Feedback req: TangleBee from SmartMelon Games

[SmartMelon]

Hi All! We're looking to get some feedback on our brand new game, TangleBee! We think this is a pretty original game and we hope you'll enjoy it. This game has been over a year in the making by my wife and I.

Description:
Bees are humming, the Spidy's coming, untangle quick before they stick! Try TangleBee for a completely new, totally fun game experience! The TangleBees have unfortunately been caught in the tricky spider's web and need your help. Untangle the bees to set them free, find treasures and trophies, and bring peace back to TangleWood Forest. Discover the changing of seasons and natural wonders, complete with bubbling brooks, autumn leaves, and wild flowers. Try TangleBee now!

Game Download:
http://www.smartmelon.com/download/TangleBeeTrialInstaller10.exe

Screenshots:
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeTitle.JPG
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeSelect.JPG
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeForest.JPG
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeBonus.JPG
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeBeaver.JPG
http://www.smartmelon.com/screenshots/TangleBeeTrophies.JPG

Game Website:
http://www.smartmelon.com/tanglebee/

System Requirements:
Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP and Pentium 300 MHz or higher

Let us know if you have any comments or suggestions! We also just updated the website so let us know if you run into any problems with that too. It's been a long time since I posted on this forum since I've been working hard on this game. Now that it's out, I should have more time to post here. Thanks!

Graeme

[redito]

This is a cute game. Innovative and interesting for those who like puzzle type games.

A few things.

When I started up the game only Classic Tanglebee was visible on the signposts at the opening screen. I clicked on it since I had no other choice and played the first level. When I went back into the menu after that all the other choices were there, including options so I could turn off the annoying music. (That's not personal, I just hate all in-game music.)

I found the font hard to read. It looked fuzzy against certain backgrounds and seemed to run together in places. For a casual gamer a clean, clear font is a must.

I wanted to click through faster. I wanted to start each level faster and click through the circling bees at the end of each level faster. That just might be me though. I tend to buzz (no pun intended) past all the maps and chat in games so I can just get to the playing.

On level 6-1 Blackbird the bees started dancing to music for a few seconds for no reason I could discern. There was no hint box and the level kept playing. ???

All in all I think this game could be a winner. It's got tons of levels, good graphics, cute creatures (loved the Santa hat on the spider!) and should appeal to all ages.

Good luck!

[SmartMelon]

Thank you very much for your comments, redito! They are much appreciated! When the player starts the game, we force them into the TangleBee Classic mode since that's a good introduction to the game and they get a tutorial at the start of the first level. Some of the other game modes are a little harder or don't have tutorials so we wanted them to try the Classic mode first. (No offense taken about the music - everyone has different tastes.)

Did you find all the fonts hard to read, or just the small ones? We might be able to play around with the font to make it easier to read, or do you think we should completely change to a new font?

I'm not sure if all people will want to be able to click faster or not. We'll try to do some more user testing and see if that's a common complaint. We could try to speed up the dialog animations.

Ah, you found out about the dancing bees. The bees actually have a few secret moves and you happened to stumble on one of them. There're just for fun and have no effect on the gameplay, but there is a trophy if the player can find all the moves. The trick is to figure out what you did to make them dance.

Thanks again for your comments. We hope this is going to be a winner too!

Graeme

[redito]

Did you find all the fonts hard to read, or just the small ones? We might be able to play around with the font to make it easier to read, or do you think we should completely change to a new font?

I found the dialogue boxes hard to read but the main menu was OK. I think the casual and fun style of the font is good and suits your game. But the letters and lines run too close together and seemed smallish. Also, it was very light at times and I wanted it to be sharper, cleaner. But maybe that depends on whats in the background.