12 months 12 games

General (non-technical) New Apps / Works in Progress
#1

I recently started a challenge (12 games in 12 months). I’m using Corona to build the games, and I must say that I really like this game engine.

The first game called SquareSpinner is released on both iOS and android:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/squarespinner/id1436851786?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manomanogames.squarespinner

I have written two posts on my Medium if you want to read more:

We’re making 12 games in 12 months

https://medium.com/antisocialgames/were-going-to-build-12-games-in-12-months-a45026e396ed

Month 1 - the beginning

https://medium.com/antisocialgames/month-1-the-beginning-e2a7a925a21f

–

What do you think about the game and my challenge?

#2

It’s quite a challenge to undertake. But I say “Go for it!”

Rob

#3

It is so easy to make 12 games in 12 weeks…  albeit the games will be quite simple.

#4

Yeah, of course! But that’s not the point. I want to build games that people would want to play too!
Also, I’m hoping that the games get enough downloads so I can cross-promote new games.

I could also build games more rapid, but they would definitely suck :stuck_out_tongue:

#5

Looks like you’re aiming for a similar experience and aesthetic to the ketchapp/voodoo hyper-casual games that have taken over the app store.

I believe both accept submissions to publish games like this which might be worth thinking about. It’s going to be difficult to attract downloads on your own as every man and his dog is making games like this. Plus if you do get a little traction, they’ll just rip off the idea anyway. If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em…

#6

The first game SquareSpinner was supposed to have a very casual gameplay and simple design. I wanted to actually finish a project. I can see that this can look like a ketchapp/voodoo game because of the simpleness.

I’ve been thinking about using a publisher like ketchapp/voodoo, but after reading all the bad reviews and all the people they are ripping of, I can’t say that I’m very tempted to give a shot.

Plus if you do get a little traction, they’ll just rip off the idea anyway. If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em…

I know that there is a big chance that they rip off the popular games. But I feel that joining them because I can’t beat them, is not the way to be thinking when I know what I know about the companies.

#7

I hear you on that, I just gave up trying to compete with them in the freemium world after I had a concept ripped off in 2013.

#8

Anything successful and simple to clone will get copied multiple times unfortunately.

#9

Absolutely!
Read this blog post https://www.raywenderlich.com/608-full-time-indie-ios-dev-and-co-founder-of-1button-a-top-dev-interview-with-thomas-castel. They apparently killed 280 clones of Mr Jump. And this was a long time ago.

#10

I’ve come a long way on the second game of my challenge. Looking forward to share info about it.

I can’t say too much now, but I can say that it’s going to be a colorful platformer. Really enjoying the testing part of the development, because the game is so awesome.

Will be posting videos and screenshots here when I’m a little bit closer to the release date.

#11

I dl’d and played - good but way too hard - I gave it a 3 star - which was also my highest score.

Maybe try to make the game a little easier next time…?

#12

Thanks for testing the game and giving me feedback!
I know this game is a little bit hard. I felt it was hard to find the “sweet spot” between so easy that you can play it forever and so hard that you can’t get any correct angles.

I will take it into my consideration while building the next game. Really looking forward to post more information about that game here :slight_smile:

#13

It’s been a little while since my last post about this project. But now it’s time to announce my second game, Zmath.

It’s was released on Google Play yesterday (Still waiting for the App Store review, been 7 days now!):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=games.antisocial.smath

About the game:

Zmath is a fun twist on the classic Snake game we all know and love. Solve the math equation to find the right answer and watch your snake grow longer and longer… Swipe to sssslither your way to the right answer while avoiding hitting yourself, the walls or the wrong answer. Besssst of luck!!

I’ll hope you want to try it and give me some feedback :slight_smile:

#14

Finally it’s released on the App Store too: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zmath/id1441670007?ls=1&mt=8

It’s been 17 days in “Waiting for review”!

I’ll hope you want to try it and give me some feedback :slight_smile:

#15

I gave zmath a try and a review - you are getting better…the text was too small for my eyes, maybe I need glasses. Games are still too hard for me but this is more polished - good work.

I have just released my latest game so if you feel like it, check it out;

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.optusnet.joelutting.BTG

#16

Not entirely sure you are prompting Corona here?  two games with a combined 2.5 star rating (3 for one and 2 for the other).

#17

Thanks!

Can you tell me what you thought was too hard about Zmath?
I will check out Bridge the gap and let you know what I think :slight_smile:

I’m asking about feedback on how I can improve my games. I understand that SquareSpinner didn’t get the best ratings since it’s too hard to play and it’s so simple that you almost can’t call a game. It was made so I could finally finish something and release it.

I feel that Zmath is much better than SquareSpinner, so I hope I’ll get better reviews there.

The next game I’m building will definitely be better, but it’s a hard game to play that one too :stuck_out_tongue:

#18

on zmath - like I said the target numbers were very small - I had trouble reading them…might be time to get those glasses. I think that was all that was wrong - but thats probably just a me thing.

#19

yeah, sorry. I saw that you wrote about the small text!

I tried using bigger numbers, but I thought that it didn’t looks as good. Maybe I could add a choice in settings or something so that users can increase the size if they need.

#20

As I wrote in the forum yesterday (https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/74486-beelly-iosandroid/) our third game has been released.

I feel that the games get better each month, and I look forward to continuing this challenge.

Anyone else doing something similar? Or are you just building very big games?