Feed the Rocker

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 19, 2010 – Feed the Rocker (FTR), a new Facebook title created by indie developer Red Aphid Games, will delight alternate culture fans with clever puzzles and an underground rock setting that faithfully portrays the challenges faced by musicians.

On the screen is a struggling street musician who must be fed to survive. Players manipulate guitars and other music instruments on backgrounds ranging from cheap crash pads and back alleys to underground rock venues, directing food that falls from the top of the screen into the mouth of the starving artist. As the food bounces from object-to-object, hopefully on its way to the rocker’s mouth, a new musical track is created on the spot.

The title awards in-game prizes as players meet the rocker’s most primitive physiological needs (defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow as food, water, sleep, etc.). As levels are conquered, players help the rocker achieve higher level needs such as safety, security and love. The ultimate goal is to reach “Rock-Actualization,” allowing the musician to “become a mature, balanced person, everything that one is capable of becoming,” in Maslow’s words.

Along with being fun to play, Feed the Rocker contains several social messages: helping others is good and sharing is essential – in fact, the only true way to achieve happiness. Players are encouraged to share the virtual rewards they earn – collectible guitar picks, for instance – with their Facebook network. Accepting gifts from friends and sharing items you win results in good karma, and improved results. Selfishly “hogging” guitar picks results in a negative score.

“Feed the Rocker emerged out of our desire to create a fun, casual game that would raise consciousness about a social issue,” says Brian Judy, Founder and CEO, Red Aphid Games. “I had realized that the ‘leveling’ typically seen in puzzle games could be used to reflect a human narrative loosely following Maslow’s theories of self-actualization and his Hierarchy of Needs, popularized in the 1970’s. It all came together in a game that teaches players something about human needs and interaction.”

Feed the Rocker was developed using APE, (Actionscript Physics Engine) a free AS3 open source 2D physics engine for use in Flash and Flex, released under the MIT License and written by Alex Cove.

The sound samples for each instrument and music tracks were provided by Clean Cuts Music, an original music and sound design company out of Washington D.C. Clean Cuts does contract work for television, advertising, film/documentaries, games and the Web.

Play the game for free at http://apps.facebook.com/feedtherocker

For more information on Feed the Rocker, please visit http://feedtherocker.com/

For more information on Red Aphid Games, please visit http://redaphid.com/

Media contact:

Derek Asato or Luis Levy

The Bohle Company

310 785 0515 Ext 201 / 204

derek@bohle.com / luis@bohle.com