Joystiq
Joystiq News
It's been three years since Snowman, a tiny independent studio based in Toronto, launched on iOS devices. Back then, Snowman was three people -- Ryan Cash, Harry Nesbitt and Jordan Rosenberg -- and Alto's Adventure was their first real game. They didn't know what to expect when they published it on the App Store for $2.99 in Feb. 2015, but the team hoped for the best.
That launch changed everything.
Alto's Adventure was a huge success. Players devoured the serene, soothing experience set on the slopes of a snowy mountain range -- it was an endless-runner snowboarding and llama-herding game, and its only mechanic involved tapping the screen to jump. Though gameplay was simple, the atmosphere and art told a larger story about comfort, risk and the warmth of home. Apple users ate it up, and the next year, got a taste as well.
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