Like a phoenix from the ashes, Casey’s Contraptions has been born again as Amazing Alex! This latest app from Rovio is now available for iOS and Android — via both Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. Rovio has stated that the app will be released at a later time for PC, Mac, and Windows Phone. Before all the repetitive questions start, no we don’t know when these will arrive, and no we don’t know if any other platforms will ever receive the app.
The storyline follows a boy named Alex who, instead of being a good child and doing his homework, would rather build crazy Rube Goldberg machines using everyday items. When playing through the normal levels your goals are to collect all 3-stars while completing the required objective. Those objectives vary and will become more complicated as the levels progress. Sometimes your objective is to knock balls into a laundry basket, pop balloons, or simply (or not so simply) knock things over. As expected, as you progress through the game new interactive objects will be introduced and these objectives will get much more complicated and outlandish. Fortunately, Alex’s parents are very open-minded and let their son’s imagination run wild.
Note for iOS users regarding Game Center Sharing:
- July 12th, 2012 — An update is out now in the AppStore the fixes the Game Center bug for most users. I say “most” because if you have greater than 300 friends it looks like you can’t see shared levels (you can see those that you’ve shared). So what to do? Well, you can either trim down the number of friends you have or wait until a fix is released. I did ping @AmazingAlex via Twitter and they said they would pass it along.
Game Center support for Amazing Alex is problematic at the moment. If you’re receiving the error, “This game is not recognized by Game Center” try closing Amazing Alex then either logging out of Game Center or enable, “Airplane Mode”. Now reopen Amazing Alex and the message should stop popping up. Rovio has already submitted a fix for this issue to Apple, so we’re just waiting on it to arrive. We will let you know when this happens.
So what’s included in the initial release?
- For iOS: The app costs $0.99 USD for the SD version and $2.99 USD for the HD version. As far as I can see, there are no in-app purchases at this time, nor is there iCloud syncing.
- For Android: Same pricing as for iOS, regardless of whether you download from Google Play or the Amazon Appstore. As an alternative, there is a “Free” version of the app in both stores. This version only contains 16 levels (The Classroom) and has a link to the “Paid” version if you decide to buy.
- 112 Levels! Spread across four episodes, you can play a full century of levels! We will be creating walkthroughs for these, so please be patient while we get everything up and running.
- Share Solutions! For iOS users, you can share your solutions across Game Center with your friends. This is useful if you are having trouble with a level, or if your buddy is struggling. If you share your solution, it will be saved so you can go back and revisit the level at a later time to see what you have done. Also, you can share across SD and HD.
- Level Creator! The app has only be live for a couple hours and there are already hundreds of user-created levels available online to play. You can either contribute to this list by creating your own, try to conquer levels your friend has built, or beat levels created by some random person in eastern Europe (**cough** Finland)!
- One iOS Achievement! Earn a 50-point achievement called “Completely Amazing” for earning 3 stars on all levels in the first four chapters.
A few notes about the level creator
- The “My Levels” episode, which is the level creator, is unlocked after you complete the first episode.
- Additional objects are added to the level creator as you progress through the episodes. This will make the level creator even more entertaining and give you incentive to work your way through the game.
- As we mentioned above, you can share your creations or download levels created by others. Before you can share your level you have to prove that your able get all 3-stars by clicking the “Play” icon.
- If 3-stars are obtainable then you’ll have the option to share it, but before you do you have to drag items off the stage into the toolbar. This way people can try and create a solution on their own.
- Kids love the level creator! A screenshot of a level my 4-year old son created this morning is below (it’s the last one).
Angry Birds Tie-Ins! (We all knew they were coming.)
- The Classroom: Through the first chapter, there is a poster under the board that reads “Aa: Angry” and “Bb: Bird”.
- Alex’s Bedroom 3-11: First appearance of the Bad Piggy Bank, though he appears in several levels thereafter as well. A nice subtle add-on is that his eye becomes bruised after shattering, just like the pigs in Angry Birds.
- Alex’s Bedroom 3-12: The level is called “Angry Doll” and features the doll in the slingshot aimed at the Bad Piggy Bank. I couldn’t help but yell “Ca-Cawwww” the first time I played it.
- The Treehouse 4-1: The level is called “Angry Birds” and features a slingshot with a ball bearing aimed at the Bad Piggy Bank atop a rickety structure.
Rovio has outdone themselves, way to go Rovio!
Can’t wait to see official licensed products for Amazing Alex by Rovio as well. :D Piggy Bank is coming~
It is 2.99 for Kindle Fire. Grrr
worth it!
2.99 for any HD app.
I usually don’t chime in on comments about prices.. but c’mon, .99 or 2.99, or even 5.99 is nothing compared to some of the titles out there! Other platform titles go from 15 to 30, to even 60 bucks a pop, and we don’t complain about those! And when was the last time you seen updates to all the titles you paid $60 for?!!
And.. free updates to top it all off.. =)
I agree. This price is extremely reasonable.
I think that prices for games in App Store are fair and I couldn’t imagine anything cheaper. Actually, I think those “prices” are only sort of fees. Where else on the Earth you could have that much fun for a such low price?
I keep getting the Game center notification thing on my screen and when i press ok it doesn’t go away. have to exit and restart the game
Yes, we are aware of this and so is Rovio. Basically, multitasking causes an infinite loop, based on what I can see. Close the app via the multitasking bar and it should be fine.
Yea doing this. with my Iphone i click the center button and close the app to restart it. Been happening a lot with me
I’m sure Rovio can handle this quickly. It appears to simply be an activation issue.
@AMslimfordy, HA! I love the part where game center is trying to mess with you. Seriously, isn’t it frustrating when you get that far into a vid and then the game is like, “Let’s see how we can screw with this guy”. ;) Nice vid, slim. I got a start on it this morning and am excited to play more!
@FujiToast: Yeah, GameCenter was having fun with that one. I really had to be mindful of my language since I had the audio on haha. I’m trying to play through a little bit now. If the GameCenter feature works the way we think it works, it should make solutions pretty sweet from an “admin” point of view.
@AMslimfordy, yeah I agree
Nice review slim ;) it’s a first at ABN. w00t!
Arrg – I thought the game would save your solutions – but it seems like it doesn’t! It saves your stars, but not the arrangement you built to get the stars – is that true?
Will have to wait for the GC issue to be settled before we can analyze that further.
It seems the GC issue is not happening anymore. Maybe it’s fixed?
it stopped for me too
Nope – still happening.
I played all the way to the end of the backyard.
I thought the game would save my “blueprints” but they’re all gone.
Does anyone know if it was supposed to or was that wishful thinking by me?
Still happening.
No, it doesn’t save your solutions after you exit the level.
Just to clarify – the game DOES save your solutions as long as the level completes and you get at least one star.
You can even save multiple solutions of the same star – so if you three star a level five different ways all five of those solutions can be saved.
Did anyone else notice the alphabet posters in the classroom? They said, Aa: Angry and Bb: Birds :D
yep. :D lol
Where exactly are you seeing these posters. I checked like every level in the class room and I don’t see any posters lol, just a green chalk board.
They are on the bottom right of the screen, below the board.
I don’t see any poster either.
I just found out that the poster is in HD version only. :-(
The game is fun.
Well after mastering The Classroom, I must say that this is a great little departure from Angry Birds. It takes a little strategy but it’s also easier to get 3 stars(so far :D). Bout to start The Backyard.
I don’t want to say it but this game is more Amazing than AB.
new update available in app store.
prob with GC seems to be fixed.
Thanks
There seems to be an achievement. But it’s a hidden one.
It’s worth 50 points.
copied from the amazing alex facebook page “For those experiencing issues with Game Center & Amazing Alex: A fix is now live on the App Store, so all you need to do is update. Thanks for being so patient guys :)”
Great game, can’t wait to be available for PC :(, any way to play it online ?
no,sorry
Game Center-recognized apps have an upper point limit when it comes to achievements, plus those limits seem to be binding for now. Apple may change this eventually if there is enough public pressure and such changes result in a better product.
Bottom line: Don’t ask for too many achievements right now. Convince Apple first.
I also meant permanent when it comes to achievements.
Yes, there is currently a limit of 100 achievements, 1000 achievement points, and 25 leaderboards on GameCenter.
Downloaded AA and played the first book, the Classroom. Very interesting and fun. Just a different concept of entertainment from the games in ABs.
I played for a while before I went to work this morning. It’s a fun game. Way to go Rovio!
I seem to be the dissenting opinion on this matter, but I think that although the game is a bit entertaining, it just doesn’t grab me like all the various flavors of AB. I think the fact that your setups persist after a failure makes it too simple relatively to starting over each time on AB. Granted, I haven’t played beyond the free levels but I can’t see myself going back and replaying anything.
Much like cut the rope, once I have finished a level, I never went back to replay.
I seem to be of similar mind about this as you are, @frozndevl. I mean, it runs smooth, now that the GC issue has been fixed, and it’s visually very rich, but that seems to be it. While it’s mildly entertaining, it certainly doesn’t possess that certain subjective quality that drove you to WANT to complete the levels the way that AB does.
All other things being equal, I don’t see myself going beyond what was initially provided in the release.
I like the game as a casual time waster, but I also prefer Angry Birds. I’m not sorry I purchased it, it’s fun, but I don’t find myself unable to put it down like I do new levels of Angry Birds.
The only way this isn’t a stupid question is that “No question is stupid:” On Backyard 2-5, “Pop n Cut” I don’t seem to understand what is required to get 3 stars??? I can hit all 3 stars, but level does not stop. It will stop if I only hit 2 stars.
Are you putting the scissors at the top to pop the balloon?
You have complete the objective as well. The objective here is to pop the pink balloon (signified by the blue X going through it).
Thanks! Uh duh! Easy once you understand the “x”
This game is very fun and enjoyable already up to world 2!
Walkthroughs?
Rocket pond site?
We will have walkthroughs here in the near future.
Walkthroughs are useless. You can click on the hint-button, then you see Alex’ solution immediately. No need to leave the game and watch a walkthrough video on the net.
This makes the game too easy anyway.
You have forgotten about Android, dude. There is no hint button.
You’re entitled to your opinion Chris, but you have indeed forgotten about Android and (in the future) PC, Mac, and WinPhone.
I’m glad there are going to be walkthroughs, because sometimes I can’t quite figure out what the real purpose of certain levels is. I usually figure them out after a while, but it’s sometimes trial and error.
Hi @amslimfordy, I didn’t know you had a 4 year old son? (Last line under heading “A few notes about the level creator”.)
Re the scoring for this game, does it award points as well as the 3 stars like AB? If so will there be leaderboards as well or just walkthroughs to help/somewhere to discuss the game?
Thanks
Certainly. Just me and the mother don’t get along, so I shipped him off the BirdLeader’s nest. ;)
No points system.
lol, that’s good you found a good home for him.
Shame about the no points – won’t be able to have comps/challenges. Never mind, the game sounds great so I’ll probably buy that one too. :)
Someone made an “adventures of amazing Alex that by the pictures but not comments looks the same(someone made a bad version which is more expensive)
@all — Review of Amazing Alex: I’ve gotten through Backyard and ready to start on Bedroom. I’ve 3* everything except for 2 levels that I have 0 stars on. So far this game seems kind of like Cover Orange. You have to use physics principles to solve a problem, but even Cover Orange gives you a score, while Amazing Alex only gives you stars. Except for the levels that I haven’t gotten 3* on, most of the levels are easy, although some require a lot of adjustment to get it exactly right. Some are more difficult, or require a fresh mind and approach. Don’t think this is going to take the place of AB.
Hey slim, i had a question : would updating a iOS device version would erase your data?because my system still on 4.1 version and amazing Alex is require 4.2 version
Thanks
In theory, updating iOS should not change anything on your device. Unfortunately, nothing is perfect and things COULD go wrong, but it’s very rare.
Thanks!!!
Oh and Will my apps, videos, and others will deleted?
Assuming you aren’t jailbroken, everything should remain.
I jailbroken it already…
Well updating iOS will kill your jailbreak. So you will lose any Jb-specific settings.
Thanks for the info, you just make me didn’t want to update my iOS version cause the jailbreak killer things.
It’s fine game indeed, but I miss cool achievements in Game Center. So far I consider lack of achievements only cons for this game.
It is fun to proceed with the eagle! :)
@cc-jolly Since you are my only friend in Game Center, you could share your solutions. Then I can see yours. And you can see mine too. I already shared them.
why are there no achievements? or did i just not find them?
@chris you should add more friends on gc (slim for example posts solutions on gc)
There is one hidden achievement.
Slim has HD version, so it would not help me.
well may be tha slim has HD but i have SD and can see slims solutions!