Disney’s Club Penguin, the #1 global virtual world for kids, celebrates hitting 150 million registered users today with the launch of its first game for the mobile platform.
Available now in the App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Puffle Launch features fast and fun gameplay in which players blast pet Puffles through a series of challenging levels. Originally debuting as a game within Club Penguin in March 2010, Puffle Launch became an instant hit and is now played by more than 150,000 kids each day in the virtual world.
Launched in October 2005, with its imaginative play environment, word filtering technology and live moderation, award-winning Club Penguin has built an unrivalled reputation as a safe and secure online environment that provides fun for kids and peace of mind for parents.
“Club Penguin, a colourful, digital world that kids can explore, role play, play games, chat to friends and even host parties in their own customised igloos provides endless potential for fun. Perhaps that is why it’s grown to a huge global community of 150 million kids in just 6 years!” explains Jeff Jones, general manager and vice president of Digital Games for The Walt Disney Company in Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Today we are extending that for kids to play in a new way, on mobile, and this app, like everything we do for Club Penguin, is underpinned by a commitment to safety to ensure all of our players have the best possible experiences and parents’ peace of mind.”
Joining an entertainment portfolio that includes toys and chart-topping Nintendo DS and Wii games, Club Penguin’s strategy of offering children entertainment experiences connected to the virtual world continues with the new mobile app, Puffle Launch.
Puffles are the penguins’ pets in Club Penguin, and have become a phenomenon of their own. In fact, a new Puffle is adopted every second in the virtual world, with more than 20 million Puffles already adopted in 2011. In Puffle Launch, Puffles take to the skies to seek revenge when a cranky crab steals all the snacks.
"Kids are going mobile and have been asking for Club Penguin to go there with them. Disney pioneered virtual worlds and social gaming for kids, and now we want to enable kids to connect with their friends and our worlds on the go" said Lane Merrifield, Club Penguin co-founder and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios. "This is only the beginning for Club Penguin on mobile and we have some really exciting plans that will unfold over the next year."
Key Puffle Launch features include:
· Take on 24 high speed levels - Get back all the Puffle O's, dodge obstacles, discover surprises, and find a fiery prize at the end of every level.
· Challenge boss levels - Battle the cranky crab and his mechanical claw, and counter his moves with some of your own.
· Easy to use touch controls - Use your skills to blast through the skies, conquering each level.
· Unlock new modes - Take on Time Trial Mode, Turbo Mode, and replay all the levels in Slo-Mo.
· Earn virtual coins to transfer - Collect Puffle O's and earn virtual coins to transfer to clubpenguin.com.
Puffle Launch is available for 69p from the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore
