I done did a game for the iPhone
I made this!
Well, not just me. Gonna start a blog about the experience and give info on download numbers. It's idiotically stressful thinking about the amount of time and money that went in to it. Especially seeing the current download numbers. I should have called it AngryFruitDrawNinjasWithTinyWingsPokéOfDutyTurismoForSpeedTris :/
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:40, Reply)
You've certainly chosen a genre with a lot of competition. (But as a keen gamer, I want to hug you just for MAKING a game)
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Kung_Fu_Russ ran out of amusing signatures on, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:46,
Reply)
If you could buy
35,000 copies, I would take that as an Internet hug :)
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:49, Reply)
good luck with it dude, it looks good.
It's a rough biz, released a game myself a year or so ago. nice when you're in the charts but reality is that if you're not in the top 10-18 then they hardly make any money. Years of work for next to nothing.
I hope this game works out for you.
(
Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:46,
Reply)
Thanks
I need to be seen by the big sites, sent about 700 sites the press release. I have no idea how long it takes them to read/act on it though.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:51, Reply)
have you gone to touch arcade and created an account there?
go to the forum and pimp it out there, they have a forum just for that.
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:53,
Reply)
have you tried a publisher?
they can help as they have their feet in doors. they will take a percentage but it's something you have to weigh up.
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:01,
Reply)
The publishers that are really good
take insane ammount (35-50%), and the ones that take alot less are rubbish.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:04, Reply)
yes, that's about right.
but if we never got one, we wouldn't have got the feature or anything, so
it can be worth it.
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:07,
Reply)
Got some pretty good ideas (I think)
for some quirky little games that could be punted out pretty quick. Just need the money generated from this game to prop us up.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:43, Reply)
I'd say the key is to get dev time to a minimum
whack out a few games.
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 15:49,
Reply)
Is it that hard to make any money from it?
I'm trying to learn up on UDK at the moment to create a game or two I have ideas for.
Those are some awesome tools to use but it's a lot to learn.
(
Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:52,
Reply)
Cant really give ny numbers out yet
I've learnt there is alot of luck involved in making apps, the large mobile gaming sites get flooded with requests to feature games every day (biggest site in the uk gets about 150-300 a day)
Its frustrating that crap get featured and brilliant stuff gets ignored.
Ideally you will probably need about £10,000 for marketing alone.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:59, Reply)
pretty much
we had game of the week worldwide on itunes but even that didn't add up to a great deal. Not enough to live on for long split between 3 people.
I have a few things knocking around myself, in the process of getting some funding and finding a coder. If there are any here by the way, do get in touch.
I'm doing it because I've worked in games most my life and like making them. I wouldn't be doing it for the money because unless you can stay in the charts in itunes then it's hardly worth it. Android users pirate most games, other devices can't generate enough income to live on, blackberry is just about a dead duck before they even begin.
also, I've mostly worked with in house game engines, not tried any others, had a look at the UDK but seems like an awful ballache to learn.
Can anyone recommend any decent 2D engine?
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:59,
Reply)
Well of course mine is going to turn out to be a massive indy hit.
Not doing it for the money as I have a day job for that but a few quid towards the mortgage would be handy.
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Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:04,
Reply)
of course : )
but yes, that's the attitude to go with for sure, make something you thing is really cool. It really is all about luck I reckon. You just never know.
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Fartfurter in the facefurter, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:06,
Reply)
isnt cocos2d the one
all the cool cats at the speak easy are talking about?
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:13, Reply)
Had a look at that myself but it assumes Objective C coding knowledge I don't have.
Also didn't want to be tied to one platform.
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Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:18,
Reply)
You could try unity3d
with some of the 2d plugins. Builds for IOS/Android/PC/Mac/Web and xbox live arcade if you have the licence.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:21, Reply)
Cant afford unity and the game i've got in mind is 3D anyway
UDKs free just need to give them a royalty if you earn over $50,000.
Nah UDK is my choice and i've just got to work at it.
I can't afford a 3d program to create content so learning blender.
Only thing i'm going to fork out on is a copy of photoshop elements.
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Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:34,
Reply)
Just to let you know the interface for blender is pretty
different to the commercial programs. So it might be hard to adapt if you ever decide to use one.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:41, Reply)
Beggers can't be choosers though i've seen some lovely stuff done in blender.
The only reason why i'm paying for photoshop elements is that i've got over 20 years invested in that and can't get on with GIMP.
I'ld prefer to use Cinema4D as i've got a fair bit of experience but the cost is too high.
Solidworks would be by dream choice as it's what I use at work but thats silly money.
If you've got any suggestions for 3d modelers please let me know!
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Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:46,
Reply)
God I HATE gimp!
Yeah the 3d software developers don't really factor in indie start ups when they are pricing up their goods.
3D modellers?, none off the top of my head I'm afraid.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:56, Reply)
does it sound possible...
to make a game where you have an avatar living in your phone, and you can train it to improve stats and such, then battle others over bluetooth? Likesay, you're sitting on the bus and you scan around, seeing if anyone is up for the challenge, and if they are, beat them up? (I'm envisaging turn-based melee combat)
I reckon it would be a killer app (am I saying it right?)
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:47, Reply)
Actually had that idea
There some other things you would have to factor in like,
you would have to setup your own servers to hold everyone's stats and other err.. stuff.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:53, Reply)
couldn't that be farmed out?
also, it should have a mugging theme, so if you beat someone you get to nick an item or two from them, so make it all about money and bling, pay real cash for the money, spend it on in game bling, then mug each other for it.
see, down wiv da kidz, me
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 15:09, Reply)
I'm just trying to get my ahead around the audio side of things
Focusing on UDK and WWise. Sooo so much to get used to.
(
Extinct Jesus Dossier wearing my Protective Cloak of Apathy, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:00,
Reply)
Oooh WWise looks handy.
I'll grab that
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Amadeus So long and thanks for all the phish, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:16,
Reply)
I dont have an iTwat
Im on android, but that is very impressive and I wish you success.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 13:59, Reply)
Cheers.
Hopefully there will be an android version within a couple of months too.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:09, Reply)
Looks a bit of a daytona rip-off
but most mobile games are ripoffs of other things anyway.
Good stuff - hope it sells well.
(
taters Bah weep grahnah weep ninibong, Fri 18 May 2012, 14:02,
Reply)
mucho good luck!
looks like it's a pretty nifty game :oD I'd be interested in your blog about how it goes with downloads/revenue as well. I'm close to release of our (I say "our", I really mean "my") first Android game using AIR/Stage3D + nifty physics engine and am just starting to nose around the revenue options. Are you charging for it or is it freemium/ad supported?
The beauty of AIR is I should be able to target iOS fairly easily... with a bit of luck, and hopefully the revenue options are a bit more... mature... there
I'm not looking forward to the marketing aspect of the game... writing the bloomin thing's the easy bit (ish!)
(
wideeye slightly pickled, Fri 18 May 2012, 15:39,
Reply)
"Mature" I like that :)
Yeah marketing in an arse ache, publishers might be the way to go if you find the right one.
(, Fri 18 May 2012, 17:01, Reply)