FENTON, MI - A new mobile game created by a Michigan company challenges players to travel the state while avoiding potholes, deer, and construction cones.

"Get Up North" is an arcade style mobile game for Android and iPhone created and released by Fenton-based creative consultancy Shiatown Media on July 31. Throughout the game, players follow a unique Michigan storyline while dodging the objects and collecting pop cans for points.

"What started as a game between two friends to distract us from the poor state of the roads turned into a gaming experience I think all Michiganders can relate to," creator Joey Stinson said.

"Get Up North is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The game has downloaded more than 1,000 times since it was launched.

Stinson said the idea for the game developed by chance during a treacherous road trip from Fenton to Pinconning the day after dangerous April ice storms covered most of the state.

"We decided to brave the storm anyway and take back roads from Fenton to Bay City and then to Pinconning," he said. "The roads were so bad that in order to avoid potholes, we were basically driving into the left side of the lane.

"At first it was kind of annoying but then we kept making jokes about it and we turned avoiding potholes into this game of how many could we avoid without hitting one. That triggered the idea of what became Get Up North."

Anyone interested in more information can visit GetUpNorthApp.com to view how to play the game, download links and a place to buy a Get Up North t-shirt.