| Type | Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Browser games |
| Founder(s) | Mat Annal Heather Stancliffe |
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Various games |
| Employees | 15 |
| Website | nitrome.com |
Nitrome Limited, commonly known as Nitrome, is an independent game development company based in London, England, United Kingdom. The company makes Flash-based games. Their games are recognizable by the pixel art design and cartoon-like appearance, along with a jingle to the start of every game and chiptune tunes. Nitrome was originally started by Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe, two graphic designers,[1] intending to create games for mobile phones. Instead, the company began taking on commissions Internet-based flash games and have continued to do so since, making up to two games a month.[1] Nitrome's games are published on their website and are often available to license on other websites such as Miniclip and MTV Arcade.
Contents |
Nitrome's creation stemmed from a conversation between Mat Annal and Heather Stancliffe, in which Mat suggested that they make a game for mobile phones. Heather was initially hesitant, but Mat persuaded her that it could be a successful idea.[2] The temporary website for their upcoming project was first launched on April 3, 2005,[3] with a preview video of Chick Flick, their intended first game.[4] On May 20, 2005, Mat's brother Jon joined the Nitrome team to help with the pixel art. Heather Stancliffe left Nitrome in 2010 to pursue a different career.
On August 26, 2011, Nitrome released a new design of the site, named "Nitrome 2.0". It includes a new skin and all the old skins, plus a new layout to the website.
Nitrome's website is primarily aimed at broadcasting and publicising the games the company has made, which is obvious in its design. There are various links to different games about the page and a slideshow on the front page demonstrating in-game videos from the sixteen most recent games.
The website lets the user select which skin to view the pages with, from a choice of 12 skins.[5] Users have the option to either save the skin they have selected, use the most recent skin or randomly choose the skin each time the user visits the website. The skins, as of 30 November 2011[update], are Classic, Winter, Retro, Horror, Party, Snowman, Factory, Ice Temple, NES (Nitrome Enjoyment System), Steampunk, Nitrome 2.0 (named for the website changes) and 100th Game (for the release of Nitrome's 100th game, Nitrome Must Die).
The games made by the company can be put into four main categories. "Hot games"[6] are the most recently made games, and thus considered the most popular (hence, "hot"). "Main games"[7] tend to have full storylines, varying gameplay and multiple levels though not necessarily recent enough to be considered "hot". "Mini games"[8] are shorter, sometimes with only one level, whilst "Multiplayer games"[9] are designed for more than one person to play at once.
Nitrome has made games for MTV Arcade[10], Candystand and Miniclip. The company has also made "advergames", which, unlike the aforementioned, are made to advertise a product or service. The company allows for webmasters to place certain games on their websites, for a predetermined fee.[11]
Most of the games are divided into levels (usually between 10 and 100), and also give the player the option to replay any level they have completed, even if they have lost. Some games also feature the concept of bosses.
Some games, such as Mutiny, Twang, Fault Line and Rustyard, have won awards in various areas.
In July 2009, Nitrome Limited released Twin Shot 2, their first game to use MochiCoins, a system allowing players to pay for extra content in browser games.[12] Mat Annal said that Nitrome were "trialling" and that they "don't intend to use it in every game".[13] They used MochiCoins again in B.C. Bow Contest, which they have updated twice.
On August 28, 2010, Nitrome opened up their shop page. As of 30 September 2011[update], these were on the shop page:[14]