If you're going to sell this then you had better be paying Myst and Hendo.At the moment I'm promising credit though if they feel strongly that they deserve more...
I think you should switch to my gfx, it looks a bit nicerYour graphics are pretty good though I think I'll save them until Balloon Pop 2 when it's more of an arena-type game.
1. The font needs a drastic change. It doesn't really fit the look of the game at all. Use something like BankGothic or VirtualDJ. Futuristic fonts go with shooting games - not jungle/script (Papyrus, am I right?) font.I'll check out those fonts. I'm using Papyrus because it sort of reminded me of chalk. Which somehow relates to balloons and a stainless steel training facility.
2. No story. Please, no story. People don't want to be a young sniper in a training facility. They want to pop some balloons and have fun beating scores.Some of the highest rating games have short but sweet storylines such as Angry Birds and Paper Toss. I'm trying to do the same. A storyline that gives purpose but isn't in the way. (By the way the storyline also leads into what I have planned for Balloon Pop 2 & 3)
3. Fill in the background of any buttons with another shade. Helps them stand out.I might... don't own photoshop. Made the graphics on photoshop in school...
4. Hypothetically, online leaderboards would add replayability. If you can add those, do so. You'll be thanking yourself later.I have a Global Highscores list which shows the top 20 of the current training mode.
I accidentally used a private API without knowing. Just re-submitted the fixed version to the app store.Wow, seriously? What private API?
Get to wait another week.
-Gan
It was an API to add a certain amount of time to a date. Single line of code that's used to create Matrix Mode and slow down time.Funfunfun!
-Gan
It was an API to add a certain amount of time to a date. Single line of code that's used to create Matrix Mode and slow down time.
-Gan
Please, PLEASE change the font to something more modern and less Papyrus-ey. It doesn't fit the game at all.100% agreed.
Edit: Also, take some time to draw arrows instead of using '->'. It looks way more professional that way.
Really? I used to see apps for less over here. Pounds and Euros must be handled differently.
Euros won't be worth more for much longer! ;D The Irish are busy burning every bank in the country. About time too if you ask me.lol, im not sure burning money is a good thing ;D are you from ireland?
That's the dumbest s*** I've ever seen. Why is an API to add an amount of time to a date, a private API?It was private because it wasn't finished. Apple's still making certain APIs and when they aren't finished they can have their name changed at any moment. If an API's name is changed then it'll crash the program using the private API. There is a little reason behind the madness.
Absolutely awesome game Gan! I'm putting it on my main screen. The interface looks fine and the gameplay is brilliant, there's no need to change anything. Love the music too. I'm a bit wary of flashing lights so I'm sticking to Beginner mode, but it's really enjoyable. Congratulations on a terrific iPhone game!Thanks. :) I'll start selling it once I add quite a few things. I have a few ideas in mind. Also I plan on slowing down the flashing lights in Distracted mode.
I reckon you'd easily sell a few if you charge 79 cents or so.
Please, PLEASE change the font to something more modern and less Papyrus-ey. It doesn't fit the game at all.I can most assuredly make real arrows, though I kind of like the papyrus font. If you guys can post better fonts then I'll be willing to listen.
Edit: Also, take some time to draw arrows instead of using '->'. It looks way more professional that way.
The current situation is awful.Wow. Sounds like an awful place to live.
(1) Move the joystick a little down and left for a better position. Also make it's movement radius maybe a little smaller.
(2) Add a Highscores button onto the main menu that can see all scores.
(3) Maybe change the main font.
(4) Revamp the graphics of the bonuses.
(5) Make the balloons look more round.
(6) Maybe add a Night training mode where the character is wearing goggles and balloons are neon green. Bullets are invisible but the player has a red laser pointer.
(7) On the highscore screens add 3 buttons at the bottom that the player can click to view any of the Beginner, Distracted, and Seizurific scores.
(8) When scrolling near the last player on the highscores list, make it load further players on the list above 20.
(9) Possibly also a highscore list for the total amount of balloons the player has popped in his/her lifetime.
(10) Slow down flashing lights in Distracted.(11) Add player skill. At the moment you win the game off of luck and tapping ability. I want to add a player skill level so that with each balloon you pop you get some skill. Now with a higher level of skill your bullets hit your target more precisely, the faster your bullets go, the faster you can move, the higher chance of bonuses appearing, and the random color changing of the player's shirt as he gets higher in skill. This skill idea if added to the game could mean that anyone could get on the top 20 and it isn't so much relied on luck. Just persistence. If I were to add this in I'd make it a little discreet so it wouldn't get in the player's way though I might add a skill bar.
Balloon Pop is a training facility. Maybe the goal would be to make the skill bar get full. Then you're graduated from it.Trust me, my Dad is a graphic designer and has worked with a bank for 25 years.[size=32]LOL![/size] RANDOM ASSOCIATION! Hurray for graphic designing dads though. ;D
how bout spelling the title out with bullet holes! that would be coolNow thars a money makin idear!
One more thing to add to your list:Yeah, that would be cool. :)
When you win, you arrive at a screen that tells you your score.
At the moment there is a Retry button and a Submit Score button.
Please add a main screen button.
What do you guys think of everything I posted?I'm not fond of the skill idea, but you're definitely on to something with the gauge/bar. Even a rank or title would be awesome.
I'll keep that in mind. :)Cool, it still works with iPhone OS 3 though, right?
By the way just submitted an update. This fixes a bug with iOS 4. Also it moves the joystick to the edge a bit more making it easier to move and less of a screen hog.
-Gan
Yeah, should. So how well does it run on your iPhone? How about the speed?It seems to run fine. Its so simple that I am not worried about the speed.
-Gan
It seems to run fine. Its so simple that I am not worried about the speed.Awesome! I was quite worried about that. Tends to run a bit jumpy sometimes on my iPhone 3G.
[size=32]LOL![/size] RANDOM ASSOCIATION! Hurray for graphic designing dads though. ;D
My brother just gave me the idea of taking away the joystick and replacing it with tilt. What do you guys think?Personally, I would find it annoying.
-Gan
Dost thine eyes deceive me?!892!? Is that all 99¢ sales? If so lets see 892 * 99¢ = $883.08, $883.08 * 70% = $618.16. Apple gives you 70% of the profits right? So that would be a sizable amount of money in just two days.
(http://web.mac.com/avisaria/photo.PNG)
My app's free right now. I'll make it 99c when it's worth 99c.Unfortunately, I don't think it will get these download rates
Also it has broke 1000.
-Gan
P.S. Though when it's 99c I'd love to get those kind of download rates. ;) $300 per day ain't bad.
Hehey, I like the way the balloons get smaller as the level progresses. :) I don't see any ads in my version for some reason though.Hmmm, I'll look into that. Ads only pop up around the main menu.
What does the P power-up do? Is it piercing?Yeah.
I'm going to introduce iAds into Balloon Pop in an upcoming update. We'll see how well it goes.
Do you have a screenshot of how the iAds are displayed in the app? Are they really annoying - like popping up all over the game when you're playing it, or are they a little more subtle?(http://web.mac.com/avisaria/iAdScreenShot.png)
Here's an interesting idea - what if every 50th balloon was an ad? If you don't click the balloon - you miss out on those points. Probably too difficult to implement though - you'd have to sign up advertisers who want their logo on virtual balloons.Unique idea, though I'm planning on just sticking with iAds.
Wow, you're officially a commercial game designer! :D Congratulations, salutations, question marks and exclamations! The new font is cool and the ads look fine.Thanks. :) The app store makes it so easy, just make a game, put in iAds and bam. With your Javascript knowledge and the Ultimate iPhone Template you could build a QOM-like game in the same time it would take you to build a GameMaker game.
But how 'bout that dual control setting? It'd sure make a mighty difference down here in N'orleans.Warning: Balloon Pop 2.5 Spoiler -- Not Official (http://web.mac.com/avisaria/SpeedShootingSpoiler.png)
Don't use Papyrus. It's tacky and doesn't fit with the theme of the game. Plus, it is probably the second-most-overused font of all time (behind Comic Sans). ;)I think I agree on the font part, though for ads... I gotta make money somehow. These ads are nice, non-obtrusive and when you click on them it doesn't throw you out of the app. Also, people love free games.
Also, I would suggest not putting ads in the gameplay at all.
I find iAds kind of exciting. High quality ads, don't get in the way, and they keep you in the app.
By the way I made $2.43 today. $14 total revenue so far
Nope, doesn't use multitasking. The ads are literally in the game.
Yeah, it tells me how many times ads have been displayed and clicked.
Balloon Pop 2.1 doesn't support multitasking. iAds don't use multitasking. To prove this go to the game, open an iAd and double click to bring up the multitasking bar. Look for Balloon Pop, if you see it than you're in a different application.
I think it does use multitasking - it freezes the game, and then you see the ad "slide over" the game. It's "in the game" in the sense that you didn't have to load Safari. What other technical reason would there be not to support iAds on the OS 3? Some people, still using perfectly good iPhone 2G and iPod Touch 1G, will not be upgrading.