Toddler Mode. An Idea to pass on to everyone.

CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
I was telling TSB about a idea I had. Since he though it was a good idea. I thought Id pass it on. Lets Talk "Parents". I own a Ipad and my 2 yr old son can use it 10x better than my wife, and she knows how to use it. He opens, finds, starts, and resets any game he wants to play. I noticed him playing " Red Balls of Goo" by utopian games. HE LOVES IT. Problem is he isnt good enough to understand the physics and cant control the ball very well. So he dies every 5-10 secs. Luckily.. hitting the reset button and starting it all over again doesnt bother him. But Im sure it would other kids. So those kids would be bugging mom and dad every 30 secs to reset the game. Then it hit me. Toddler Mode. They cant die. Toddlers do not care about the strategy of the game. They do not care about getting a better score than before. They simpley like making the hero actor of the game, move here and there. Jump here and there. Hear the sound of the missle being launched..etc etc ..etc. So my idea, that Im throwing your way is this. Add a completely seperate option in the game. Easy,Intermediate,Hard, Murder,....and Toddler. Even have a lil link explaining why you added this. Id even mention it in the itunes description in BOLD LETTERS. PARENTs PLEASE READ.

So what ya think? Im sure someone has added this in a game somewhere. But I have yet to come across the many games that I have on my devices " free and paid" that has one.

Maybe GS games devs can be the first to start a trend... Angry Birds might use.

Comments

  • BSideGamesBSideGames Member Posts: 392
    I work in a daycare(I'm the Chef, not a teacher)and I see over half of the kids come in with their parents iphone/ipads playing a game.

    When I noticed this I started having them "test" my game(The Flinglings) and you are right the only thing they want to do is make the monster move and change into a different monster... The real goal is find and get to mama.

    So I think you are on to something
  • DrGlickertDrGlickert Member Posts: 1,135
    Very interesting concept. Great idea as well!

    Seems like it would very much depend on which game to add a 'toddler' mode to. And, it would very much depend on the user. If the user is a 30 y/o guy without kids, then toddler mode is a worthless feature. But if he's a 30 y/o guy with 2 toddlers then a toddler feature is an incredible feature.

    However, I like you're idea. Great concept and incredible "thinking outside the box," but until you get "user data" to really include that feature, it seems like an unnecessary addition to games.

    Now, if Apple found some way to collect user data (like Facebook does) and you could target users with toddlers then this would be a fantastic use of time (creating attributes for toddler mode, creating images and icons to set 'toddler mode', etc).

    I'm not saying it's a bad idea, it's one of those things that a game should be released and then after some time on the market (when parents realize their toddlers enjoy playing it) the feature is added to it.

    OR, it could be one of those shameless in-app purchases to add to the game. Like, for ANOTHER $0.99 you can add toddler mode... :-) A parent might be willing to pay a buck to have their toddler push a screen for an hour to two. ;-)
  • osucowboy18osucowboy18 Member Posts: 1,307
    Wow Jeff, I never thought of that :). You very well could be onto something. Do you have any plans on incorporating that feature on any of your apps?
  • ScootsScoots Member Posts: 507
    My whole app is in toddler mode. 4 Kids Phone has 20 different activities all hidden behind a real iphone looking home screen. The mini games never end. I was frustrated having to start games over for my kids. I posted 10 promos yesterday only a few have been cashed in.

    http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=20394#post-154662
  • osucowboy18osucowboy18 Member Posts: 1,307
    Scoots said:
    My whole app is in toddler mode. 4 Kids Phone has 20 different activities all hidden behind a real iphone looking home screen. The mini games never end. I was frustrated having to start games over for my kids. I posted 10 promos yesterday only a few have been cashed in.

    http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=20394#post-154662

    Just out of curiosity Scoots, how have sales been going? Since your games are in "Toddler Mode" have parents been willing to pay for them to give their child something to do for a few hours?

    - Alex
  • ScootsScoots Member Posts: 507
    Sales are ok but not great, started out pretty good with 50/60 a day first few weeks but now has slowed to 10/15 a day. As with all of our games it's getting the needed exposure.
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    Yes Im creating a very in depth Missle Command style game. That even a 30yr old with or without kids would play. If the 30 yr old didnt have kids. And his lil nephew came over. He would remember that game had a toddler mode. And BAM another electronical babysitter. I dont think a game will lose any interest if it had a toddler mode with it. I think if you just added at the end of your itunes description that It also comes with a toddler mode. People might think "hmm not a bad thing to have"You could call it Relax mode. But the person would read up on what relax mode was for. Just as much they would read up on what Toddler mode was for. Alot of us are depending on Trailers to sell and grow interest in our apps. If you mentioned. " And Parents we have even added a Toddler mode." The game never ends the player never dies... just keeps your toddlers glued to the action" type advertisement. And that might actually be the straw that breaks alot of parents backs to say... hmmmm Thats Nice [BUY]

    Dont get me wrong. Its not for every game. But if you could see your game catching the eyes of a toddler. The music, the sound effects the animation making them want to touch the ipad. Then without it you will sell what you sell. With it...... you might pick up a few more sales from people who are parents.

    Oh and yes my Missle Command style game will have a toddler mode where the citys dont explode. The toddler just sets there and touched the screen shooting missles into the air making explosions.
  • ScootsScoots Member Posts: 507
    I think that's a great idea Jeffnichols, it can't hurt and will only help if the player has kids around.
  • JoeboatJoeboat Member Posts: 1
    I love this Idea. Pure genius. the only thing that is questionable, is
    1- Can you make toddler mode more for EVERYONE? Like "playground mode"? that way you can't die, and you just mess around. although the "toddler" name attracts the idea.

    2- Is there another name besides TODDLER mode? Like playground mode? or something. I am using this idea btw! thanks! I love it. I always love playground modes. to just mess around and stuff.
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    I call it Toddler mode. Because anyone older than a toddler...... wont need toddler mode, most likely. And it was my 2yr old son that gave the me idea.
  • BlazingApplicationsBlazingApplications Member Posts: 340
    Great idea, I will be sure to make an update ASAP
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    I hope it helps out everyones sales.
  • apps4everyoneapps4everyone Member Posts: 103
    Nice one - simple ideas are often the best. Thanks for sharing Jeff.

    If only you could get a penny for every game sold with toddler mode . . .
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    I see us all as a big team really. Not as competitors. Id love to see a GS game do just as good as Angry Birds. If my idea can help people put food on the table. Then so be it. Im new to game salad. Im working on a simple ABC, 123,Shapes and COLORs app. Simple coding that wasnt simple at all until someone from the forums was nice enough to skype with me and help me " hands on" a template for it. And another help me figure out my GS viewer prob. I learned alot in that time. I hope my ideas will help other to help me in the future.
  • ozboybrianozboybrian PRO Posts: 2,102
    It's a Great idea! Def think it will work and I def think it's something to brag about for whoever incorporates it in to their game.
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  • apps4everyoneapps4everyone Member Posts: 103
    Jeffnichols said:
    I see us all as a big team really. Not as competitors.

    Absolutely - me too.

    What's great about the GS community is I think a lot of other people do as well. Definitely one of the most helpful and friendly on the net.
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    If anyone does add a Toddler Mode to their Upcoming future apps. If you can please send me a code to me email. That is if your doing codes. Id love to see what people doing with the idea.
  • simo103simo103 Member, PRO Posts: 1,331
    great idea Jeff ... my family and friends are always handing over our iphones/ipod touches to our kids or friends kids that visit so even though they are not toddlers anymore having a dual mode is a great idea to consider.
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    I saw a story about a school that passed ipads around to preschoolers as daily teaching tablets. I remember when parents needs us to set the timer on a VCR. What will out great great grandchildren be doing at the age of 4? My son is operating a 50' flatscreen 3d tv remote. And the ROKU box User interface.
  • CaptFinnCaptFinn Member Posts: 1,828
    Bumping. Just to keep the idea alive and fresh. Plus for people who havent logged in, in a few days.
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