@HoneyTribeStudios and @Braydon_SFX ... The majority of the code is done, just waiting on the last of the graphics. I need to see the graphics in place before doing the last of the coding as it'll be easier with the look and feel to see how i want things to be coded etc. Thanks for the support though
@ozboybrian haha, hard to tell in text at times. Its a sci-fi game with 'star' in the title, which isn't uncommon so when you said original name, i thought you were being sarcastic. No worries either way, i want it to be obvious its a sci-fi game.
I guess when I think about it more, it sounds pretty standard (in as, the kind of name one would expect for this game) Though in saying that, it works! Still an original name and I think it will cause a draw for sci-fi fans
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Well you could give me the game, if it doesn't make many sales, you don't have to feel let down then because i'd be getting the profit. And if it's a big hit, you can at least say "Hey, I made that game "
Just a very quick update here with another little taster screenshot;
Things are slowly getting there. I have a more complete to do list now;
Main Splash - Currently working on this, should have this finished by the end of the day.
Menu with level lock/unlock - Most background work has been completed. Need the art finished and then tweak it all too work as expected.
Level Linking - Majority of this is complete, will await to finish the menu and then complete this.
Score Completions with simulation complete - Have this sorted on 1 of the mechanics, need to add this to the rest. Easy job which should be completed by the end of today.
Sounds in story - Complete ... Just going to add a few more bits of narration first.
App Description - Mainly completed.
Screenshots - Still to do.
Icon - Still to do.
Test, Test & Test - A few bugs were identified yesterday and fixed last night. Always an on-going testing phase.
Haha yeh gotta be honest Brian, I'm going to feel a little bit bad after i knock Joe down a few pegs. lol.
Wait ...
..... WAIT ...
OK i've stopped dreaming now. To be honest, i'll just be happy if it does moderately well and is received well.
Time + Effort doesn't always = Results, i bet you could find plenty of great games that took time and effort that have bombed on the appstore. Look at Running Wild by Darren, that failed spectacularly, yet is a stunning little game!
I can see where @beefy_clyro is coming from with that viewpoint. I pretty much agree too.
But as realistic as we may try and force ourselves to be, I think most of us here are dreamers and imagine their newest game going global top 100 every time...
I am well aware of the realities of the app world. But secretly I still think my next game is gonna BOOM!
Yes that's true, but Running Wild is a Platformer and it's hard to get people to wanna play those types of hames on hand helps imo. Games like Angry Birds and TLC step out of the box in terms of play style. Great Timer killers. Pick up, play for literally 10-20 seconds. Put it down, play again whenever. I think they really stepped out of the box and suit the current gen of devices for what people need and I think that's why they are so successful.
I know someone on the forums who has in insanely awesome idea and he's been putting it together the last couple weeks and I think it would rival games like Angry Birds. Can't say who or what yet for obvious reasons but it's going to be a blast!!!
In saying that though, platformers could still be a massive success. But time and effort is crucial. Unless you're pot lucky like the makers of Doodle Jump
@HoneyTribeStudios absolutely mate! of course we all dream of hitting the big time, after all, it would allow me to drop out of full time work and concentrate all my time on this! Thats the ultimate goal for me, to be able to do this full time! Realistically 99% of apps and games released don't make the top lists so its by the law of averages that this won't make them either, however, if it does, then i'll be ecstatic, shocked and totally stoked!
@ozboybrian if i get good results, i'll happily eat many a humble pie whilst you shout from the top of your lungs ... i told you so Running Wild was just an example as its close to home so to speak, I'm sure i could go through the appstore now and find lots of amazing games that if you looked at their ranking never made any top lists! I agree platformers have struggled on iOS, mainly due to controls but their are the odd ones that pop up, Lep's world or Lep's jump springs to mind as its currently in the top charts! Having said that, maybe stupidly, I'm currently working on 2 platformers also! Ha. Desperate for joints though to help propel them to the next level!
So what can we do as an indie dev? I've released a variety of games now with an array of themes, i haven't found any to be taken very well yet. Admittedly a lot of that comes down to my programming, some down to art etc, if i compare my releases to the top games out there, i have a way to go. With that being said, i try a different direction each time, each game gets better and with each new game comes renewed hope. Ultimately, as long as i make a game I enjoy, then hopefully others will also!
Looking forward to this secret announcement you've mentioned, if its that good, tell him/her to hurry as i wanna be playing that
You're on the right track mate. I will be screaming! (why wasn't it me!! hahaha) Totally right though. I myself said advertising is crucial. But FMG did bugger all advertising and look at them now! O_O
With each strong game you make, success or fail it reflects on your entire brand. Then cross promotion comes in. If i'm not making decent money by my 10th published game I will be PO'd!
Keep to that path mate you're doing well! And yes compare to the best, because it's the best we must be
I personally think advertising is only really crucial if you have a big budget! Obviously though, its a good idea to hit all the free avenues and get the name out there as much as possible.
Building the brand is the ultimate goal, would be nice to have a recognised presence on the appstore! Cross promotion is a good idea, especially if the games are similar-ish and compliment each other.
Thanks for your words and thoughts, much appreciated
Splash Menu - All done bar 2 images to be swapped out from placeholders to the final ones used.
Main Menu - All layout and behaviour of menus all done. There will be 5 menu screens to this part in the 1 scene. All actors are where i want them to be and behaving how i want them too. Just waiting on art to swap out for placeholders. Then need to add the level locking/unlocking in, all the continuing on etc is in place, just i don't want all the core game modes unlocked from the start, should be a simple implementation but have left it open for ease of testing.
Options - This will only be a simple screen. Sound on/off, music on/off, Facebook and twitter link, more games maybe. Should complete by weekend.
Sound in story - Narration was sent through tonight and added into story section 2 and 3
Achievements - This is 1 of the 5 menu screens from above. I have decided on 10 in total and these on their menu are in place and appearing as i want. I still need to do the locking/unlocking and have them added in at the relevant points throughout the game.
So all the parts for the actual game itself are now nearly done
The remainder of the art should be with me by the end of the weekend. During the time between now an then i should have all the locking/unlocking in place, actually hoping to finish that by tomorrow. Achievements will take a bit longer, not anticipating this to be massive, got a bust few days coming so will hopefully get this done over the weekend.
Then re-test everything with everything 'complete'.
Just the promotional content after that left to do, with the screenshots, icon and new video!
My pro subscription has just ran out and I need it for publishing this. Unfortunately i can't afford the renewal this month so will need to wait to beginning of next! That'll give me time to do a bit of promotional work and test the game some more, if i complete it over this weekend that is! The good news is, its not far off! I can see the light and feel a huuuuge weight lifting, this has been going for a good year and a half, maybe more on and off. This thread was started in September and i've concentrated my most game making time on this game since then so its definitely had a lot of my man hours on it ... Just hope the love shows!
Got a new screenshot for show today ... Its the 1st part of the games main splash.
So where am i now?
Splash Menu - All done bar 2 images to be swapped out from placeholders to the final ones used.
Main Menu - Everything as i want it, just waiting to swap out the placeholder art!
Options - Finished this today, took a bit longer than i expected, not really sure why though! ha
Achievements - All attributes are now in place and all the unlocking/completion of these have been inserted in the correct place in the game. Now just need to add an alert showing you during gameplay and just finish the rules off to show/hide completion on the Achievements page.
Update time ... I bought myself a new Macbook Air and decided that tonight i wanted to retest my game on a 3GS and that meant updating to the new viewer. In order to do this i had to download and install Xcode and revoke all my licenses and start again from generating on this new machine. Surprisingly .. All went swimmingly, no hiccups whatsoever ... Maybe this Xcode thing isn't that scary after all. lol.
Anyway, got the viewer all installed on my old 3GS and runs well enough, shame the LUA drop isn't happening like tomorrow ... Would probably mean that Star Serum would run on a 3GS like it does on a 4GS with virtually no load times! Still its very acceptable still i think. Once i had the viewer on the 3GS i tested out a few of my games I'm currently working on and damn, that screen is bad! When i 1st looked at the 4's screens as a 3GS user i didn't see much upgrade, now having used one as my permanent phone, going back to the 3GS is some what painful.
Anyway, I'm waffling ....
So once you get past the whole main splash from above you enter the main menu and this is what the 1st part looks like. As you can see, it has 5 parts;
All on 1 scene ...
Story - This will take you to a new area which shows the 3 different story sections. They will be locked until they are actually shown at their correct locations within the game. This will give the user a chance to go back if they've forgot or skipped through the story but have then wondered what it said etc.
Training - This takes you to an area which then has your 4 different modules you must complete.
Battle - This is the final battle but will only be allowed to play once you've completed all of the 4 training sections.
Unlocks - These are the 3 gamecenter highscore games(lightsword, SpaceShip and Final Battle), after they've been completed from the relevant sections.
Awards - Takes you to the achievement screen where there will be 10 achievements to complete.
So back to testing ...
Earphones - Wow! What a difference they make to the gaming experience! I never play with earphones genuinely when gaming but i do have some pretty epic music within Star Serum so i whacked out my earphones for a taster ... The result was brilliant, it made me so much more submerged into the game!
Star Serum will come recommended for headphone use but is by no means essential to its gameplay.
As for progress, not much made really, here we go;
Splash Menu - 2 placeholders now swapped out so now complete!
Main Menu - More placeholders replaced, should have the rest replaced over the next couple of days.
Achievements As above, just need to mark it in the game for the player with a visual aid to tell them they've completed an achievement. The completion rules are there, just need to add in the image and make it show when needed so not a lot to do on that really.
I anticipated an end of month finish and I'm delighted to be finishing around that goal
Glad to see it coming along. Looks like you're nearly finished? Will be glad to play it!
Where do you get all those shiny promo product images from? The only ones I saw in the Apple developer bit are those 2D ones.
@HoneyTribeStudios ... Definitely nearly finished. If i get the last of the art before the weekend, i'll have it wrapped up by the end of the weekend I've also pm'd you
@beefy_clyro - I bet that feels like a relief to be so close to the finishing line. Keep poking that artist with sticks until they send over the graphics
@beefy Sorry for being selfish but .... Its been too long now and i don't think i can wait much longer , can you please finish this already so i can play it !!!
Comments
Unless there should be? :P
I guess when I think about it more, it sounds pretty standard (in as, the kind of name one would expect for this game)
Though in saying that, it works! Still an original name and I think it will cause a draw for sci-fi fans
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And if it's a big hit, you can at least say "Hey, I made that game
:P :P :P
Gotta say i can't wait to get back to this, i see it everyday and feel like I'm neglecting it! ha
Just a very quick update here with another little taster screenshot;
Things are slowly getting there. I have a more complete to do list now;
Main Splash - Currently working on this, should have this finished by the end of the day.
Menu with level lock/unlock - Most background work has been completed. Need the art finished and then tweak it all too work as expected.
Level Linking - Majority of this is complete, will await to finish the menu and then complete this.
Score Completions with simulation complete - Have this sorted on 1 of the mechanics, need to add this to the rest. Easy job which should be completed by the end of today.
Sounds in story - Complete ... Just going to add a few more bits of narration first.
App Description - Mainly completed.
Screenshots - Still to do.
Icon - Still to do.
Test, Test & Test - A few bugs were identified yesterday and fixed last night. Always an on-going testing phase.
Cheers
Roy.
---
Gravity Bounce Is On the app store!
Support us and like Gravity Bounce on Facebook!
FMG has proven that 100%
Can't wait to see you on top of the app store beefy
Wait ...
..... WAIT ...
OK i've stopped dreaming now. To be honest, i'll just be happy if it does moderately well and is received well.
Time + Effort doesn't always = Results, i bet you could find plenty of great games that took time and effort that have bombed on the appstore. Look at Running Wild by Darren, that failed spectacularly, yet is a stunning little game!
But as realistic as we may try and force ourselves to be, I think most of us here are dreamers and imagine their newest game going global top 100 every time...
I am well aware of the realities of the app world. But secretly I still think my next game is gonna BOOM!
Yes that's true, but Running Wild is a Platformer and it's hard to get people to wanna play those types of hames on hand helps imo.
Games like Angry Birds and TLC step out of the box in terms of play style. Great Timer killers. Pick up, play for literally 10-20 seconds. Put it down, play again whenever. I think they really stepped out of the box and suit the current gen of devices for what people need and I think that's why they are so successful.
I know someone on the forums who has in insanely awesome idea and he's been putting it together the last couple weeks and I think it would rival games like Angry Birds.
Can't say who or what yet for obvious reasons but it's going to be a blast!!!
In saying that though, platformers could still be a massive success. But time and effort is crucial. Unless you're pot lucky like the makers of Doodle Jump
@ozboybrian if i get good results, i'll happily eat many a humble pie whilst you shout from the top of your lungs ... i told you so
Running Wild was just an example as its close to home so to speak, I'm sure i could go through the appstore now and find lots of amazing games that if you looked at their ranking never made any top lists!
I agree platformers have struggled on iOS, mainly due to controls but their are the odd ones that pop up, Lep's world or Lep's jump springs to mind as its currently in the top charts! Having said that, maybe stupidly, I'm currently working on 2 platformers also! Ha. Desperate for joints though to help propel them to the next level!
So what can we do as an indie dev? I've released a variety of games now with an array of themes, i haven't found any to be taken very well yet. Admittedly a lot of that comes down to my programming, some down to art etc, if i compare my releases to the top games out there, i have a way to go. With that being said, i try a different direction each time, each game gets better and with each new game comes renewed hope. Ultimately, as long as i make a game I enjoy, then hopefully others will also!
Looking forward to this secret announcement you've mentioned, if its that good, tell him/her to hurry as i wanna be playing that
Cheers
Totally right though. I myself said advertising is crucial. But FMG did bugger all advertising and look at them now! O_O
With each strong game you make, success or fail it reflects on your entire brand.
Then cross promotion comes in. If i'm not making decent money by my 10th published game I will be PO'd!
Keep to that path mate you're doing well! And yes compare to the best, because it's the best we must be
Building the brand is the ultimate goal, would be nice to have a recognised presence on the appstore! Cross promotion is a good idea, especially if the games are similar-ish and compliment each other.
Thanks for your words and thoughts, much appreciated
Just a quick update on what i've now managed to get done and still outstanding from the list above;
Main Splash - This is mainly finished now
Menu with level lock/unlock - Most background work has been completed. Need the art finished and then tweak it all too work as expected.
Level Linking - This is now complete.
Score Completions with simulation complete - Had a few more problems with this than expected but all completed now.
Sounds in story - Currently waiting for the sounds to be added, this will be a small job.
App Description - This is now complete as well thanks to our very own Sheepy
Screenshots - Still to do.
Icon - Still to do.
On top of that i have also done the Game Complete screen as well.
Sooo .... Left to do in a new list with a few more things i've thought of;
Menu with lock/unlocks
Options Menu
Sounds in story
Achievements
Screenshots
Icon
New Video
Still on course for the end of the month finish
Lots done on this today.
Splash Menu - All done bar 2 images to be swapped out from placeholders to the final ones used.
Main Menu - All layout and behaviour of menus all done. There will be 5 menu screens to this part in the 1 scene. All actors are where i want them to be and behaving how i want them too. Just waiting on art to swap out for placeholders. Then need to add the level locking/unlocking in, all the continuing on etc is in place, just i don't want all the core game modes unlocked from the start, should be a simple implementation but have left it open for ease of testing.
Options - This will only be a simple screen. Sound on/off, music on/off, Facebook and twitter link, more games maybe. Should complete by weekend.
Sound in story - Narration was sent through tonight and added into story section 2 and 3
Achievements - This is 1 of the 5 menu screens from above. I have decided on 10 in total and these on their menu are in place and appearing as i want. I still need to do the locking/unlocking and have them added in at the relevant points throughout the game.
So all the parts for the actual game itself are now nearly done
The remainder of the art should be with me by the end of the weekend. During the time between now an then i should have all the locking/unlocking in place, actually hoping to finish that by tomorrow. Achievements will take a bit longer, not anticipating this to be massive, got a bust few days coming so will hopefully get this done over the weekend.
Then re-test everything with everything 'complete'.
Just the promotional content after that left to do, with the screenshots, icon and new video!
My pro subscription has just ran out and I need it for publishing this. Unfortunately i can't afford the renewal this month so will need to wait to beginning of next! That'll give me time to do a bit of promotional work and test the game some more, if i complete it over this weekend that is! The good news is, its not far off! I can see the light and feel a huuuuge weight lifting, this has been going for a good year and a half, maybe more on and off. This thread was started in September and i've concentrated my most game making time on this game since then so its definitely had a lot of my man hours on it ... Just hope the love shows!
Got a new screenshot for show today ... Its the 1st part of the games main splash.
So where am i now?
Splash Menu - All done bar 2 images to be swapped out from placeholders to the final ones used.
Main Menu - Everything as i want it, just waiting to swap out the placeholder art!
Options - Finished this today, took a bit longer than i expected, not really sure why though! ha
Achievements - All attributes are now in place and all the unlocking/completion of these have been inserted in the correct place in the game. Now just need to add an alert showing you during gameplay and just finish the rules off to show/hide completion on the Achievements page.
Thats it for now
Cheers
Update time ... I bought myself a new Macbook Air and decided that tonight i wanted to retest my game on a 3GS and that meant updating to the new viewer. In order to do this i had to download and install Xcode and revoke all my licenses and start again from generating on this new machine. Surprisingly .. All went swimmingly, no hiccups whatsoever ... Maybe this Xcode thing isn't that scary after all. lol.
Anyway, got the viewer all installed on my old 3GS and runs well enough, shame the LUA drop isn't happening like tomorrow ... Would probably mean that Star Serum would run on a 3GS like it does on a 4GS with virtually no load times! Still its very acceptable still i think.
Once i had the viewer on the 3GS i tested out a few of my games I'm currently working on and damn, that screen is bad! When i 1st looked at the 4's screens as a 3GS user i didn't see much upgrade, now having used one as my permanent phone, going back to the 3GS is some what painful.
Anyway, I'm waffling ....
So once you get past the whole main splash from above you enter the main menu and this is what the 1st part looks like. As you can see, it has 5 parts;
All on 1 scene ...
Story - This will take you to a new area which shows the 3 different story sections. They will be locked until they are actually shown at their correct locations within the game. This will give the user a chance to go back if they've forgot or skipped through the story but have then wondered what it said etc.
Training - This takes you to an area which then has your 4 different modules you must complete.
Battle - This is the final battle but will only be allowed to play once you've completed all of the 4 training sections.
Unlocks - These are the 3 gamecenter highscore games(lightsword, SpaceShip and Final Battle), after they've been completed from the relevant sections.
Awards - Takes you to the achievement screen where there will be 10 achievements to complete.
So back to testing ...
Earphones - Wow! What a difference they make to the gaming experience! I never play with earphones genuinely when gaming but i do have some pretty epic music within Star Serum so i whacked out my earphones for a taster ... The result was brilliant, it made me so much more submerged into the game!
Star Serum will come recommended for headphone use but is by no means essential to its gameplay.
As for progress, not much made really, here we go;
Splash Menu - 2 placeholders now swapped out so now complete!
Main Menu - More placeholders replaced, should have the rest replaced over the next couple of days.
Achievements As above, just need to mark it in the game for the player with a visual aid to tell them they've completed an achievement. The completion rules are there, just need to add in the image and make it show when needed so not a lot to do on that really.
I anticipated an end of month finish and I'm delighted to be finishing around that goal
Where do you get all those shiny promo product images from? The only ones I saw in the Apple developer bit are those 2D ones.
I've also pm'd you
Got your PM and replied, cheers.
Sorry for being selfish but ....
Its been too long now and i don't think i can wait much longer , can you please finish this already so i can play it !!!