Hey everybody, long time no hear! As already mentioned in comments to the announcement post, we’re not hiding — we’re working our asses off on UW2. So, what’s been done since the last update?

The most important part is that we’ve finished all the necessary research & planning and dived into the code! That’s right. We have decided to throw out the first game’s code base and start from scratch. It was a tough decision because usually it’s not such a good idea, leading to enormous development timelines and huge risks. In the case with UW2, after looking at the vast amount of features and improvements we want to see in the sequel, it was clear to us that the new game needed a new foundation. The awesome part is that the new code works on both target platforms, allowing for almost simultaneous release on both iOS and Android. Cool, huh?

Now with the code development on track, we’re finalizing the Game Design Document and deciding what exactly goes into the initial release and what will have to wait until the update. As soon as we figure it out, we’ll share the scope of work with everybody. That’s the topic of the next update — stay tuned, folks!

Phew, what a pleasure to finally share the news: we have officially started working on Underworld 2 (code name). And not the way we did it for the past few months, a flimsy side project with almost non existent resources (sorry folks). We are really pulling out all the stops this time!

For those who just joined us here: Underworld is our firstborn and the game famous for being packed with innovative stuff. For starters, back in 2008 it was the first location-based game on mobile. Not only was the gameplay using your real location and real life movements; we have introduced geo-aware Leader Boards  — with tremendous success. Finally, Underworld became ‘Freemium’ when ‘Freemium’ wasn’t even a thing!

With innovation all over the place, you can probably imagine how long it took us to balance the game, what a buttload of mistakes we did on the road and how much we’ve learned from that. Finally, we got an opportunity to re-use that experience.

One of the things that worked really well in development of the first game was that constant stream of support and feedback we received from the community. We intend to keep it on to gather your ideas and thoughts on the bigger, funnier and even more addictive second version! We promise to keep you posted on the progress as often as possible. Stay tuned for further details and spread the word!

Let’s be honest here for a moment. Vampire Rush is no game about pink ponies, sweet candies and cutie fat penguins. It’s no puzzle, trivia or a board game either.

Vampire Rush is all about bloody sword fights, deadly fireballs and tower defense mastery! Expect countless hordes of greedy bloodsuckers, nasty werewolves and no one there to help you!

If you’re up for all that, we’ve got some good news — Vampire Rush has just hit your local AppStore! Go get it now and get back to us with your thoughts, rants and praises.

Vampire Rush, $1.99
Vampire Rush HD, $2.99

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You know how game development companies love to comment their deadline shifts again and again: «It’s done when it’s done». Gosh it’s unnerving. Well, we aren’t like that. Or at least we’re trying hard not to end up like that :)

Okay, let’s admit, we really screwed up with premature title’s launch announcement back in December 2010. On the bright side, it wasn’t our laziness that caused that delay. Quite contrary — we teamed up with awesome folks from Chillingo, who helped us improve the game even further. Two more months of bloody hard work and dedication and we’re finally happy to report that the game’s release is right around the corner.

The release date is yet to be announced, but don’t make it stop you from letting us know what you think. Our twitter and Facebook page are always there for you!

As promised, the next big thing A-Steroids is preparing for you folks is Vampire Rush on iPhone & iPad! The game is going to land in the AppStore in January 2011.

Sounds like a lot of time to transfer a game from one mobile platform to another? Well, that’s because we don’t want to just create a «port» from Bada to iOS. Among smaller improvements in art, UI, sound and gameplay, we are adding few major features that will literally blow you away. Stay tuned, we’ll reveal them soon!

Underworld: SweetDeal, our location based iPhone game has been updated. Read more about the new features on the game site >>

Today, a new version of Underworld appeared in the AppStore. The one unique feature you will notice there is in-app purchase mechanics for paid in-game extras.

Right now, Underworld is the first MMO in the AppStore that has micro-transactions, so we decided to drop some knowledge on the whole micro-transaction deal and what troubles we were facing while working on it.

(more…)

Finally, the update has made it to the AppStore.

• Map blackout bug fixed
• New tiled-mode view added in the map screen
• Push notifications about your sales & received new messages

Quick, download it and let us know what you think!

If you follow the news, you probably know that since the release of a new firmware, the whole iPhone/iPod Touch community expected it to bring a lot of apps previously rejected from distribution in the AppStore. Yet we are still unsure if it helps Underworld to get its original setting back, but we promised to take our chances anyway.

Yes, we have re-submitted the gray-trade version of the game, called ‘Underworld: Traffic’. It is rated ‘17+’ for Frequent/Intense Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References and Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive themes.

Underworld: Traffic will bring players into the same world as SweetDeal, with a difference in available commodities and dealer ranks.

Now we wait for the news from Apple and will let you know as soon as we get an update. Stay tuned!

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Update [July 10]: Hey, we’ve  got an update from Apple. Not a very fruitful one though:

‘Your application, Underworld: Traffic 1.0, is requiring unexpected additional time for review. <…>’

Sounds like bad news to us, considering that a previous response like that led to two and a half months of waiting and then to a reject.

Well, fingers crossed, we let you know the minute something new comes up. Meanwhile, we are still working hard on the planned game improvements. Stay with us

Another update of Underworld, 1.2 is ready and waiting for you in the AppStore.

We have submitted this version long before the 3.0 came out, so the 1.2 doesn’t have any of those bells & whistles of 3.0 iPhone firmware yet. Still it’s worth checking out.

Messages from dealers and other characters (Joey, Max, etc) now appear right over the offers screen, so you can read and answer to them without going deep into the Profile screen. The same has happened with sales notifications — check out the screenshots.

We have also improved the tutorial at the start of the game — hoping it’s going to be a lot easier for the newcomers to catch up with the rules now.

Many small bugs and glitches have been fixed in the game, thanks for the bug reports we get from the community.

Ok, now just go get the new version and let us know what you think. While you are enjoying it, we are almost ready with some 3.0-rich stuff. Stay tuned for updates