Playniac

Factsheet

Developer:
Playniac
Based in London, UK

Release date:
April 2012

Platforms:
Browser version
Kongregate version
Apple App Store

Website:
playracingsquirrels.com

Regular Price:

Description

International Racing Squirrels is a race management sim that has the player running an errant gang of misbehaving squirrels, who behave a bit like glamorous footballers. The title was produced by indie studio Playniac for Channel 4 Education. It is set in the dark underworld of the international squirrel racing scene. Bribery, debt, hotel room trashing, gambling and secondary careers in reality TV or the pop charts are rife. The game was inspired by an article in Scientific American that compared the running speeds of different animals and concluded that squirrels were faster than stampeding elephants. In the up-tree urban training facility players purchase squirrel homes that include a repurposed road cone, an abandoned cardboard box and a derelict birdhouse. They build up their team from a selection of bizarre characters including Nano Norah, who can update her Facebook status from the track just by thinking it; Hurricane Harry, who came from under the sea and has a robot leg; and Hissing John, who some say may be a snake in disguise - but no one dares to question. The squirrels train on running machines, lift weights, receive massage and practice the ancient martial art of Squdo. Time in the gym improves their stats, and stats win races. When your team's ready, it’s off to the racetracks on their Sciuridae Air private jet. From jungles to futuristic cities and streets to deserts, the squirrels face a barrage of opponents who start off easy but get harder as the game advances. Players watch the race progress from above and, as team managers, dive in with mini-game boosts when it’s time to overtake. The strategic deployment of power-ups, from an acorn grenade to a rocket booster, can also help the team win. A wild, live-generated commentary follows the race’s progress and the squirrel cam shows your squirrels’ faces. You’ll get a boost on special sections of the track if you have the right stats.

History

Playniac worked with the Money Advice Service, a subsidiary of the Financial Services Authority, to model real-world finances in the game. It features accurate recreations of current accounts, savings accounts and credit cards with interest rates, penalties and fines. Managing your money and understanding real-world finances is key to success in managing your race team. You can play cautiously and save up a huge pile of acorns, take risks and possible win even more or throw caution to the wind and end up totally overdrawn, selling your homes and squirrels to stay afloat.

Features

International Racing Squirrels Credits

Rob Davis
Game Designer & Lead Developer, Playniac

Paul Simpson
Lead Artist, Freelance

Ricky Haggett
Developer, Freelance

Alexis Kennedy
Writer, Freelance

Yasmeen Khan
Writer, Freelance

Gemma Thomson
Level / Content Designer, Playniac

Piers Gibbon
Voiceover artist, Freelance

Lily Hayward
Squirrel and cat impersonations, Freelance

Noise 5000
Music, Freelance

Contact

Inquiries
[email protected]

Twitter
twitter.com/playniac

Facebook
facebook.com/playniac

Web
playniac.com