Toy Kite Releases iSamurai for iPhone/iPod touch

Toy Kite Software has announced the launch of iSamurai, a two-player Wi-Fi sword fighting game for iPhone and iPod Touch. Developed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s accelerometers and networking capabilities, iSamurai is an interactive sword-fighting game, where the two players slash, thrust, and block each other with their iPhones.

Depending on the physical movements of the two players, slashes and thrusts are interpreted by both devices and immediately registered as successful or blocked. When a player swings and the opponent blocks by holding up another iPhone, the ring of steel on steel is heard from both devices. An unsuccessful block results in the defender’s iPhone emitting one of a number of cries to indicate a hit. Toy Kite has posted videos on its web site (as well as on YouTube) demonstrating the game in action. A training “Dojo” is offered so players can practice the different iSamurai moves.

“With iSamurai, we have been able to implement a two-player sword fighting game that uses the iPhone’s accelerometers to determine when a player attacks with his or her iPhone or uses it to block an opponent’s attack,” said Robert Hogg, CEO and founder of Toy Kite Software. “The iPhones communicate with each other over Wi-Fi in real time, and if a slash is not instantly countered with the correct block, a hit is scored. With iSamurai, we take the game out of the iPhone’s screen and into the real world – players actually sword fight with their iPhones.”

iSamurai includes a single-player mode with four levels of difficulty. Four unique characters: peasant, apprentice, warrior and samurai, yell out different attacks, and the player must quickly defend against them and launch offensive attacks by swinging the iPhone. To get players started, iSamurai offers a tutorial featuring animations of the different attacks. The game also includes quotes from The Art of War by Sun Tzu and from The Book of Five Rings by samurai Miyamoto Musashi.

“As robotics engineers, we were excited about the iPhone’s ability to sense motion,” said Arin Morfopoulos, Director of Development at Toy Kite Software. “Using that capability and inter-phone communication over Wi-Fi, we created a game where two iPhones are instantly aware of each other’s motions and respond with the sounds of battle.”

iSamurai requires an iPhone or iPod touch with system software 2.2.1 or later.

iSamurai: Two-Player Sword Fight for iPhone is only $2.99 (USD) and is available now exclusively through Apple’s iTunes Store. For a limited time, iSamurai will be on sale for $.99 (USD). iSamurai 1.0 uses a Wi-Fi connection for two-player mode. iSamurai 2.0 will be a free upgrade for Apple’s upcoming iPhone software 3.0, allowing two players to compete anywhere using blue-tooth communication between their iPhones.