Todd Hoffman is giving away "thousands of dollars" worth of gold according to a "Planet Gold Rush" press release. Photo: Courtesy of Truly Social Games

Todd Hoffman, the Sandy, Oregon-based star of the Discovery Channel hit show, "Gold Rush," tends to make a big splash. Whether vowing to lead his crew to the biggest gold score ever, or dramatically announcing his departure from "Gold Rush," Hoffman tends to draw strong reactions from fans who love him, hate him, or love to hate him.

Now, a press release announces that Hoffman will give away "thousands of dollars of his own gold" to players of daily tournaments in the mobile game, "Planet Gold Rush."

The free-to-play mobile game comes via Truly Social Games, a company whose website says they have offices in Portland and a development studio in Minsk, Belarus.

How did "Planet Gold Rush" come about? According to the Truly Social Games website, co-founder Cooper DeBois was inspired by a "summer spent hunting for gold in centuries-old Mexican haciendas."

When he returned to Portland, the site says, he teamed up with Patrick Tougas, and "Truly Social Games was born, with their first title, Planet Gold Rush, a mobile gold mining game, to follow shortly after in September 2017."

.

Don't Edit

Todd Hoffman, when he was still on "Gold Rush." Photo: Discovery

Hoffman has his own "Gold Rush" connection, obviously, since he appeared on the Discovery Channel show since it premiered in 2010.

Each season, Hoffman and other gold miners would lead crews, competing to see which team would mine the most gold.

Over the years, "Gold Rush" became a top-rated show for Discovery, as viewers tuned in to cheer on -- or boo -- crew leaders, including Hoffman, Parker Schnabel and Tony Beets.

Don't Edit

Photo: Courtesy Truly Social Games

Hoffman became a central figure on "Gold Rush," with some viewers rooting for Hoffman and his Oregon crew as Everyman underdogs.

Others tuned in to see Hoffman make grand predictions at the start of every season, optimistic goals that didn't always match up with what Hoffman and his crew delivered.

Don't Edit

I've teamed up with @PlanetGoldRush and I want to personally invite the first 10,000 of my U.S. fans to play my new Challenge 'Win Todd Hoffman's Gold!' and compete to win MY GOLD before anyone else! #sponsored https://t.co/d5bfn9PuqL pic.twitter.com/D3xs89JVIY — Hoffman’s (@goldrushtodd) June 25, 2018

Hoffman's central role in the "Gold Rush" series was underscored when he made the dramatic announcement in February 2018 that Season 8 would be his last on the show. It was a development that the Discovery Channel declared would change "Gold Rush" forever.

In a March episode, Hoffman, his father, Jack, son, Hunter, and others looked back at the eight years of hills and valleys the crew went through on "Gold Rush."

Hoffman shared that he had a new dream he wanted to chase, including his television production company, ZUM Media, and his interest in singing.

"I'm actually starting to get some serious offers," Hoffman said on the show. "Laugh if you want."

Don't Edit

Todd Hoffman in mobile game form in "Planet Gold Rush." Photo: Courtesy Truly Social Games

In the press release announcing his team-up with Truly Social Games and the "Planet Gold Rush" promotion, Hoffman is quoted as saying, "I'm giving away my gold that I dug out of the ground as prizes every week," adding, "It's a way to reach out, get some gold into people's hands and meet the fans."

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Art from the "Planet Gold Rush" game, featuring a rendering of Todd Hoffman. Photo: Courtesy of Truly Social Games

According to the release, Truly Social Games will be giving away two ounces of Hoffman's gold every week for a limited time, beginning July 9.

What's gold worth these days? The release says the approximate current market value of two ounces of gold is $2,551.

Players can compete in a daily tournament for the chance to win one eighth of an ounce of gold, with two chances to win on Sundays. Players can enter the daily tournament as often as they want to. The player with the highest score at the end of each day will win gold. At the end of the each week, the best overall player will win an ounce of gold.

Don't Edit

Todd Hoffman and his son, Hunter, in "Gold Rush." Photo: Edward Gorsuch/Discovery

Cooper DuBois, founder and CEO of Truly Social Games, says in the press release, "We partnered with Todd because he is probably the most famous gold miner on the planet."

Don't Edit

Todd Hoffman. Photo: Courtesy of Truly Social Games

The "Planet Gold Rush" game can be downloaded on iTunes and the Google App store. In the game, players "spend time driving, surveying, excavating, panning, loading and camp-building to produce and collect refined gold bars."

Don't Edit

Todd Hoffman in "Gold Rush." Photo: Discovery Channel

Todd Hoffman may be gone, but "Gold Rush" is carrying on. The show will return for Season 9, with Schnabel and Beets. Rick Ness, previously a member of Schnabel's crew, will become a new mine boss, filling the cast spot left vacant by Hoffman.

Don't Edit

Related: Oregon's Todd Hoffman leaves 'Gold Rush' to pursue a singing career, and TV production

Here's our report on Hoffman's March 2018 appearance on a special "Gold Rush" episode titled, "American Dreamer," in which Hoffman and others reflected on his time on the show, complete with high spots and disappointments (the season in Guyana, South America, which Hoffman called his biggest mistake).



Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit