move off the screen. Getting all the falling items shouldn't be a problem for the serious gamer, but it can be a challenge for kids. One thing worth noting here - because this game was designed with the young in mind, there is no winning or losing. The more things you pop the more points you get. You never "lose" the game.

After you complete the level you will "Level Up" and travel to a new destination.

Advancing to next level

Bonuses

After completing several levels you get bonuses. This includes things like Maurice, the sleepy moon.

Maurice

These appear on the background of the levels. When you tap on him he will wake up and smile then go back to sleep.

Thoughts

While this game isn't as "deep" or involved as other games, it's surprisingly addictive. During the falling items phase there is a timer and if you can pop items within this time limit your score goes up. This makes it a bit more of a challenge. I try playing with my left (off) hand which makes it that much more of a challenge.

The best part of this game though is watching a young child play. The excitement they get is worth far more than the cost of the game! Parents need not worry about kids accidentally hitting a button and bringing up your calendar where they start "popping" your appointments. StarPop blocks all button input so it only responds to the screen taps.

More Information

Howard has documented the whole story behind StarPop which can be found here: StarPop - The Design.

Conclusion

If you have young kids that are always asking to play a game on your Pocket PC, this is perfect for that. If you find yourself waiting for your child's doctor appointment a bit too long, or the line in the grocery store is moving at a snails pace, you can "pop" out your Pocket PC and keep your little one occupied.

I encourage parents to give the trial a run and let your child decide.

Links

Main StarPop Site
Astraware