OMAHA, NE — (Marketwired) — 10/31/13 — A new startup, has entered the mobile games business with its first offering, “Crash Test Monkeys,” a fun and addictive bike riding platformer that is full of fast action and features an engaging cast of characters. The game is now available as a free download on and for Android smartphones and tablets, and in the for iPhone and iPod touch. In Crash Test Monkeys, players race the clock, jump, spin and perform tricks as a fearless monkey competing in bronze, silver and gold motorbike challenges. Crash Test Monkeys is the first in a new franchise, with five additional titles in development and several more under consideration.
In Crash Test Monkeys, you literally play for peanuts, the in-game currency. Players whip through winding tracks and obstacles and race the clock to earn points and open up new levels. With entertaining cut-scenes and adrenaline-fueled challenges, players must achieve a time and point objective introduced at the start of each level to earn a medal and level up. Collecting peanuts will earn players upgrades and power-ups, as well as new monkey characters or bikes to ride.
Additional Game Features Include
Play through four main levels (Island, City, Night and Space) with three achievement levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold), as well as bonus levels and a tutorial, where players fine-tune their skills at the Crash Test Academy.
With eight challenges per level, total gameplay can extend to 50+ hours.
While new levels load, players are entertained by satirical video shorts — from fictional advertisements to breaking news on CNN (Chimp News Network).
Play as one of five different monkey characters including Jack Macaque, Barbara Mandrill, C.H.I.M.P.S, King Song and Sock Monkey.
Eight different motorbikes, each with its own unique sound, including Old Yeller (default bike), Dirt Bike, McAcme, Island, Sci-Fi, Pizza and C.H.I.M.P.s.
Improve performance and speed through upgrades including turbo strips, bouncing armadillos, fire pickups, faster flips and high scoring tricks.
The founders of Ludicrous Games hail from the film and console game industries, as evidenced by the creative use of art, sound design, animation and gameplay in Crash Test Monkeys. Co-founder Ken Keys was the original 2D & 3D animator on Shrek, he animated “Gollum” in Lord of the Rings Two Towers, and spent several years as an Art Director at Electronic Arts working on such franchises as Madden and Tiger Woods as well as Hasbro properties and the development of new IP.
“We saw an opportunity to publish our own mobile titles and focus on our strength in creating new character-driven, physics-based properties; and above all have a lot of fun doing it,” said Keys. “We are a small team of experts who want to make fun mobile game experiences without the natural constraints placed on teams in a larger corporate environment. Given our collective experience and the ability to self publish our properties, making the move to mobile was a natural progression.”
Co-creator Ryan McBride is the lead engineer on Crash Test Monkeys and has worked for both EA and Disney Interactive where he contributed to such titles as Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, Chicken Little, Monopoly Streets and The Sims 3. Garrett Wren is the lead visual effects artist at Ludicrous Games. His work can be seen in popular animated films including Curious George, The Lion King, Pocahontas and Lilo & Stitch, which earned him an Annie award nomination for outstanding effects animation in 2003. Peter Lehman, the head of SFX and Music at Ludicrous Games, brings to life the energy and thrill of motorbike racing in Crash Test Monkeys. He has been writing soundtracks and composing music for popular film and TV properties ranging from Jerry Maguire to Natural Born Killers, Braveheart, The Prince of Egypt, Mulan and dozens more. He was also the lead sound designer on the Spiderman Returns video game.
The App is a free download from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at . It is also available for free from the Amazon App Store and Google Play store for Android smartphones and tablets running OS 2.3 and above. In-app purchases are available in the Crash Test Monkeys store, where players can purchase peanuts for as little as $1.99 to buy upgrades and power-ups that improve performance and enable faster progression in the game.
Founded in 2012 by game and film industry veterans Ken Keys and Ryan McBride, Ludicrous Games develops fun and exhilarating game experiences for the mobile platform. Its first title, Crash Test Monkeys is the first in a series of six games currently in development under the Crash Test franchise. For more information, visit
Videos and screenshots can be downloaded from the Crash Test Monkeys website: .
Karen Blondell
424-263-7371
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