BOSTON (May 31, 2022) – Foster and Family Games today announced that its 2D arcade flight game, Loose Nozzles, will launch on the iOS and Google Play App Stores on August 16, 2022. Combining physics-based play and classic arcade mechanics with a hand-drawn art style and vocalized sound effects, Loose Nozzles marks the end of a veteran game developer’s quest to turn his young son’s artwork into a game of chaos and comedy for all ages.
Watch the launch trailer HERE.
The game’s programmer, composer, and co-designer is Chris Foster, formerly of Harmonix and Turbine. After decades in roles such as lead designer on The Beatles: Rock Band and lead content designer on The Lord of the Rings Online, Chris decided to challenge himself. “Learning new things can be scary, and I decided to run towards my fears. That meant building a game on my own and learning how to do everything.”
… Or rather, not quite everything. Inspired by his father’s first 2D prototype, Chris’ son Ian offered him a drawing of a rocket losing its nozzles after taking fire from a “cannon-shooter.” Ian was even able, at the age of five, to describe the game mechanics that would cause the rocket to break into pieces. Chris suddenly had a co-designer and (unpaid) artist.
Chris and Ian built a retro-inspired design that combines the physics-and-finesse-based play of Lunar Lander with the rescue objectives of Choplifter. Players navigate intricate mazes using only two thruster buttons, encountering ever-narrowing tunnels and dangers such as toppling boulders, rotating gears, and flame-spewing robots. The stressful mechanics are complemented by an art style of child’s drawings and ripped construction paper, and sound effects vocalized by both Fosters. “When you slam into a wall there’s a visible and audible “POW!,” “BOOM!” or “CLANG!,” which makes players laugh. If a game can make you happy when you fail, then you’re more likely to jump back in and build your skills.”
The game’s release comes after eight years of part-time, nights-and-weekends development, balanced with working full time at professional studios – Chris is currently game developer at Hidden Door, a new startup working at the intersection of machine learning and immersive storytelling – teaching game development at Northeastern University, and being a father. “I never wanted this to feel like work for Ian, and I already HAD work to feel like work, so we kept things light, and took our time.” When asked to comment on the game, Ian, now 13, responded as expected for a teenager: “It’s a game. And it’s fun.”
Loose Nozzles will release this August on the iOS and Google Play app stores, as a free download with a one-time purchase to unlock additional features. A presskit can be found at www.loosenozzles.com/presskit. For additional information, contact Chris and Ian Foster at loosenozzles@gmail.com.