Action Button Entertainment

Action Button Entertainment

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	2010 (2010)
Founder	Tim Rogers
Headquarters	Oakland, California , United States
Area served	International
Key people	Tim Rogers, Brent Porter, Michael Kerwin, Nicholas Wasilewski
Products	Ziggurat, TNNS, Ten by Eight, Tuffy the Corgi, Videoball
Number of employees	5 (2016)

Action Button Entertainment is a United States-based game development company launched in 2010 by Tim Rogers. The core team consists of Rogers, Brent Porter, Michael Kerwin, and Nicholas Wasilewski. Their portfolio includes five titles: Ziggurat (2012), TNNS (2013), Ten by Eight (2013), Tuffy the Corgi (2014), and Videoball (2016). The studio's headquarters are located in Oakland, California, and as of 2016, it operates internationally with a compact staff of five members.

History

Founded by Tim Rogers during the creation of Ziggurat, Action Button Entertainment emerged from his inspiration after playing Angry Birds. This experience led to the development of a minimalist game emphasizing straightforward mechanics and visual simplicity, which has become central to the studio’s operational approach. To build his team, Rogers reached out via Twitter for artistic talent, quickly bringing Brent Porter on board after reviewing his fan art. Programmer Michael Kerwin joined the group following his submission of a prototype based on a game idea Rogers had previously shared in his Kotaku column.

The company’s design philosophy centers on concise gameplay that mirrors Rogers’s personal gaming preferences, drawing creative influence from classics like Panzer Dragoon, Cave Story, and Canabalt. Their distinct focus on minimalism combined with unique sound design—for example, the distorted guitar scream featured in Ziggurat—provides them with a distinctive edge within the indie gaming sector.

In addition to game development, Rogers utilizes the Action Button name for his YouTube channel where he produces extensive video essays critiquing games. This platform has significantly boosted awareness for niche titles, particularly enhancing Western engagement with games such as Tokimeki Memorial. In 2022, The Guardian commended his video critique of Boku no Natsuyasumi for its artistic storytelling and animation quality, underlining Rogers’s influence as both an industry entrepreneur and a public commentator.

Ziggurat

Developed by Action Button Entertainment for iOS, Ziggurat, stylized as ZiGGURAT, is a retro-inspired arcade shooter. Players assume the role of the final human defender protecting a ziggurat from extraterrestrial invaders through intuitive touch controls. The game features 16-bit style visuals paired with an 8-bit chiptune soundtrack and was inspired by Tim Rogers’s experience with Angry Birds. Released on February 17, 2012, it represents the studio’s inaugural release.

Critics generally responded positively to the game on Metacritic, highlighting its responsive controls and clean design. It earned a Destructoid Editors' Choice Award and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the top games optimized for the third-generation iPad Retina Display.

TNNS

Launched in November 2012 for iOS devices including iPhones, iPads, and iPods, TNNS (pronounced "tennis") is an action-packed brick-breaking game developed by Action Button Entertainment with production support from Rabbx. Players control a paddle to bounce balls against destructible blocks across more than 500 randomized puzzle stages. Notable gameplay elements include wormholes that teleport balls, directional arrows that alter trajectories, and power-ups such as multi-ball. The title supports two-player mode on the same device, features objectives, offers in-app purchases, and integrates social media connectivity. An Android edition was released subsequently.

Action Button describes TNNS as focusing on "keeping your eyes on balls," taking inspiration from tennis and classic brick-breaking games like Breakout. Reviews praised its inventive mechanics and challenging gameplay but expressed mixed opinions regarding difficulty levels and control sensitivity.

Ten by Eight

Ten by Eight (displayed as 10×8) is a puzzle title developed by Action Button Entertainment, initially launched on July 31, 2013, in North America for PlayStation Mobile platforms, including the PlayStation Vita and compatible devices. Subsequent releases expanded to international markets. The gameplay centers on matching colored tiles to form the longest continuous chain possible, with additional points awarded for linking the edges of the screen. Special star blocks act as power-ups, enabling combo extensions across different colors. Accumulated points unlock new playable characters, some originating from Ziggurat, though these are purely cosmetic. The game offers three distinct modes: endless mode featuring rocks that obstruct paths and require clearing, zen mode without obstacles or time constraints, and timed mode which limits play sessions to a few minutes without rocks. An infomercial-style trailer produced by Rogers gained attention for its unique presentation.

While critics commended the game’s design elements, they found issues with the endless and zen modes due to challenging difficulty and pacing concerns. The timed mode was regarded as more balanced, though suggestions were made for a tablet version to take advantage of larger screens. The minimalist soundtrack drew comparisons to Kraftwerk’s style and primarily attracted players focused on achieving high scores.

Videoball

Videoball is a streamlined sports video game created by Action Button Entertainment, controlled using one analog stick and a single button. Players maneuver triangular avatars that fire projectiles to push a ball into the opposing team’s goal area. Holding down the button charges the shot, which can also counter opponents’ projectiles. Matches typically last around four minutes.

Tim Rogers, the designer, characterizes Videoball as an abstract minimalist electronic sport. Its development began as a challenge from Bennett Foddy, known for QWOP, to create a “one-button StarCraft.” The design focused on simplicity combined with strategic complexity, akin to Gordon Ramsay’s philosophy of emphasizing fewer but higher-quality choices. Gameplay strategy draws parallels to basketball positions and zone defense tactics. Rogers streamed early gameplay sessions on Twitch prior to release. Scheduled for launch in 2014, the game supports cross-platform multiplayer with more than six participants.

Critics praised Videoball for its minimalist aesthetic and strategic depth, likening its skill requirements to football and basketball. Early impressions highlighted its addictive nature, accessibility compared to more complicated MOBAs like League of Legends, and engaging local multiplayer experience. Its visuals and sound design were described as lively and appealing. The quick learning curve stands in contrast to lengthier onboarding periods typical of other competitive games, enhancing its appeal across diverse audiences.

Tuffy the Corgi

Tuffy the Corgi and the Tower of Bones is a 2D platformer adventure released on PlayStation Mobile where players aim to collect 108 bones throughout one continuous level. The protagonist, Tuffy, runs nonstop with player input limited to jumping and switching direction via buttons positioned on each side of the screen. Contact with spikes or enemies results in restarting from the beginning, with a death counter tracking failures. Released in June 2014, this title was designed by Rogers, programmed by Kerwin, illustrated by Porter, and features music composed by Ken "Coda" Snyder. Rogers also created the promotional trailer.

Regarding reception, Jeff Marchiafava of Game Informer described the experience as “hopelessly difficult,” appealing mainly to perfectionist speedrunners due to its punishing mechanics and heavy reliance on memorization. While its retro 16-bit aesthetic and precise controls evoke nostalgia, the steep difficulty curve limits mainstream appeal and constrains market growth despite interest from dedicated niche players.