101 University Drive, Suite A6
Amherst, MA 01002

Tinker Bell is the newest resident of Pixie Hollow, and she’s doing her best to leave a lasting impression on the fairy world. After discovering her talent, Tink invents, builds and repairs new contraptions to make life easier for her fairy friends. Join Fairy Mary, Bobble and Clank, Rosetta, Iridessa and all the other fairies as they teach Tink about Pixie Dust, sprinting thistles, the many uses of acorns, and the magical world of Pixie Hollow.

The game is to Windows 8′s touch interface as Solitaire was to Windows 3.0′s GUI – a fun, entertaining way to learn the basic mechanics of the OS. But unlike Solitaire, Adera features a fun story, great gameplay, and beautiful graphics. I’m already looking forward to Episode 4: Tower of Visions.

Adera is available on the Windows Store now!

Image via pocketables.com

It’s Myst meets Lost meets Lara Croft on Windows 8 — with a virtual reality twist.

That’s one way to wrap your head around “Adera,” a hidden-object mystery game that will unfold like a television show on Microsoft’s new operating system, in a series of episodes across multiple seasons. Part of a portfolio of games being released on Windows 8 under the Xbox Live brand, Adera is designed to appeal in part to adult women who wouldn’t normally be heavy Xbox Live gamers.

Microsoft gave the first public preview of the game during the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle over the weekend. Developed by HitPoint Studios and published by Microsoft, Adera has elements of a casual game, revolving around a series of hidden-object challenges and puzzles. Adera also has the characteristics of a Hollywood production, with a mysterious story line told in part through eye-catching cinematics.

HitPoint Studios is unveiling its Adera puzzle-adventure game that is targeted at what could be a very big platform. The game will debut on computers running Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system as well as the Microsoft Surface tablets coming this fall.

The game is an episodic, puzzle-adventure title that will take full advantage of features such as multitouch controls, accelerometer (tilt) controls, and Xbox Live for Windows. It is one of a whole slate of games being announced today for the new Microsoft platforms, which are aimed at reviving PC gaming and related tablet play. Microsoft will publish this game which is being developed by Hatfield, Mass.-based HitPoint, said Jim Hawk, producer at Microsoft. It is clearly a sign that Microsoft knows that great games can make or break any new operating system or technology platform.

We have a nice spread of game screenshots featured on PlayXBLA, as well. Follow the link to see them all:

And we’re mentioned in this Gamezebo article as well — ADERA Episodes 1, 2, and 3… but we’re developing another title on this list as well. (Secret!) Bonus round: can you see the other HitPoint game being plugged in the image deck to the left and right of the article? We’ll give you a hint — it starts with an S and ends with ecrets of Arcelia Island.

During E3, Editor-in-Chief Jim Squires stuck it to Microsoft for neglecting Windows 8 as a gaming destination. Well it seems the company was listening (that’s our story and we’re sticking to it). Just prior to writing, company spokesperson Major Nelson took to his blog to announce 40 titles headed to “any Windows 8 PC, laptop, or tablet” beginning October 26th. Microsoft fans? Your casual games have arrived.

HITPOINT ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF ADERA IN A MULTI-EPISODE, MULTI-
TITLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH MICROSOFT STUDIOS

ADERA Marks HitPoint Studios’ First Major Title for Xbox Games for Windows 8

Hatfield, MA – August 30, 2012 – HitPoint , an award-winning game development
studio, is pleased to announce the launch of their first major title in partnership with
Microsoft Studios, ADERA. Today’s announcement marks the first in a series of
episodic, puzzle-adventure titles that are in development by HitPoint for Windows 8
and Microsoft Surface. These titles will take full advantage of the fantastic features of
the Windows 8/Surface platform, including accelerometer controls, and Xbox Live for
Windows. ADERA is an epic, story-driven game that unfolds in gorgeous, cinematic
rendered detail across multiple episodes, providing an unparalleled depth for this genre.
ADERA will be available to audiences worldwide on October 26th.

“With ADERA, we created a title with cinema-quality production value that’s totally
unprecedented in the puzzle-adventure genre, and our partnership with Microsoft Studios
has enabled us to bring a classic casual gaming title like this to the mainstream,” said
Aaron St. John, co-founder and CEO of HitPoint. “The extended reach of Microsoft’s
Xbox platform along with the development capabilities within Windows 8 enables us to
build new, rich games that widespread audiences will truly love to play.”

“HitPoint’s expertise in creating casual and adventure titles made them a natural choice to
help us introduce new gaming experiences to our core audiences,” said Matt Booty, GM
of Connected Experiences for Microsoft Studios. “Casual gaming has seen astronomical
growth over the last several years, but the market is saturated with look-alikes. We’re
committed to providing Windows 8 users with high-quality gaming experiences in classic
genres as well as those that they might not have seen before.”

On the heels of HitPoint’s successful social gaming title, Seaside Hideaway, the ADERA
game launches as part of Microsoft Studio’s official release of Xbox games for Windows
8. ADERA and additional titles that HitPoint has in development with Microsoft
Studios are optimized for the Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface platform. Xbox games
for Windows 8 will be available beginning October 26th and will continue to release
throughout the remainder of 2012. Microsoft Studios continues to deliver an innovative
mix of fun-to-play titles, including ADERA, all of which can be played on any PC,
laptop, or tablet with Windows 8.

Microsoft Studios will be showing off some of their Windows 8 titles at the Penny
Arcade Expo in Seattle from August 31 through September 2. We invite folks to visit the
booth to explore and play the epic cinematic experience of ADERA.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitpointstudios.com/.

About HitPoint Inc.
HitPoint is an award-winning independent game development studio based out of
Western Massachusetts. Founded in 2008, HitPoint is a growing family of over 40
gamers and game experts. Regularly featured in top-ten lists across major gaming
portals, HitPoint has produced over 130 games in four years for over 50 million players
on iOS, Android, Facebook, and PC. Current 2012 releases include the hit Facebook
title Seaside Hideaway, Windows 8 title ADERA, and the upcoming iOS release
Words in Space. HitPoint’s passion and expertise makes them the game developer
of choice for top publishers and brands, including Big Fish Games, Glu Mobile,
Real Networks, WildTangent, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Hasbro, and Microsoft. Visit
www.hitpointstudios.com for more information.

Press Inquiries:
press@hitpointstudios.com

Great job, Seaside team! We’re looking forward to continued growth as we refine and add great new features for the Seaside community to enjoy.

Pow Games’s hidden object game Seaside Hideaway took the top spot on this week’s list of emerging Facebook games, up 22,532 monthly active users for a 33 percent increase.

Here’s an article about it! It went online yesterday mere hours after newscrews were wandering around the offices; we were all impressed by the speedy turn-around:

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray visits Hitpoint video game studio in Hatfield

He wasn’t exactly all thumbs, but when you’re the lieutenant governor you don’t have a lot of spare time to practice gaming skills on your iPhone. Timothy Murray caught on fast, however, and was soon snatching words out of space in a game appropriately titled “Words in Space.”

And here’s another article with a VIDEO! We’re on the news, ma!:

Hatfield Video Game Company Thriving

There are some hidden gems here in western Massachusetts.

One of them is a growing company in the video game business.

HitPoint Studios is the largest independent game studio in Massachusetts.

Funny how many of us are placidly typing away at our keyboards. Thanks to the Lt. Governor for stopping by! We’re excited to lead the charge for video game companies here in the Pioneer Valley. More updates soon: we’ve got two indie projects close to launch, and two large projects that we’re excited to announce. One of those large projects is close to going live and it looks great.

“With Angry Birds, you’re relying on just the value of the game,” St. John said. “We aim to make games that are as popular as Angry Birds, but the benefit of social games is the feeling of playing against other people, rather than just the pigs.

“For me, there’s an emotional reaction to playing a game like Words with Friends; it hooks me more,” he continued. “I can play Angry Birds anytime, but with Words with Friends, I don’t want to keep my buddy waiting. Or, if Paul is beating me, I can’t let that stand. Playing with other people drives a different kind of reaction.”

That reaction, he said, is not unlike the feeling players get when hunched over a board game — which is remarkable considering that people are playing on smartphones or their Facebook pages. “It’s making the experience of gaming more personal through what would otherwise be an impersonal medium.”

Seaside Hideaway is a gorgeous and exciting new hidden object game. Visit this charming little island resort and help the mayor restore a now sleepy seaside village to the glory of its heyday.

Check out our community page (here: http://www.facebook.com/seasidehideaway) and start playing today!