To support and interest our new arrivals, fellows in Mechanics are giving the standard paddle mechanism new upgrades, and Planning is remapping Heigh-D so as to unfetter traffic and rivalry.

The Futurists are nowhere to be seen, indicating they’ve recognized their time has come, and not a moment to lose!

Rest assured the cogwheels are in motion to deliver you, gentle player and SteamPunkHockeyoplian, new features and gameplay.

The possible future SteamPunkHockeyopolis village of Heigh-Dephanitian

*update 1 currently #74 Games/Arcade & #72 Games/Family in USA,  and #100 g/a, #87 g/f in Canada.

*update 2 currently #63 Games/Arcade & 54 Games/Family in USA, and 63/56 in Canada.

*update 3 USA: 57 Games/Arcade, 45 Games/Family, Canada: 55 g/a, 45 g/f, UK: 86, 70 Australia 86,74

iTunes Link

Celebrating the holiday with a new iPhone or iPod Touch courtesy of Santa or another similarly charmed creature? Claim your free promo code for the victorian answer to modern-day plasticky air hockey!
Retina Display, Game Center. Reviewed by MacWorld, featured ‘New and Noteworthy by Apple 02/2010 Games section.

To win a free copy of SteamPunk Hockey for iPhone & iPod Touch via promocode, do the following:

1. Tweet “celebrate #merrychristmas SteamPunk Hockey for #iPhone #iPod with a free promo code!! http://bit.ly/h216zp ”

2. Visit our FaceBook page, ‘like’ or comment (and watch the article on Alex Lifeson’s steampunk amps, courtesy of Youtube): SteamPunk Hockey Facebook page

3. PM or state your twitter and facebook handles here to receive your code.

There are still 15 codes available for the SPH iPad version: SteamPunk Hockey HD promocode contest

Warm wishes and Good Cheer!

-Rebel Detailer #1 XyrisKenn at SteamPunkHockeyopolis’ Central Planning

iTunes Link: SteamPunk Hockey HD

The mad have overtaken the asylum! Detailers at Central Planning have tied up the boffins in Logistics and Appearances and started a campaign to promote SteamPunk Hockey HD. Oh, the calamity!

To win a free copy of SteamPunk Hockey HD via promocode, do the following:

1. Tweet “#lastminutegifts SteamPunk Hockey HD for #iPad is turning red-hot on the App Store with a free promo code!! http://bit.ly/fiEoDM ”

2. Visit our FaceBook page, like & comment on #ipadonlocation :http://on.fb.me/f8b8Tb

3. PM or state your twitter and facebook handles on TouchArcade (http://bit.ly/fiEoDM) to receive your code.

Cheers and Zappy Holidays!

-Rebel Detailer XyrisKenn at SteamPunkHockeyopolis’ Central Planning

iTunes: SteamPunk Hockey iPad

Our technicians have recrafted this exquisite yet simple game with the most modern of technologies, including:

* Retina Display support
* iOS4.2 compatibility
* Game Center support with LeaderBoards and 39 achievements
* New music courtesy of Morningdew Media
* Updated game frameworks including OpenFeint.
* Multiply button to increase/decrease number of particles.
* The Game Robot polls online leaderboards and updates your unlocked levels to match your highest score. If there are different scores on OpenFeint and Game Center, the highest will be saved to the device.
* New icon

Our artisans have re-crafted the backgrounds and images to be of lighter weight in the memory of the device, and scores are now saved after each level.

Those paying the bills at Central have apparently hit the festive ‘nog’ as they have ninja-slashed the price of SteamPunk Hockey 1.4 by 50% to celebrate this news. We think the pressure of waiting has driven a few screws loose over there.

The ponderous gentlemen at Logistics and Appearances insist we mention this is a maintenance update of the current game.

Our Futurists will have it known that new gameplay features are already in progress for the next update, and that it will have brought change to the calm streets of SteamPunkHockeyopolis.

Thank you and good tidings!

** update SteamPunk Hockey 1.6 with Retina Display and Game Center is now LIVE in the App Store **

The boffins at Central Planning are proud to announce SteamPunk Hockey for iPad has been conveyed to the App Store.

Version 1.2.0 iPad features:
∝ 1 to 4 players at once. Double-team on one opponent or double up both sides
∝ Up to FOUR discs at once
* Game Center leaderboard
∝ SIX high-quality backgrounds including exclusive ‘Time Traveller’ and new ‘SteamPumpkin Hallowe’en’ backgrounds
* Music by MorningDew Media
∝ One-button *fast* start-to-play
∝ Auto-save settings, level, score: pick up and play anytime!
∝ Replay unlocked levels
∝ Forty-eight levels premade
∝ Endless random levels thereafter
∝ AI plant life/Robot/Sentient selector
∝ Switchable soft/hard puck bounces
∝ Particles on/off
∝ Five obstacle types: accelerator, bead, barrier and gliding pylon, exploding “breakout” brick
∝ Musical sounds
∝ Obstacles on/off
∝ Physics-based motion ∝ Choice of paddle and disc sizes

The fellows in Mechanics have worked both over-time and magic into the iPad offering to produce a new ‘Huddle-phonic’ sensation – up to four players may compete on the iPad electrical device! Man against robot, man against fellow man, a gutter dust-up of two against one, or equal odds for the noble-hearted.

Mechanics have also added a ‘Lucid Re-configuration Circuit’ to redraw the screen as the device is rotated in-hand. Therefore SteamPunk Hockey may be played in any orientation, laterally or vertically.

Lest we forget, the Futurists will have left a note on Central Planning’s desks – how will they have done that? – that sea change is coming to SteamPunkHockeyopolis’ competitive features.

Central Planning reports yet more options to customize gameplay, including one to four discs at once and a special ‘hard bounce / soft bounce’ switch.

As always, level and score are saved across upgrades, and the fine fellows in Mechanicals have ensured that your pleasure can begin with the single touch of a button!

Innovative obstacles redirect the discs during gameplay to challenge expectations at each level. For those eager to collect OpenFeint Achievements, ‘unlocked’ levels may be replayed at will.

SteamPunk Hockey’s robotic intelligence has been adjusted to better protect its home goal territory against simultaneous discs, and appears to have ‘un-learned’ some unfortunate lessons as to which goal to score. A fine candidate for boarding school where there ever one to be seen.

Your reviews and support are readily and gratefully accepted by Central Planning, and our fellow Futurists are planning yet more intriguing game features for you, the gentle player.

New features include choice of themed backgrounds, a level selector to replay unlocked levels, and an AI timing selector.

SteamPunk Hockey also features a new ‘breakout brick’ obstacle and improvements to the particle emitters.

Your feedback, support and reviews are critical -thanks for sharing!

iTunes text:

93,000 new players in 3 weeks – celebrate! Peak ranking: #6 USA, #3 Germany, #2 France, #1 Japan & Italy (games/family/free), #30 Top Free overall (Italy), #11 all Games/Free (Japan). #38th Free Game in USA!
**Featured New & Noteworthy** 02/2010 Games section.

Video & reviews at steampunkhockey.com.
Twitter: Steampunkhockey
We listen! Next update -> particle options.

Your support will produce more options & deeper gameplay.

Version 1.4 features:
∝ Single and Two-Player modes
∝ One-button start-to-play
∝ Auto-save of level, score and background choice: play anytime!
∝ Replay unlocked levels with Level Selector
∝ Forty-eight levels premade
∝ Endless random levels thereafter
∝ Four selectable backgrounds
∝ AI timing/speed selector
∝ Improved particles
∝ Five obstacle types: accelerator, bead, barrier and gliding pylon **new** exploding “breakout” brick
∝ Shake to push puck into action
∝ Musical puck effects
∝ Obstacles on or off
∝ Physics-based motion
∝ Several paddle and disc sizes
∝ OpenFeint Leaderboards and Achievements!

OpenFeint player “MARLOW” taking the lead with 1503 points! Milan (hun) close behind with 1449 points, followed by Player 103815083 (1368), andyrdgz520(1359), pik11(1296), lostintheinternet(1197) and Brentyy holding at 1170.

May the best steampunk win!

46,000 62,000 68,000 99,000 new residents of SteamPunkHockeyopolis from nations around the world retrieved their game copy, meant entirely for their worldly pleasures, from complimentary partners Apple, OpenFeint, and Free App a Day (which keeps app ennui at bay!).

Several have left impassioned reviews of four and five stars which, truth be told, has made us blush with pleasure – the old guys in Accountancy notwithstanding.

In the spirit of the olympic celebrations, let us convey current scoring results for our new city:

Currently we are informed that elite Leaderboard contributers have numbered past 11,000 13,000 15,000 players 24,600, and a trophy must go to OpenFeint player ‘Brentyy‘ for his singular achievement of 1170 points in SteamPunk Hockey!
Clearly an athlete of the finest breed and likely our next mayor of SteamPunkHockeyopolis.
Editor’s note: Brentyy’s courageous score of 1170 OF points is presently bested by andyrdrgz520’s performance at 1251. OF player “MARLOW” is also closing fast with 1008 points. We may see a contention for the Mayoralty.
Editor’s update: new player pik11 has taken the lead from andyrdrgz520, with longtime player lostintheinternet closing in fourth place. The race for the mayoralty is intensifying at pace.
Editor’s update: SteamPunk Hockey players have taken it to the stratosphere with an OpenFeint top score of 5427(!) by Player 118062454. The new Mayor of SteamPunkHockeyopolis?

SteamPunk Hockey is holding the line on the Apple game charts, charting Top 10 in Games/Family/Free amongst 31 countries including Italy, Japan, France, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, Peru, Canada, Australia, and the USA. The population of SteamPunkHockeyopolis is expected to grow rapidly over these next days.

In the Games/Arcade/Free category, SteamPunk Hockey is holding in the Top 30 amongst 37 nations including Austria, Singapore, UK, Australia, the USA, Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan (at #2).
A more cosmopolitan place surely cannot be found on this good earth.

Looking to international representation across all categories, SteamPunk Hockey is charting Top Free Games at #4 in Japan, through to a precarious #49 in the USA. We have sincere hope our city will rally with new players to save the day and improve our scoring.

Lastly, let us look at global results. SteamPunk Hockey is positioned well on the Top Free (all applications) with Japan once again representing at #22, through to Italy at #44.

That is all the current news. More forthcoming as we restore boiler pressure in our amazing new contrivance, the SteamCountometer – and wrest the Pterotype from our eager journalist tangling up the typebars.

The vision of SteamPunk-Hockeyopolis

Update: Accountancy has had their way; SteamPunk Hockey has now returned to the original $0.99 favoured price point. Presently we think the old guys in Accountancy are pleased, in secret!