Gold Strike Comes to the iPhone

The popular online game Gold Strike has come to the iPhone. Gold Strike has previously appeared as a Web-based game, downloadable game and smartphone game for the pre-iPhone generation of phones. It has been played by millions since its release in 2003.
Gold Strike is an action puzzle game where you play a miner trying to strike gold in a collapsing mine. You must throw your pick at groups of matching blocks as tremors push the blocks closer to you. The object of the game is to dig as deep as you can, scoring points for hitting gold blocks.
The game was developed by CleverMedia, Inc., a game development company in Denver, Colorado. Since 2003 it has been the top game at CleverMedia’s primary portal GameScene.com. CleverMedia, Inc. also runs MacMost.com.
“We loved this genre of collapsing block games,” said the game’s creator, Gary Rosenzweig. “We wanted to create the ultimate game in that genre, but at the same time make ours unique.”
Gold Strike differs from other block games in that the blocks move in from the left side, rather than dropping down from the top. As the blocks push each other to the right the player must work to clear columns of blocks or risk being pushed off the screen.
The iPhone app includes the original game, plus four alternate game modes: Bottomless Pit, Strategy, Dynamite and Archeology. Each presents a different challenge using the same basic gameplay.
The click-only interface of the original game lent itself well to the touch-only interface of the iPhone and iPod Touch.
“We knew that this game would work well on the iPhone because all you need to do is to touch blocks,” said Rosenzweig. “We didn’t have to mess around with simulating arrow keys or mouse movements like in a lot of other games.”
The game also keeps track of your best scores for each game variation. It is available in the iTunes app store for an introductory price of 99 cents in the United States. It can be purchased through iTunes, or direct on the iPhone through the App Store. The starting price is only 99 cents, though this is just an introductory price.