My new game is in development

expired_012

Hey guys,

I am making my second game now, just put something together in one day and wanted to show you guys a preview of it, will probably spend another month or so on it. It is extremely simple btw, the name of it is Doodle Helicopter ( I know guys, VERY ORIGINAL) I'm surprised the name wasn't taken and so I just reserved the name for my game Anyways, here's a screenshot of it. Only gonna put one because I don't want to release too much info until it's released.

Anyways, I have been studying the top games and noticed that the main thing that they all have is simplicity. So I am trying to make my game as simple as possible. You move left and right using the accelerometer. You tap anywhere to the screen to shoot. You destroy anything that comes is sight, and your score increases in result. Simple as that.

RastaRise

my suggestions are that you do not want the game to be to simple because that wouldn't have much appeal to the customer. remember the customer is always right and you want to add what the customer wants to see. they dont want to see just another game with the same old thing as every other game. Make it fun and interactive!

AfterBurnett

It does need to be simple but also stylistic. People only tend to play their iGames for a few minutes at a time so I think you're on the right track. Funny, I have bought a LOT of games but the ones I keep going back to playing are the simple ones. Madden, Fifa, Hero of Sparta... never seem to get a look in as they just take too long to play! I definitely prefer something I can have a quick blast on.

expired_012

@rastarise, I understand what your saying about trying to make something new and appealing, and I totally agree with that. My game is definitely lacking originality and I'm not gonna disagree with that but I have to disagree with the thing you said about keeping it simple. People don't like games where you have hard controls and it's very difficult to play. People want to open the game and go straight into it without having to read the instructions at all. Something they can do easily and have fun with and play over and over. That's the type of game that has a steady amount of sales. Why do you think doodle jump has had consistent sales and stayed up on the ranks for so long? Because it's so simple!

quantumsheep

Agree with Polygame - though I think the secret formula is to have something that you play for five minutes when you fancy it but offers depth for those that want to play for longer....

Look out for Project K - hope to have a video up on the weekend

QS

expired_012

I think that the ultimate test to see if your game is simple enough is for someone to be able to look at your screenshots and know what the main concept/objective of the game is

Chaser

Doodle helicopter
Well there goes my spinoff name for gumball copter

expired_012

QS, please release it soon! Very interested in seeing what it's all about!

AfterBurnett

artonskyblue said:
QS, please release it soon! Very interested in seeing what it's all about!

+1 !!!! The screenshot wasn't enough, man!!!!

madpoet

Project K - I wanna see it!!!!
QS - Can you give another clue?

butterbean

Looks Great Arton! Can't wait to see what the final product looks like

QS: Anticipating what game you're about to release!

quantumsheep

Heh - thanks for the interest!

It's an old-school shooter - so nothing fancy really...

But it's fun, I think, and some thought has gone into it!

I'm hoping it'll be released on the 23rd July - which means it needs to be finished by the Friday before I reckon!

If I can get a couple more game mechanics in this weekend I'll be happy to announce it as It'll be pretty much done!

Fingers crossed, though 'real' work is taking up all my time at the mo'

QS

VoidedSky

quantumsheep said:
Heh - thanks for the interest!

It's an old-school shooter - so nothing fancy really...

But it's fun, I think, and some thought has gone into it!

I'm hoping it'll be released on the 23rd July - which means it needs to be finished by the Friday before I reckon!

If I can get a couple more game mechanics in this weekend I'll be happy to announce it as It'll be pretty much done!

Fingers crossed, though 'real' work is taking up all my time at the mo'

QS

Hey, the 23rd is the day that my iPad comes!!

quantumsheep

I'm not sure how well it'd work on the iPad...

I mean, it'll *work* - but the controls are specifically set up for the iPhone's smaller screen...

Hmmmm... we'll see!

QS

Hachiko

More than simple, I like games that make me have fun!
Simple is the simplest way to go, lot of less hassle with gamesalad too, but it has to be fun, or else it's not simple, it's just boring.
Easier said than done, though

StormyStudio

QS is that the game you showed us in London, looked very cool all the way back then...?

quantumsheep

I don't think so, mate - I got the art from Ian after that!

So there's more good stuff to come after P: K

expired_012

Do you Guys think I should make a free mode and a story mode?

Free mode- where the player just shoots everything they see, gets more challenging, score increases

Story mode-where the player has levels to complete. Gets more challenging by the level, and achievements can be gained.

Should I put both in? Or should I just keep It simple and just put a free mode in there?

expired_012

What do you guys think? Do you think GS would be able to handle that much?

firemaplegames

Well, whether or not you want to have a bunch of modes is up to you, but GS could easily handle it.

I would focus on one at a time. Get one mode working totally solid. If, at that time, maybe you want to add more modes or not - but at least you have a complete, working game.

If you haven't already, I would take a look at Angry Birds. It is currently the best-selling game on the iPhone. It has, or is just about to, beat Doodle Jump as the most downloaded paid App at 4,000,000 paid downloads.

Angry Birds currently has 150 levels. Plus there's tons of achievements. People love the amount of content that Angry Birds has. They cannot wait for more!

Another important feature of Angry Birds is the attention to detail and love put into the game. The artwork and animations are beautiful and whimsical, the music and sounds are fantastic, it's challenging and addictive.

Something like Angry Birds could definitely be made with GameSalad.

Now, of course you do't have to make a game like Angry Birds, but it has some nice qualities that you should shoot for:

The gameplay is very simple and easy to learn.
You can pick it up and play while you are waiting in line or riding a train, and then just as easily put it down again.
There is a ton of stuff for people to keep coming back for.

You mentioned simplicity in your thread above. Well, Angry Birds is definitely simple. But it also has a lot of depth as well. You can play Angry Birds for a minute at a time. But it takes hours and hours to see all the content and unlock all the achievements.

I think this is a winning formula.

expired_012

@FMG, thanks a ton! That was excellent advice, and I really know what you mean about keeping it simple and making something where the use can come back to over and over. The reason I want two modes is exactly what you said. Free mode for users that just want to play something for a minute or two while waiting for a bus or train, and then there's also story mode for gamers that like to play more in depth games for a long time and then can easily just go back to the simple free mode.