New Project - A Fiery Pinball

Photics · August 2011

I started working on a new app. It's called "A Fiery Pinball". It's supposed to be a 2D virtual pinball game, with cool particle effects, explosions and perhaps some other cool features not normally associated with virtual pinball.

I started a developer log here...

What's interesting about this project is that the feedback is already pretty negative. Without even seeing the game in action — some seem to think that this is a waste of time. Even I admit that this could be a waste of time, as being successful on the App Store is quite challenging, but I haven't found a pinball game that I like for Mac or iOS — so I'm building my own. Even if no one else buys this game, the project is still successful if I enjoy and play the game... and isn't that what the world expects from independent developers? This project is not about greed. It's about passion. I like virtual pinball games and I'm setting out to make a fun pinball game.

But yeah, I'm still setting out to build a game that others might enjoy too. Do other people like virtual pinball games, or is this project pretty much a waste of time?

HoneyTribeStudios · August 2011

Pinball Dreams (an old amiga game) was released for iOS recently. You might wanna check how that went. Didn't Roy aka P-O-M do a pinball game recently too?

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"Honey Tribe is not only a remarkably endearing little game, but it's also incredibly addictive."
"...a touch above the rest in the endless running genre"
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Photics · August 2011

HoneyTribeStudios said:
Pinball Dreams (an old amiga game) was released for iOS recently.

Recently? That game looks like it was released over two years ago...

Oh... you mean the HD version...

Neither are 99¢ apps. According to App Shopper... aside from being free for one day, the regular version was never less than $3.99. It looks like a good game, and "A Fiery Pinball" is in the same genre, but I think that still leaves room for competition.

The performance doesn't look that great...

As for the HD version, that one doesn't seem much better either...

I think the $4.99 price is limiting the app, but the gross sales look better...

A Fiery Pinball should be somewhere in-between the quality of the original iOS version of Pinball Dreams and the new HD version. If A Fiery Pinball finds about the same success as these two apps, then it's probably a success. I put far more development time into .

HoneyTribeStudios · August 2011

Yeah, a few small games might make sense after working on the same one for a while.

I have a few ideas for our next games. But I've ben spending too much time going round in thought circles. So I'm gonna do a simple but fun quick game first. And then think about bigger projects.

I'm thinking it might also be a good idea to wait for arrays before starting anything complicated in GS.

And at the same time convert Honey Tribe to ipad and add some more features.

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"Honey Tribe is not only a remarkably endearing little game, but it's also incredibly addictive."
"...a touch above the rest in the endless running genre"
Say hi on
Like us on
www.HoneyTribeStudios.com

TheGamer · August 2011

How can feedback be negative already? There isn't even a screenshot out there to judge (unless I've missed it), people are funny lol.

I would say go for it, but it is a niche which already has some good offerings, so make sure yours can compete.

Photics · August 2011

TheGamer said:
How can feedback be negative already? There isn't even a screenshot out there to judge (unless I've missed it), people are funny lol.

I haven't released a screenshot yet. I'm not planning to be as secretive as BOT, but I'm not ready to show off anything yet. Presentation is important.

The issue was purely with simply the idea of making a pinball game. There is a common theme lately, that I should be making more girly games. I have considered a spinoff to this game... or perhaps adding another table... to make the game more enjoyable for the ladies.

Fortunately, the feedback has been pretty good on the Touch Arcade forum...

There was only one negative vote and it was later recanted in the thread. Apparently, this could be a popular game, but I'd have to work on it really hard.

TheMenOfHonor · August 2011

I personally enjoy pinball games. They have to be VERY flashy though, as that is the main draw for me with a pinball game. "oooh look at the ball! Ooooh lights! Sounds! Cooool!" That is what goes through my head when I play a good pinball game.

Also, I would try to get creative. Do multiple unique things that have never been done before.

One thing though. My recent game is very flashy, but people are complaining that it becomes a distraction because of all of the explosions that go on when you get a bunch of bricks at once.
Be sure not to make the same mistake I made and make it TOO flashy and exiting :P
It distracts people because they think "ZOMG look at that explosion!!!.. oh... I just lost a heart...

"

Here is a trailer of my too flashy game, so as long yours is less flashy than this, you should be good:

TheGamer · August 2011

Hmm, what exactly is a girly pinball game? More pink? I don't think girls in general are into pinball games much. Maybe if you threw a lot puppies and cats on a pink background, and the more score they have, the puppies will interact more with them lol. (through sound and visual fx)

tenrdrmer · August 2011

Oh pinball sounds cool. Dont forget to use that fancy expression Rthurman posted for change the pivot points. That will be cool. Good Luck

svn · August 2011

Hmmm.. why don't you try theming your pinball game off of BOT? Lots of cool pinball games are themed.

svn · August 2011

Hmmm.. why don't you try theming your pinball game off of BOT? Lots of cool pinball games are themed.

Photics · August 2011

TheGamer said:
Hmm, what exactly is a girly pinball game? More pink? I don't think girls in general are into pinball games much. Maybe if you threw a lot puppies and cats on a pink background, and the more score they have, the puppies will interact more with them lol. (through sound and visual fx)

Maybe it's a stereotype, but I think girls generally like softer colors. This game is dark blue, with a fiery pinball. I don't know if that's going to appeal to girls. I'm thinking of a spinoff of this app, or expansion of this app, where there are flowers, fruits, sparkles and generally cute things... and it would probably be pink and pastel looking.

I'm saving the puppies and/or kittens for my platformer. Heh, but I'm not sure if I'll ever get around to building it.

tenrdrmer said:
Oh pinball sounds cool. Dont forget to use that fancy expression Rthurman posted for change the pivot points. That will be cool. Good Luck

I did rethink my design when I saw the thread...
...but my table is already designed around the center rotation issue.

svn said:
Hmmm.. why don't you try theming your pinball game off of BOT? Lots of cool pinball games are themed.

I thought about that and I still might do it. (The thumbnail on this page... ...is from BOT.) With Project: Salvage, BOT and maybe A Fiery Pinball, I could build up a franchise, like MagoNicolas does with ePig. But, I like that there's space on the table for flashing lights and arrows. If this app is successful, I could add more tables and a BOT themed table makes sense. I don't know, it depends how today goes. I'm still trying to make the table look pretty. I'm not set on the design yet.

Photics · August 2011

Here's an update on this project... it's been put on-hold indefinitely. I just wasn't feeling enthusiasm with this project. I liked the idea and the way the game played, but I wasn't impressed with the look. Plus... there are some really good pinball games on the app store already.

So, I started a different — but somewhat similar — project. I'm not ready to announce what that is just yet, but I think it's a higher quality project and has a better chance at success.

Incendio · September 2011

tenrdrmer said:
Oh pinball sounds cool. Dont forget to use that fancy expression Rthurman posted for change the pivot points. That will be cool. Good Luck

tenrdrmer,

Any idea where this post lives? I've been looking for it, as I am curious to learn from it.

Thanks,

Incendio

Photics · September 2011

Incendio said:
Any idea where this post lives?

Update on this project: I have an awesome looking side-scrolling city scene, which I think looks great, but I'm not sure what they fiery orb is supposed to do. Ha ha... it's fire... nothing can kill it. I know I learned that iOS games should be easy... but that's too easy. HA HA!

I'm busy working on other projects right now. Maybe I'll come back to this later.

New Project - A Fiery Pinball

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