Supermono Studios

Supermono was founded by ex-Lionhead Studios developer Tak Fung and artist Dave Ferner on 8 June 2010. Fung previously created his own game development firm under the name Studio FungFung in 2007. When Dave Ferner joined the company in 2010, they changed the name to Supermono Studios. The studio was originally supposed to be called "SuperThings," but CEO Tak Fung wanted an Asian slant to it - and "mono", which means things in Japanese, led to the name Supermono Studios. Red Robot Labs acquired the company in December 2011.{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=2011-12-09 |title=Red Robot Labs buys Supermono game studio |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/red-robot-labs-buys-supermono-game-studio/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}

Since April 2021, their website has been offline, and the company's social media has been dormant since 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SupermonoStudios/posts/2190883617688786|title=Supermono Studios - Posts - Facebook|access-date=2021-09-27|date=2019-09-17}}{{cite tweet|user=SupermonoGames|author=Supermono Studios|number=330285073867874304|date=2013-05-03|access-date=2022-04-11|title=MiniSquadron is featured in @PocketGamer's 150 great iOS games that you forgot existed! https://www.pocketgamer.com/features/hidden-gems-154-great-ios-games-that-you-forgot-existed-61-90/}} However, a fan-made Facebook account for Supermono's game, Forever Drive, run by its developers, made a post on 4 July 2023{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ForeverDrive/posts/pfbid0N6cGnQeR8JuF454BxsFtpDwHwGyd8teEJWbwwfYwzTrHeYKerXSN69SXsphiwU8tl|title=ForeverDrive - Posts - Facebook|access-date=2023-10-14|date=2023-07-04}} Their last public activity was a compatibility update to EpicWin on 26 November 2020.{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/epicwin/id372927221?mt=8"|title=EpicWin on the App Store|access-date=2021-09-27}} It's acquiring company, Red Robot Labs, is also dormant, with its last funding on 21 March 2012,{{cite web|url=https://tracxn.com/d/companies/red-robot-labs/__YFJIIfUWxcy_hIyIbZg9QKEYj1fteupxplelHsbxXrA|title=Red Robot Labs company profile|access-date=2024-11-18}} and no social media posts or active website since 2013.

EpicWin is a unique application for iOS that allows the user to gain experience and level up from doing their everyday chores.{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2010/08/18/epic-win-a-to-do-list-for-those-with-an-insatiable-desire-to-fill-experience-bars/ |title=‘Epic Win’ – A To-Do List for Those With an Insatiable Desire to Fill Experience Bars |website=TouchArcade |first=Eli |last=Hodapp |date=2010-08-18 |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506012519/https://toucharcade.com/2010/08/18/epic-win-a-to-do-list-for-those-with-an-insatiable-desire-to-fill-experience-bars/ |archive-date=2021-05-06 |url-status=live}} It acts as a sort of motivator and to-do list that rewards the user for sticking to their schedule. Ruben Berenguel stated in a review that the app is “a really interesting and fun to-do app” but “may become dull after a while.”{{cite web|url=http://www.mostlymaths.net/2010/08/epicwin-review-geek-to-do-iphone-app.html|title=EpicWin: The geek to-do iPhone app|first=Ruben|last=Berenguel|website=Mostly Maths|access-date=2011-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405045942/http://www.mostlymaths.net/2010/08/epicwin-review-geek-to-do-iphone-app.html|archive-date=2012-04-05|url-status=live }} Chris Donlan called it “brilliant” and credited the app with “turning my meaningless little life around” after a week of use.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Donlan |date=2010-08-27 |title=The Friday Game: EpicWin and Godville |website=Edge Online |department=Features |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/friday-game-epicwin-and-godville/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630211456/http://www.edge-online.com/features/friday-game-epicwin-and-godville/ |archivedate=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead}}

Fox vs. Duck is a simple but addictive game for the iOS platform. The basic goal is to use the tilt functionality of the iPod or iPhone to save the ducks from the hungry wolf. It received positive reviews from various sources including The Independent who said “Combines winningly simple gameplay with the most stunning yet understated graphics possible...Beautiful and just a little bit spooky, this is a great buy at 59p.”{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/games-reviews-fox-vs-duck-1939332.html |title=Games Reviews: Fox vs Duck |first=Rebecca |last=Armstrong |website=The Independent |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024742/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/games-reviews-fox-vs-duck-1939332.html |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=live |date=2010-04-08 }}

Forever Drive was a futuristic 3D racing game with the ability for users to create and share tracks. The game used a customizable and never-ending race track created by the community, as well as customizable vehicles and a leveling system. Players would race against the clock to gain experience points to level up, unlocking additional features in the process. The game used a free-to-play business model, where the game was free to download and play, but players had the option to pay for in-game credits to speed progression or obtain in-game cosmetics. In a 4.5-star review for TouchArcade, Nissa Campbell wrote that “Forever Drive is a slick, mellow game that rewards both your time and your skill.”{{Cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2011/10/14/forever-drive-review/ |title=‘Forever Drive’ Review – Stopping is Giving In – TouchArcade |first=Nissa |last=Campbell |website=TouchArcade |date=2011-10-14 |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416151952/https://toucharcade.com/2011/10/14/forever-drive-review/ |archive-date=2021-04-16 |url-status=live}} Its server is now down, preventing further gameplay.{{cite web |url=https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/forever-drive/id442923846|title=Forever Drive on the App Store|access-date=2021-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822234259/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/forever-drive/id442923846?mt=8|archive-date=2018-08-22|url-status=live }}

{{main|MiniSquadron}}

MiniSquadron is an arcade dogfighting game that involves the user taking control of one of many aeroplanes with the objective of defeating waves of enemies in order to advance to another stage. In total, there are eight levels of increasing difficulty, over 50 planes to unlock, and different weapons to choose from. The company's most successful game, MiniSquadron received positive reviews and was rated #3 on appadvice.com's list of 100 greatest iPhone apps of all time.{{Cite web |url=https://appadvice.com/appcollections/show/top-100-iphone-games |title=Top 100 iPhone Games of All Time |website=AppAdvice |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228025439/https://appadvice.com/appcollections/show/top-100-iphone-games |archive-date=2016-12-28 |url-status=live}} 148Apps called it “fluid, smooth, and above all a fantastic plane-based shooter.”{{Cite web |url=https://www.148apps.com/news/daily-double-minisquadron-payload-free/ |title=Daily Double: MiniSquadron (!!), Payload for Free |access-date=2022-04-11 |date=2009-12-20 |last=Eisenman |first=Bonnie |website=148Apps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222223753/https://www.148apps.com/news/daily-double-minisquadron-payload-free/ |archive-date=2011-12-22 |url-status=live }}

The game was re-released as a special edition. This brought new features to the game in the form of additional unlockable planes, helicopters, weapons, and levels. The special edition also improved on graphics.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/185726/mini_squadron_for_iphone.html |title=Mini Squadron for iPhone |website=PC World |first=Tim |last=Mercer |access-date=2011-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030042458/http://www.pcworld.com/article/185726/mini_squadron_for_iphone.html |archive-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=dead |date=2010-01-01 }}

A location-based arcade game that used real-world map data to generate in-game-level content.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesasylum.com/2013/01/30/rescue-rush-review/|title=Rescue Rush - Review - Games Asylum|access-date=2021-09-27|date=2013-01-30}}

There are versions of MiniSquadron on Android, Palm Pre and Sony PSP, although the PSP version has not received the same critical success as other versions.{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/minisquadron/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |title=MiniSquadron for PSP Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020150043/http://www.metacritic.com/game/psp/minisquadron |archive-date=2011-10-20 |url-status=live }} While it was sold at a competitive price on the PSP Minis sections of the PlayStation Network, the PSP version of the game does not support the multiplayer aspect of the game due to the quick approval rate advertised by Sony for the line of PSP mini games.{{Cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/No-DLC-or-Wireless-Multiplayer-for-PSP-Minis-122178.shtml |title=No DLC or Wireless Multiplayer for PSP Minis |website=Softpedia News |first=Andrei |last=Dumitrescu |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111162636/http://news.softpedia.com/news/No-DLC-or-Wireless-Multiplayer-for-PSP-Minis-122178.shtml |archive-date=2009-11-11 |url-status=live }} Ports of the game for platforms other than iOS were not published by Supermono Studios, but instead were handled on Android and PSP by Gray Fin Studios{{Cite web |url=http://www.androidzoom.com/android_developer/gray-fin-studios_kvgp.html |title=Apps by Gray Fin Studios - Android |website=Android Zoom |access-date=2022-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526082206/http://www.androidzoom.com/android_developer/gray-fin-studios_kvgp.html |archive-date=2012-05-26 |url-status=usurped }} and Grip Games{{Cite web |url=http://www.grip-games.com/games/ |title=Grip Games - This Is Your Game |access-date=2018-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511233354/http://www.grip-games.com/games/ |archive-date=2013-05-11 |url-status=dead }} respectively.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.supermono-studios.com/ Official website]
• [http://www.supermono-studios.com/forum/ Official Forums]
• [http://www.rexbox.co.uk/epicwin/ EpicWin Main Site]
• [http://www.grayfinstudios.com/ Gray Fin Studios]
• [http://www.grip-games.com/ Grip Games]

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom