Stumptown Game Machine releases Touch Pets: Another Portland iPhone app, another runaway hit

Now if you’re building an iPhone app in Portland, the bar is already pretty high. What with apps like the Obama app, Air Sharing, and Fieldrunners, Portland has had its own fair share of runaway hits.

And now, that bar just raised a little higher. Portland-based Stumptown Game Machine now boasts the number one free iPhone app in the App Store with its long awaited and much ballyhooed Touch Pets.

The verdict? It was worth the wait.

Touch Pets was developed by Stumptown Game Machine for ngmoco, a company that’s striving to deliver amazing games for the iPhone platform. And Touch Pets does a great job of furthering that pursuit.

So, you make calls, surf the Web, download a few apps, and use the GPS, but years of Tomagatchi and Pokemon addiction have you longing for something more. What you really really want on your iPhone is a virtual pet. Well you’re in luck. Because that’s exactly what Touch Pets delivers.

Adopt a dog—either your favorite breed or a robot dog—and start taking care of it. Touch Pets walks you through a tutorial on care and feeding of your new little critter. Including how to entertain them, pet them, and keep them happy.

Then, it’s all up to you. Check in on your dog. Give him or her a few pets. Throw the ball or Frisbee to give them a little exercise. Take them outside to run around. Feed them.

All the chores of a real pet, but on your iPhone. Yes, even that one. I mean, when you’ve got to go…

And some new ones. Like dressing them in wacky hats and clothes. And introducing them to other dogs owned by other players.

It may sound a little silly. But it’s entirely engrossing. What’s more, it was simple enough to keep my three-year old engaged for a long long time. And that, my friends, may be reason enough for many parents to download the game. But it’s also challenging enough to keep adults intrigued.

The concept is entertaining, but the reason it’s so engrossing is the gameplay. Smooth graphics, well integrated multitouch features, and great animation makes the game as fun to watch as it is to play.

It’s no surprise it’s #1.

To help Stumptown Game Machine keep that ranking, why not download Touch Pets from the App Store? I mean, it’s free.

For more information, visit Stumptown Game Machine or Touch Pets. Or you can always follow @StumptownGM on Twitter.

(Hat tip Raven Zachary)

Published by Rick Turoczy

More than mildly obsessed with the Portland startup community. Founder and editor at Silicon Florist. Cofounder and general manager at PIE. Follow me on Twitter: @turoczy View all posts by Rick Turoczy