iDracula publisher Chillingo bringing Circuit Strike.One and Underground to iPhone

It’s very easy for a games developer - or even just a back bedroom hacker - to get his software out onto the App Store, sidestepping the expansive (and expensive) realms of the publisher and distributor. But actually getting that game into your hands is a very different issue.

As the App Store bulges at the seams with hot new software, it seems some developers are filtering back to the publisher to help with promotion and build awareness of their games.

Chillingo has undoubtedly been leading the way in this field, having recently brought us the categorical hits iDracula, Zen Bound and Vector Tanks.

Now it’s struck up a deal with H.Grenade to bring its ultra-chic shmup Circuit Strike.One and Kinleco’s hallucinogenic side scroller, Underground to the iPhone.

Circuit Strike.One creates something of an Asteroids 2.0 meets Geometry Wars style of virtual shooter, which is set inside a computer network. Check it out, but epileptics beware – this looks like a fantastically intensive blaster.

Less has been revealed about Underground. We’ve seen the videos and the screenshots, but they don't give much away - other than the superb, graffiti-based graphical style and undeniable uniqueness of the implied ‘street writing’ gameplay.

From what we can tell, the game takes place on the side of a tube train, and looks hip-hop-tastic.

Despite neither game giving too much away right now, Chillingo’s success as an iPhone publisher has us convinced that Circuit Strike.One and Underground are likely to push the iPhone’s innovation potential quite hard, so we’ll be keeping a decidedly crazy eye on these two games.