Scarlett and the Spark of Life bound for iPhone

What is it with princesses getting kidnapped? Why is it never the queen or king, or even the prince for that matter?

Launching Pad Games has decided to put a playful twist on the idea. Scarlett and the Spark of Life does indeed feature a kidnapped princess, but she's not waiting for her knight in shining armour to save her.

Instead, she's going to escape on her own terms, via an insecure mechanical horse and a crowbar called Chester.

Scarlett puzzles her way through a story-driven adventure, uncovering the secret of the Spark of Life. Exploring a cartoony world, she encounters a variety of strange people and animals.

Tim Knauf of Launching Pad Games explains that he's looking to bring a "fun, engaging story" to the iPhone.

“The iPhone and iPod touch have been crying out for more original adventure games,” he says. “You’ve got this fantastic screen with precise touch control, but you have to design from the ground up to get the best from its compact size.

"That’s exactly what we’ve done with Scarlett and the Spark of Life.”