You know whats annoying? - Seeing someone succeed with the same idea...

StormyStudio

I thought I'd share a little tale of grrrrr.... and wave my pointy stick at the sky...

When I first started learning Gamesalad on my patenity leave back in January 2010 I created my first ever ios app 'Contented Baby Sleep'. An app with about 10 sound effects plus a relaxing pulsating interactive screen to send babies off to sleep (plus scrollable page of info with tips on aiding a contented nights sleep). It featured a wave crashing sound and other white noise sound effects.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/contented-baby-sleep/id352256991?mt=8

It taught me the basics of GameSalad and the process of submitting to the iOS app store. It was by no means perfect and it would look different if I did it again today.

The app did what I thought was ok, and made around £500 in a year... not bad for a few hours work a night for 2 weeks.

Then this happened:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083166/Weary-father-invents-iPad-app-twin-babies-sleep.html

A man a year and a bit later, created an app, that played white noise sound effects to help babies sleep after seeing a gap in the market (there was no gap... my app and about 20 other similar ones were already there). He went on to make over £60,000 in a year. (Another article says he earns over £5000 a month.... )

I'm not bitter (I don't think..... actually lets not lie... I'm damn bitter and jealous).

It is amazing to think that perhaps with some better marketing, a better app name, better app, or a bigger bag of luck I could have been in his situation.... could have quit work, gone onto create games, apps and more....

HoneyTribeStudios

Where does one acquire this 'bag of luck'? I should like to sample one

BoomshackBarry

I bet something like this has happened to a load of people - a couple of years ago I was building a simple jetpack game (using the character in my forum avatar) and I was about 4 months in to it when a little game called Jetpack Joyride suddenly appeared and did everything mine did but better!

I feel your frustration X_X

Ps we're expecting our first child in October so consider me a purchaser of your app when the time comes

mounted88

I actually made something just like yours last year. Initial I made it to help get my baby to sleep, then just threw it out on the App Store for free. Wasn't trying to make anything out of it.

But I total agree with you about the same app ideas.

How do you think the people behind crush the castle feels, when they see angry birds? Crush the castle was out first.

beefy_clyro

Always seems to be the way

LumpApps

Been there. No fun. It's like the lottery. Some people buy a ticket every week and never win, others buy one and become a millionaire. I haven't bought one in a while...

mounted88

Been there. No fun. It's like the lottery. Some people buy a ticket every week and never win, others buy one and become a millionaire. I haven't bought one in a while...

I think you have better luck with the lottery
8->

StormyStudio

I think you have better luck with the lottery
8->

Not sure... I buy a lottery ticket every week and haven't made millions with that route either... so currently game/app design is pretty equal to the lottery...

Perhaps I'll start digging up the garden.... but then the luck gods will probably strike again and someone else on my road will dig as well and strike oil.... I better start digging tonight to improve my chances... I'll obviously dig in a more polished, professional way with a solid marketing plan in place for the launch...


(


(the best thing will be looking back when we all strike it rich with our next games...)

The_Gamesalad_Guru

Yep this is how it goes. New users read this thread and understand how tough this really is! You can have great art, great concept, great gameplay and not have your game go anywhere. This is why I laugh when people say oh if GS only had this or that I could sell my game. NOPE! All it takes is some news reporter or broadcasters kid or themselves to use your app and write or speak about it and bang, you get downloads. There is no secret sause for making something go viral, it just does. Big companies spend millions to try to force their product to go viral and they still fail. It's like predicting the weather, you just can't do it well ever.