I had a pleasant surprise today when I checked the App Store. Mondrian is in the What’s Hot section of the App Store today.

I used to be able to speak and even read some Japanese. Sadly, it has lapsed, but I was thrilled to see (and even struggle through a few words) of this great review of our iPhone puzzle game, Mondrian, on a Japanese review site.

Link at Appbank.net

Curiously, the video looks like it was shot is some sort of a laboratory or industrial kitchen.

Today our iPhone puzzle game, Mondrian, was reviewed by TouchArcade. It begins:

I’ve personally never wished for a puzzle game hosted by the ghost of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, and I’m fairly confident that most people could say the same thing. In spite of this, the good people at Fuzzi Tail Software have delivered that exact experience in Mondrian, a challenging and visually pleasing puzzler brought to you by Piet Mondrian, who needs you to unscramble his masterpieces so he can enjoy the afterlife in peace.

To read the rest of the review at TouchArcade …

The reviewer notes that Mondrian is a challenging puzzler and “that anyone who downloads the game is in for quite a few hours of brain-tingling puzzles.”

Noted art critic Vanderfield Clausen gives his opinion of the new mondrian puzzle game on the iPhone.

Our iPhone/iPod Touch game, Mondrian, is getting some great feedback and reviews from users. Two themes seem to be emerging from the feedback: our iPhone game is both unique and challenging.

This is absolutely superb – I really love the game. Be warned though, it can get really hard quite quickly (either that or I’m a bit thick!). Plays really nicely, extremely polished. I love it.

Jamie. (From the TouchArcade Forum)

The combination of the different game elements in the levels will send you for one awesome journey.

All in all, the game elements, the art style, the humor and the challenge that Mondrian brings to the table is just fabulous. This is one puzzle game that is worth every cent of 2.99.

Prab (iTunes review)

This game is highly polished, the puzzles are getting hard very soon, so it should provide a great challenge for puzzle experts. As in any good puzzle game, more game elements (Black and Grey Blocks, Blocks with Counters) are getting introduced as you progress. You are not left in the dark though, Mondrian himself explains every new element as it arrives. He also provides hints on some of the levels, whereas others have to be solved on your own.

tblrsa (TouchArcade Forum)

Mondrian ist mit Sicherheit eines der schwersten Puzzlespiele die sich im Appstore finden lassen. Die schlichte, jedoch stilvolle Grafik sowie die kreative Handlung fesseln den Spieler an das Gerät. Mondrian höchstpersönlich spornt den Spieler an ein Puzzle in noch weniger Zügen zu lösen, gibt Tipps oder lästert über den erfolglosen Lösungsversuch.

Freunde von knackigen Puzzleaufgaben sollten sich dieses Spiel nicht entgehen lassen!

Google Translation:

Mondrian is certainly one of the most difficult puzzles are not found in the Appstore. The simple but stylish graphics and the creative act tie the user to the device. Mondrian in person inspires the player to solve a puzzle into even fewer trains, there tips or speak against the unsuccessful attempt at a solution.

Friends of crunchy jigsaw puzzles, this game should not be missed!

Review from Austrian iTunes

We’re grateful for all the feedback and intrigued by these crunchy jigsaw puzzles.

This just in: A better translation of the review from Austria.

Hard but polished puzzle game!

Mondrian is simply put one of the hardest Puzzle Games in the App Store. The simple yet stylish graphic as well as the creative Story keeps you playing. Mondrian himself encourages the player to try and solve the puzzle in fewer moves, hands you a hint or mocks you a bit, should you fail at a puzzle at first.

If you love hard puzzle games, this one is for you. You shouldn’t miss it!

The gameplay of our iPhone puzzle game, Mondrian, is featured in this video. This unique iPhone puzzle game was inspired by the art of Piet Mondrian, but don’t let just that persuade you. This iPhone game is packed with serious puzzles, hours and hours of gameplay, humor, and a several generous pinches of fun.

Sweet! I made these with an image that Jon created and Avery T-Shirt transfers.

Maybe I’ll make some more and have a give-away contest.

Well, that didn’t take long. On Wednesday evening the 23rd we received this:

Woo Hoo!

I had heard on twitter reports of recent fast turn arounds, but I wasn’t expecting it. Unfortunately the iTunesConnect backend was closed for the holidays by the time I got the email, so we have to wait till at least the 28th to make mondrian available on the app store.

My brother and I started working on an iPhone game a little more than a year ago. Dang it’s been a long time. But the screen shot below is from the submission screen with Apple. It’s off to the long dark night of the approval-process.

All our troubles are over. We have a logo! (See above.)