Hitcents is a video game publisher and mobile app and games studio, headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are the creators of the cross-platform gaming series Draw A Stickman. In 2014, Hitcents partnered with actor Tom Hanks to develop the Hanx Writer. Founded in 1999 as a software company by twin brothers Chris and Clinton Mills, the company has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
History
As high school sophomores, Chris and Clinton Mills started Hitcents as an internet advertising company. The company name referred to the policy of paying clients on a cents-per-hit basis. Hitcents was acquired by Houchens Industries in 2003. The company expanded from its headquarters in Bowling Green, Kentucky to San Francisco in April, 2014 and Los Angeles in 2015.
The business includes mobile game and application development, e-commerce, technology, marketing, creative design, software development, production, automation, self-service checkout, and enterprise resource planning.
In 2007, Hitcents was ranked No. 191 on Inc. magazine's list of the top 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., after growing 1,099.8% over 3 years. Clinton and Chris Mills were also ranked in the top 5 CEOs under 30. In 2013, the company moved from its offices at Western Kentucky University into a building called "The Wrap" in Bowling Green, which was developed by the Mills family's real estate business. Hitcents was named one of the best places to work in Kentucky for 2014.
After contractors on the building said the family's real estate business owed them more than $2 million, the county took over the project and the company moved out in August 2015.
Hitcents, as of today, no longer has a game department, and they are not working on game projects, this was announced around 2023–2024 by one of the Hitcents moderators through the official Hitcents Discord Server.
Mobile application development Hitcents develops mobile applications for both in-house and client projects. These applications vary in genre: from mobile games to enterprise-level business applications.
Draw a Stickman series
Hitcents created the series Draw a Stickman. The idea started as a simple website, DrawAStickman.com. After it was a critical and commercial success, the game was later developed into a full series of mobile and PC games. Draw a Stickman: Epic was released in October 2012, a mobile application for iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows 7 and 8 phones, and later into full desktop versions for Windows 8, Linux, Mac OS X and Steam.
A player creates a stick figure, which becomes the main character of the game. Throughout the game, the player guides the stick figure through multiple levels, utilizing various pencils to draw elements, tools, and weapons to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.
In July 2015, Hitcents launched a sequel to Draw A Stickman: Epic, Draw A Stickman: Epic 2.
A 3rd game titled Draw a Stickman: Epic 3 was released on mobile in May 2020 with a console & PC port in March 2023.
Battlepillars
Hitcents created Battlepillars, a tug-of-war real-time strategy game for iOS, Android, and PC. The game was launched on October 2, 2013. Battlepillars allows players to strategically build and command caterpillars, which are then sent to battle an enemy caterpillar army and various bosses. The game allows users to build each caterpillar in their army using specialized segments that offer various powers and abilities.
Battlepillars was one of the first mobile cross-platform multiplayer games, allowing Android user to play against iOS users through Google Play. Battlepillars was Hitcents' first free-to-play mobile game.
Hanx Writer Hitcents created Hanx Writer, a mobile app in collaboration with Tom Hanks. Inspired by Tom Hanks' appreciation for classic typewriters, the Hanx Writer App reflects the look, feel, and sound of old-fashioned word-processing.
Hanx Writer was released on August 14, 2014. Hanx Writer reached the No. 1 ranking on the iTunes App Store during its launch week, where it held the top spot in both the Productivity section and the Overall section.
Rigged On September 16, 2016, Hitcents launched Rigged, a mobile game about gerrymandering, in partnership with Fusion. The game play was centered around educating players about the practice of gerrymandering in the United States.
The Godfather: Family Dynasty On February 9, 2017, Hitcents launched an officially-licensed, free-to-play, mobile strategy game based on The Godfather.
The game received mostly positive reception. The game was praised for its art style, gameplay, and multiplayer functionality. However, it was criticized for being unoriginal and for its repetitive gameplay.
NBA Life On March 30, 2017, Hitcents launched NBA Life, a free-to-play mobile strategy and simulation game where one plays as a new NBA player on a team of one's choice. A player improves an avatar's body and skills so the player can compete with AI versions of real-life players. Players can join with other players in crews for various rewards. After joining a crew, the player can face off with other crews in the crew tournament system.
The game received very positive reviews. Reviewers praised the game for its gameplay and aesthetic. Many reviewers also appreciated that the in-game NBA player avatar can be female.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hitcents.nbalife
Video game publishing Hitcents is a video game publisher. In 2018, they published two games developed by other indie video game studios.
A Robot Named Fight Hitcents published A Robot Named Fight, a 2D action figure game developed by Matt Bitner Games. The game was released on April 26, 2018, for the Nintendo Switch platform. In A Robot Named Fight players are robots tasked with defeating Megabeast while exploring a labyrinth where you can discover artifacts and power-ups.
Don't Sink Hitcents published Don't Sink for the Nintendo Switch platform on January 3, 2019. Studio Eris developed the game in cooperation with Hitcents. Don't Sink is an adventure, pirate-themed role-playing video game where players explore the high seas, islands, and grow a pirate empire. Players must balance adventure with physical needs for the pirate crew, governing islands and expanding their empire.
Games developed TitleYearPlatform(s) Draw a Stickman 2011 iOS, Google Play, Amazon Draw a Stickman - Episode 2 2012 iOS, Google Play Draw a Stickman: EPIC iOS, Google Play, Steam, Amazon, Windows & Windows Phone, Mac, Kindle, Xbox One Battlepillars 2013 iOS, Google Play, Amazon Store, Steam, Windows & Windows Phone The Harlem Shake iOS Hanx Writer 2014 iOS Krampus In Wreck The Halls Google Play San Francisco Google Play Poisonous Creatures Google Play Charlie Charlie 2015 iOS, Google Play Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2 iOS, Google Play, Steam, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Amazon, Windows, Windows Phone, PlayStation 4 & Xbox One Draw a Stickman: Sketchbook iOS, Google Play, Amazon Tac - Tic Tac Toe Reimagined iOS Sparkle Corgi Goes Cave Diving Google Play, iOS Godfather: Family Dynasty 2017 Google Play, iOS, Amazon
Games published +TitleYearPlatformA Robot Named Fight2018Nintendo SwitchDon't Sink2019Nintendo SwitchDuke of Defense2019Nintendo SwitchGet To The Orange Door2019Steam, TBAForgotton Anne2019iOS, Google PlayRashlander2019SteamMinistry of Broadcast2020Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchDraw a Stickman: EPIC 32020Steam, iOS, Google PlayShores Unknown2021Steam, Nintendo Switch, TBAInspector Waffles2021Steam, Nintendo Switch, TBAAquamarine2021Steam, TBAKokopa's AtlasTBASteam, TBA
Services
Hitcents web development services include web design, programming and maintenance, administrative access, eCommerce, data transfer and website hosting. Hitcents web department has been recognized over the years with numerous awards for their website work including Marcom Awards, Davey Awards and Communicator Awards.
Other services include consulting, data backup, hardware purchasing, virtual private network setup, secure DSL, kiosk development, computer networking and high-speed Internet access.
Awards 2011 Davey Award- Draw A Stickman- GOLD Dope Award- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE MONTH Design Licks- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY FWA Award- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY AWWWARD's- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY Design Taxi- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY
2012 Interactive Media Award (IMA)- Draw A Stickman- BEST IN CLASS Hermes Creative Award- Connected Nation Corporate- GOLD Hermes Creative Award- Draw A Stickman- PLATINUM Horizon Interactive Award- Draw A Stickman- BEST IN CATEGORY Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Viral Marketing- PEOPLE'S VOICE Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Best Use of Motion Graphics- PEOPLE'S VOICE Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Best Use of Motion Graphics- WEBBY The Web Award- Draw A Stickman- GAME SITE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE W3 Award- Draw A Stickman- Animation- GOLD W3 Award- Draw A Stickman- Self Promotion- GOLD Innovation Award- BG Chamber of Commerce- Hitcents- AWARD Davey Award- BART- Animation- SILVER 2013 Webby Award- Draw A Stickman: Epic- Mobile Sites & Apps/Games- WEBBY WINNER Webby Award- Draw A Stickman: Epic- PEOPLE'S VOICE Webby Award- One Direction Scrapbook App- HONORABLE MENTION W3 Award- Tampico Website- AWARD Manny Award- Draw A Stickman- AWARD Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Games- GOLD Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Tablet Games- SILVER Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Tablet Games- PEOPLE'S LOVIE 2014 Webby Award- Hanx Writer- HONORABLE MENTION
2015 W3 Award- Hanx Writer- Mobile App: Entertainment- GOLD W3 Award- Hanx Writer- Best Visual Design: Aesthetic- SILVER W3 Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC 2- Mobile App: Innovative & Experimental- SILVER
2016 Webby Award- Draw a Stickman: Epic 2- Mobile Games- HONOREE
References
External links Hitcents