So MiniSquadron SE has been out for a few days now - massive reaction to it, currently it sits at #11 in both Arcade and Action charts in the USA!! Strangely - it's not getting a look in the UK, but I think that's due to the fact I haven't updated MiniSquadron 1 to let people know about it, and also because it hasn't been featured yet (unlike in the US).
I want to actually write down a whole bunch of links to the press that MiniSquadron SE has received, but in particular I've appeared in articles in Edge - which is really fun! Check em out!
Edge Friday Game Studio
Edge How To Make It As An Indie
Cool Interview at NoDPad (mostly about Fox Vs Duck but hey whatever)
Touch Arcade Review
AppAdvice Review
CNet Review
Appera Review
TouchMyApps Review TOUCHED!
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Friday 16 April 2010
G4TV's Electric Playground Interview
At GDC, Electric Playground's Jose did an interview with me about MiniSquadron, Fox Vs Duck and things indie - and I've embedded the video below. Sadly, because I live in the UK, I havent been able to watch this (it has said it'll be available tomorrow for a few weeks now), I have tried all the US proxies etc and none of them worked. In the end I DID manage to watch it - using the following bizarre method:
1) My friend (also in the UK) has an account with SkyFire, and for some bizarre reason he can stream the video to his Windows Mobile Phone (with sound).
2) So, I use my Mac to Skype with him, unfortunately his webcam doesn't work - so I end up listening to the video
3) I then used my PC to use webchat over MSN Live Messenger in order to view his Mobile which was held up to his webcam
4) I then watched the video through god knows how many links of disassociation!
Just an anecdote that amused me more than anything, but hopefully my American/Canadian friends can watch it here (BE WARNED - it would appear I speak waaaay too fast - like some kinda Gibbering Man):
EDIT: And obviously I can watch it in the embedded link below in the UK *doh*
1) My friend (also in the UK) has an account with SkyFire, and for some bizarre reason he can stream the video to his Windows Mobile Phone (with sound).
2) So, I use my Mac to Skype with him, unfortunately his webcam doesn't work - so I end up listening to the video
3) I then used my PC to use webchat over MSN Live Messenger in order to view his Mobile which was held up to his webcam
4) I then watched the video through god knows how many links of disassociation!
Just an anecdote that amused me more than anything, but hopefully my American/Canadian friends can watch it here (BE WARNED - it would appear I speak waaaay too fast - like some kinda Gibbering Man):
EDIT: And obviously I can watch it in the embedded link below in the UK *doh*
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Submitted to App Store!
MiniSquadron Special Edition has been submitted to the App Store in all its glory! If everything holds up then it'll be done when it's done - it's out of my hands now!
Hint for the future (mainly for self): Making so many games in so little time REALLY HURTS THE BRAIN
When I was working in the real world, the following song is only reserved for very special occasions when a game goes "Gold". This is one such moment - please, ladies and gentlemen:
Hint for the future (mainly for self): Making so many games in so little time REALLY HURTS THE BRAIN
When I was working in the real world, the following song is only reserved for very special occasions when a game goes "Gold". This is one such moment - please, ladies and gentlemen:
Saturday 10 April 2010
MiniSquadron Special Edition -Art Sketch
Just a quick post to show a sketch done by Nils on some rough paper when I was talking to him about the levels and planes in the game. I love silly sketches - especially the blimp thing with a shark face!
Thursday 8 April 2010
MiniSquadron Special Edition!
MiniSquadron Special Edition has now been revealed to the world! TouchArcade were kind enough to blast out an Exclusive Look here (click). If you want to just check out the action look at the video below (it's a bit blurry - will upload a better quality one soon):
I'd also thought I would post a bit more information regarding price and other things that exist in my brain.
What's new in this Special Edition? Let's use the power of bullet points and lists to show you what they are:
- 8 brand new levels, beautifully drawn and each accompanied with a track by more Dead Composers,
- Helicopters which hover - providing new gameplay opportunities,
- Over 50 more planes to unlock,
- 2 new pickups: "Rapid Fire" and "Freeze"
- A new weapon - Fireballs!
- More animals to shoot down - including Jellyfish, Vampires and Hamsters!
- OpenFeint Achievements!
So there's just as much gameplay in this version again, and hopefully will satisfy fan's hunger for more things to shoot down (come on guys - HAMSTERS!). The inclusion of helicopters changes things up again -you can get them to hover in midair, but they can only shoot left or right. Multiplayer sessions just got a bit more amusing!
I should add here that the background art was done by Nils Porrmann this time round - and you should go and check out his website for more of his other work here. The crazy animals that you can shoot down are drawn by the one and only Rex Crowle. When you shoot them, you can hear the squeaky voice of Whitney Hills - whos another Indie making a mad game called Ghost Chef!
What is going on with the Price man? MiniSquadron Special Edition will be available to download, and have 2 levels to play for FREE. You can then unlock 2 levels at a time for $0.99/£0.59. This way, you can try the game before deciding to go for more, or buy the extra levels at your leisure. Don't forget YOU ARE GETTING 2 LEVELS THAT YOU CAN TRY OUT FOR NOTHING! Everyone can try it out!
When's it out FungFung? The game is currently missing exactly 3 sprites. Yes, that's right and once they're in I should be set to submit. This is likely to be 2 or 3 weeks time, so expect some preview builds in the press before it goes to Apple!
Following Fox Vs Duck, I really want to give back to the fans of MiniSquadron, and that is also why I wanted to give some content away as a sign of thanks for the great support I've had. MiniSquadron fans really showed they cared and after meeting some at GDC I really hope you guys will enjoy the madness that is in Special Edition! I leave you with some screenshots of the game, and please leave a comment if you like what you see! (^ 3 ~) (I missed my asian emoticons).
I'd also thought I would post a bit more information regarding price and other things that exist in my brain.
What's new in this Special Edition? Let's use the power of bullet points and lists to show you what they are:
- 8 brand new levels, beautifully drawn and each accompanied with a track by more Dead Composers,
- Helicopters which hover - providing new gameplay opportunities,
- Over 50 more planes to unlock,
- 2 new pickups: "Rapid Fire" and "Freeze"
- A new weapon - Fireballs!
- More animals to shoot down - including Jellyfish, Vampires and Hamsters!
- OpenFeint Achievements!
So there's just as much gameplay in this version again, and hopefully will satisfy fan's hunger for more things to shoot down (come on guys - HAMSTERS!). The inclusion of helicopters changes things up again -you can get them to hover in midair, but they can only shoot left or right. Multiplayer sessions just got a bit more amusing!
I should add here that the background art was done by Nils Porrmann this time round - and you should go and check out his website for more of his other work here. The crazy animals that you can shoot down are drawn by the one and only Rex Crowle. When you shoot them, you can hear the squeaky voice of Whitney Hills - whos another Indie making a mad game called Ghost Chef!
What is going on with the Price man? MiniSquadron Special Edition will be available to download, and have 2 levels to play for FREE. You can then unlock 2 levels at a time for $0.99/£0.59. This way, you can try the game before deciding to go for more, or buy the extra levels at your leisure. Don't forget YOU ARE GETTING 2 LEVELS THAT YOU CAN TRY OUT FOR NOTHING! Everyone can try it out!
When's it out FungFung? The game is currently missing exactly 3 sprites. Yes, that's right and once they're in I should be set to submit. This is likely to be 2 or 3 weeks time, so expect some preview builds in the press before it goes to Apple!
Following Fox Vs Duck, I really want to give back to the fans of MiniSquadron, and that is also why I wanted to give some content away as a sign of thanks for the great support I've had. MiniSquadron fans really showed they cared and after meeting some at GDC I really hope you guys will enjoy the madness that is in Special Edition! I leave you with some screenshots of the game, and please leave a comment if you like what you see! (^ 3 ~) (I missed my asian emoticons).
Tuesday 16 March 2010
GDC-gasm and MiniSquadron:Special Edition Levels
Whoops - seems like I only now have time to write a quick post here. I haven't ran away, it's just that as more work is coming up the less time I have to actually write about the work, doh!
Back from GDC a week ago now, was very happy to see lots of love for MiniSquadron and Fox Vs Duck. Big up Jon and Alex from PocketGamer - lovely guys, and also great meeting with Jeff Scott from 148apps. There were also many other people I ran around and met but too many to list here - I should mention Jason Citron and Eros Remininininini (of OpenFeint) as they were pretty fun, just a shame I couldn't hang too long. (Jason has really big hair - it rocks). If I met you or missed you (sorry Keith from Imangi!! and sorry Trevor from AppAdvice!) leave a comment in the blogs and let me pretend I'm still in San Francisco with the crazies!
At GDC itself loads of great lectures and people. Big takeaways were in-app monetisation and "social gaming" in the wider sense of the word. Check out Gowalla and PackRat, social games with real world consequences, that's what really piqued my interest. Also related would be CCP's Eve Online - their talk on the crazy metagames played by people in the real world was both hilarious and exciting. And no piece about GDC is complete without a mention to Uncharted 2!
During the end of GDC I did a quick interview with G4TV - here's a picture taken by Duncan Robson. He was also a lovely man I met whilst at the British Indie Devs meet up. Notice my "thousand yard stare" as I was probably still drunk from the night before (I really wasn't feeling too good then but hell if I was gonna miss being on G4TV!!)
So some new NEWS!! Fox Vs Duck has been out for a while, peaking at a superb position of 14 in Top 25 Paid Apps in UK - mostly down to it being featured in the front page by Apple. Nowhere is it to be seen in the USA though - which is kinda sad. I'll be doing some updates over time for fun as it's such a nice little game, so let's see how dark I can make it as I update..hehe!
MiniSquadron news - I've almost finished the next one, which I think will be called MiniSquadron:Special. It's going through some balance checks and final code bug fixes, and it's still missing some assets, but as a teaser - I want to present tiny pictures of all 8 new levels smashed together in the picture below. WOO! More screenshots will be made available as I get some more time to get them all! (Click through for slightly bigger - STILL haven't figured how to paste in bigger pictures in blogger)
Oh also have a gander at some of the new planes (you may spot some helicopters too!):
Sunday 28 February 2010
Fox Vs Duck! New Game Alert!
Finally, I can update my blog! The reason I've been away was I was busy finishing off a brand new game called Fox Vs Duck! So far, the only thing revealed about it is a teaser trailer (see it here www.FoxVsDuck.com), although the game is now in submission at Apple so it will be revealed pretty soon what its all about. Currently also moshing a gameplay video together to show how to play it!
So one of the fun things we're messing around with is actually using ChatRoulette to "subversively" advertise the game with a silly video. I just wanted to try it for no reason except that it amuses me ^__^ hee! For those who don't know what ChatRoulette is, it isn't a gambling device with cats invented by the French (as cool as that may sound), but is in fact a video chat program on the web, which randomly pairs you up with people who also happen to be on at the same time as you. It is also well known how to feed a fake video into your webcam (using ManyCam on the Mac for example) so using this bit of knowledege, I decided to ask Artist Dave to make this video of a fox:
On top of that, Artist Dave then went on to write an automated script to type things into the text box - so it "chats" to random people about Foxes and Ducks. We then left this on and let it do its evil work!
I don't really think this is anything serious but it was fairly amusing to read some of the responses :D
So GDC is next week, I will be loitering around the entrance - better get some American Dollars...
So one of the fun things we're messing around with is actually using ChatRoulette to "subversively" advertise the game with a silly video. I just wanted to try it for no reason except that it amuses me ^__^ hee! For those who don't know what ChatRoulette is, it isn't a gambling device with cats invented by the French (as cool as that may sound), but is in fact a video chat program on the web, which randomly pairs you up with people who also happen to be on at the same time as you. It is also well known how to feed a fake video into your webcam (using ManyCam on the Mac for example) so using this bit of knowledege, I decided to ask Artist Dave to make this video of a fox:
On top of that, Artist Dave then went on to write an automated script to type things into the text box - so it "chats" to random people about Foxes and Ducks. We then left this on and let it do its evil work!
I don't really think this is anything serious but it was fairly amusing to read some of the responses :D
So GDC is next week, I will be loitering around the entrance - better get some American Dollars...
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