Howling Moon Software
Howling Moon Software is a two-person independent game development studio founded in 2007 by the authors of the Chipmunk2D physics engine, specializing in Unity3D, VR, and cross-platform game work. It delivers contract development to Fortune 500, healthcare, and gaming clients and self-publishes indie titles including Verdant Skies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersInver Grove Heights, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Howling Moon Software does
Howling Moon Software is a two-person independent game development studio founded in 2007 by Andy Korth and Scott Lembcke, both Computer Science alumni of the University of Minnesota, Morris. The firm is structured as a Minnesota limited liability partnership (Howling Moon Software LLP), headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, MN, privately held, and operates without external venture funding. The studio combines specialized contract development services with a small self-publishing catalog, concentrating on Unity3D cross-platform game development, VR and biofeedback application engineering, and physics simulation tooling anchored by the open-source Chipmunk2D engine.
The company's core technical assets sit in physics simulation, custom rendering engines, and cross-platform deployment across mobile, console, PC, and VR. Chipmunk2D — co-authored by Scott Lembcke and adopted as the official physics engine of Cocos2D v3 in 2013 — underpins the studio's recognized authority in 2D physics and supports a paid Objective-Chipmunk iOS deployment license. Self-published work includes Verdant Skies (2018 Steam launch, 2025 Steam Deck Verified update) and the in-development Veridian Expanse; client engagements span Fortune 500 branded 6-month Unity3D cycles, specialized VR healthcare applications for United Health Group and Firefly Immersive, console ports (Rapala Fishing: Pro Series on Xbox One/PS4; Treasure Stack on Xbox/Switch/Steam with cross-platform matchmaking), drone and precision-agriculture software for Botlink, and the AtPlay Music K-12 education suite.
Revenue derives from four streams: professional services contracts (primary, quote-based, NDA-disclosed clients), one-time perpetual licenses for self-published titles on Steam and itch.io, the $200 Objective-Chipmunk iOS device license for the open-source physics wrapper, and a small back-catalog of legacy desktop and iOS games (ScribBall/Crayon Ball, Twilight Golf). Customer mix ranges from large enterprise (Disney, Warner Bros, undisclosed Fortune 500 media, United Health Group), to mid-market game studios (Concrete Software, PixelLakes, Mobile App Center, Atomic Antelope), to long-tail indie gamers. Go-to-market is direct outreach, referrals, and portfolio-driven sales for contract work, paired with Steam-mediated distribution, GDC presence, an active development blog, podcast appearances, and small Discord/social media communities for self-published titles.
Howling Moon Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Howling Moon Software
- Legal name
- Howling Moon Software LLP
- Website
- https://howlingmoonsoftware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Howling Moon Software is a two-person independent game development studio founded in 2007 by the authors of the Chipmunk2D physics engine, specializing in Unity3D, VR, and cross-platform game work. It delivers contract development to Fortune 500, healthcare, and gaming clients and self-publishes indie titles including Verdant Skies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Howling Moon Software industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Game Development Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cloud Gaming Integration & Porting Services (Cloud builds, compatibility, QA) (MPAFAHAJ), Testing, Automation, Crash Reporting & Telemetry SDKs (MPAFAFAM)
Keywords
Where Howling Moon Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inver Grove Heights
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Howling Moon Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Contract Development Services: Primary revenue driver. Provides programming services on large Unity3D games (6-month dev cycles) for media companies, as well as iPhone development and specialized Chipmunk Physics consulting. Clients range from Fortune 500 companies to indie studios. References available by request under NDA.
- Self-Published Game Sales: Verdant Skies sold on Steam (65% off during sales, with itch.io offering DRM-free versions). Veridian Expanse available for wishlist on Steam. Games receive updates and community engagement.
- Chipmunk Physics Licensing: The open-source Chipmunk2D physics engine is free. Objective-Chipmunk wrapper costs $200 for iOS device deployment (free for simulator/Mac), with free users getting simulator-only access. Source code provided to licensees but redistribution prohibited.
- Desktop Game Sales: Historical sales of ScribBall 2 ($19.95), Crayon Ball ($19.95) for Mac/Windows. iOS apps sold through App Store at various price points (Twilight Golf at $2.99, ScribBall at $3.99 historically).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Objective-Chipmunk iOS License |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Verdant Skies |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Twilight Golf (iOS) |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | ScribBall 2: Redrawn (Desktop) |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Crayon Ball (Desktop) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contract Development Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Howling Moon Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Howling Moon Software is an independent game development studio that provides professional Unity3D, VR, and physics simulation services alongside self-published games. The company maintains the open-source Chipmunk2D physics engine and offers a paid Objective-Chipmunk wrapper for iOS, while delivering contract development work spanning console porting, custom shaders, networking, and VR/biofeedback applications for Fortune 500 clients, healthcare organizations, and indie studios.
Product overview
Howling Moon Software is an independent game development studio founded in 2007 offering both self-published games and professional development services. Their portfolio includes the flagship Chipmunk2D Physics library (open-source 2D rigid body physics engine), self-published titles Verdant Skies (life simulation) and Veridian Expanse (in-development), professional VR development services (Firefly Immersive mental health platform, United Health biofeedback), drone mapping software (Botlink), and Unity/Unreal game development contracting. Their expertise spans physics simulation, VR/AR, multi-platform game ports, and custom engine development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Verdant Skies Self-published life simulation game available on Steam and itch.io featuring farming, character relationships, genetic crop splicing, modding support, and Steam Deck Verified full controller support. Targeted at PC and console gamers interested in polished, story-driven indie titles.
- Chipmunk2D Physics Open-source 2D rigid body physics library with ARM NEON optimizations and autogeometry code, widely used across game engines and platforms. Targets game developers needing a high-performance physics solution.
- Objective-Chipmunk Commercial Objective-C wrapper around the Chipmunk physics engine for iOS and Mac, with a paid perpetual license for iOS device deployment. Targets iOS game developers who need a commercial-ready, redistributable-friendly physics integration.
- Super Fast Soft Shadows Unity plugin providing 2D soft shadow rendering for games, showcasing the studio's Unity rendering expertise. Targeted at Unity game developers.
- Twilight Golf iPhone physics puzzle game built with the proprietary SHADE dynamic shadow engine and Chipmunk Physics, offering 30 unique puzzles. Targeted at iOS gamers.
- Crayon Ball Cross-platform (iOS, Mac, Windows) puzzle-physics game featuring color-matching ball-popping gameplay with multiple themes. Apple Staff Pick recognition. Targeted at desktop and mobile gamers.
- ScribBall 2: Redrawn Desktop physics-puzzle game available for Mac and Windows. Sequenced continuation of the original ScribBall franchise. Targeted at desktop gamers.
- Upshot Mac screenshot utility for teams and clients, automatically uploading screenshots and copying shareable URLs to the clipboard with Twitter integration. Targeted at design and development teams needing streamlined screenshot sharing.
- Contract Development Services Professional game and interactive software development services spanning Unity3D, VR, custom rendering/shader work, console porting and certification, physics integration, networking, and biofeedback applications. Engagements are typically 6-month development cycles with up to 5 people per project for media, healthcare, and tech clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10x performance improvement in 3D mapping solution at Botlink using game development techniques
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Howling Moon Software
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Howling Moon Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
Howling Moon Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Apportable (acquired by Google)coreApportable, a San Francisco-based startup later acquired by Google, paid Andy Korth and Scott Lembcke to develop the Cocos2D-ObjC game engine. They were prominent contributors to the project, working on Chipmunk Physics integration, SpriteBuilder editor, renderer, shader enhancements, and engine architecture. This partnership established Howling Moon as expert contributors in the Cocos2D ecosystem.
- Multiple Fortune 500 Media CompaniescoreHowling Moon has developed multiple large Unity3D games for Fortune 500 companies in the media/entertainment space. Projects involve 6-month development cycles with up to 5 team members. Specific client names undisclosed under NDA, but portfolio available by request. These contracts represent a significant portion of company revenue.
- Concrete SoftwareminorWorked with Concrete Software on Rapala Fishing: Pro Series for PS4 and Xbox One. Howling Moon focused on water shaders, boat wake effects, and general engineering. Led to the company's first boxed console game in major retail.
- PixelLakesminorBrought in by local Minneapolis game studio PixelLakes to implement network multiplayer, guide Xbox port certification, and assist with Switch port for Treasure Stack. Pioneered cross-platform matchmaking certification between Steam, Switch, and Xbox Live.
- Mobile App CenterminorDeveloped bike physics and ragdoll systems for the Dirt Bike Xtreme mobile game.
- Atomic AntelopeminorDeveloped physics scenes within Alice in New York interactive book application for Atomic Antelope.
- MN Symphonic OrchestraminorCollaborated with the Minnesota Symphonic Orchestra for instrument samples and promotion of the AtPlay Music educational app suite.
- BotlinkminorFargo ND startup where Howling Moon wrote 3D OpenGL map renderer, drone photo stitching using NVIDIA Jetson boards, NDVI imagery for agriculture, and OpenCV-based 3D model assembly. Demonstrated applicability of game development skills to adjacent industries.
- Charles McGregor / HyperdotminorBrought in to help with Xbox port of Hyperdot minimalist action arcade game. Responsible for Xbox user management, saves, achievements, controller management, performance, and certification tasks. Charles McGregor described as a pillar of the MN game dev community.
- Chipmunk2D Open Source CommunitycoreChipmunk2D is the flagship open-source product, serving as the foundation of Howling Moon's technical reputation. Used in countless games across dozens of platforms. Integrated into Cocos2D v3 as the official physics engine. The open-source community provides usage, contributions, and sustains the Objective-Chipmunk commercial product.
- Unity TechnologiescoreHowling Moon is a specialized Unity3D development studio with extensive experience across multiple major projects for Fortune 500 clients. Expertise spans Unity rendering, physics integration, controller support, audio (WWise), and cross-platform deployment including Steam Deck.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Howling Moon Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Survios: Los Angeles-based VR game studio (Creed: Rise to Glory, Sprint Vector). Comparable VR game development expertise with self-published IP.
- nDreams: UK-based VR-focused game studio with experience across multiple VR platforms and self-published titles. Comparable in VR game development expertise.
- Resolution Games: Stockholm-based VR game studio focused on cross-platform VR experiences (Demeo, Angry Birds VR). Directly comparable in VR game development expertise and cross-platform delivery.
- Limbic Entertainment: German game studio with a mixed business model of self-published titles (Tropico series) and contracted development work. Similar team size and structural composition to Howling Moon.
- Phosphor Games: Chicago-based small studio specializing in VR, simulation, and serious game applications using Unity. Highly comparable in team size, technology stack, and focus on serious/enterprise applications of game technology.
- Snowcastle Games: Small Norwegian indie studio self-publishing titles (Earthlock) and taking on contract development work. Comparable team scale and mixed business model of self-published IP plus client services.
- Cloudhead Games: Canadian VR game studio known for Pistol Whip. Comparable VR game development expertise and self-publishing model with strong IP.
- Vertigo Games: Dutch VR game studio behind Arizona Sunshine and After the Fall. Directly comparable in VR game development expertise and cross-platform focus.
Emerging players
- AppliedVR: Los Angeles-based VR therapeutics company with FDA-authorized products for chronic pain. Comparable VR healthcare expertise, though more focused exclusively on the medical vertical.
Broad incumbents
- High Voltage Software: Long-established US game development services studio providing contracted development across multiple platforms and major publishers. Larger-scale incumbent in the contract game development space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Howling Moon Software social profiles
Digital presenceHowling Moon Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Howling Moon Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Howling Moon Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Howling Moon Software M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Howling Moon Software
What does Howling Moon Software do?
Howling Moon Software is an independent game development studio that provides professional Unity3D, VR, and physics simulation services alongside self-published games. The company maintains the open-source Chipmunk2D physics engine and offers a paid Objective-Chipmunk wrapper for iOS, while delivering contract development work spanning console porting, custom shaders, networking, and VR/biofeedback applications for Fortune 500 clients, healthcare organizations, and indie studios.
Is Howling Moon Software a public or private company?
Howling Moon Software is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Howling Moon Software founded?
Howling Moon Software was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Howling Moon Software based?
Howling Moon Software is headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, United States, in the North America region.
How does Howling Moon Software make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Contract Development Services are the primary driver. The others are self-Published Game Sales, chipmunk Physics Licensing and desktop Game Sales.
Who are Howling Moon Software's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Survios, nDreams, Resolution Games, Limbic Entertainment, Phosphor Games, Snowcastle Games, Cloudhead Games and Vertigo Games. AppliedVR is listed as an emerging player. High Voltage Software is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Howling Moon Software have an API?
No public API is recorded for Howling Moon Software.
What industry is Howling Moon Software in?
Howling Moon Software's product category is Game Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAH, Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise), with a secondary code of MPAFAHAJ, Cloud Gaming Integration & Porting Services (Cloud builds, compatibility, QA). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7371.