Indiegamer Developer Discussion Boards http://forums.indiegamer.com/ This is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ . en Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:16 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.indiegamer.com/images/misc/rss.png Indiegamer Developer Discussion Boards http://forums.indiegamer.com/ Heavy Cat Studios Available for Hire http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30245-Heavy-Cat-Studios-Available-for-Hire&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 10:42:37 GMT Heavy Cat Studios has a team of 12 artists with a variety of specialties, including character design, animation, costumes and fashion, environments, mechanicals, creature design, logos and pixel art. We also have a complete sound team, programmers, producers and writers. We have developed or... Heavy Cat Studios has a team of 12 artists with a variety of specialties, including character design, animation, costumes and fashion, environments, mechanicals, creature design, logos and pixel art. We also have a complete sound team, programmers, producers and writers. We have developed or co-developed 26 games with a combined 2.5 million plays.

Examples available here: http://heavycatweb.net

]]> Art Portfolios heavycat http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30245-Heavy-Cat-Studios-Available-for-Hire <![CDATA[Waa Cha! [iPad]]]> http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30243-Waa-Cha!-iPad&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 03:26:19 GMT Image: http://blog.bigbunkerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/waacha_banner_small.jpg (http://itunes.apple.com/my/app/waa-cha!-hd/id507719442?mt=8) Hi guys. I am Virion, the programmer from Big Bunker Studio, a 2-person indie game development team. Today I am here to introduce to you our...

Hi guys. I am Virion, the programmer from Big Bunker Studio, a 2-person indie game development team. Today I am here to introduce to you our team's first published project - Waa Cha!

Story trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EskuJZysPM
Gameplay trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhbtpC3E5xU

Waa Cha! is a mini casual game based on Chinese kung fu theme with adorable art style. The gameplay is pretty simple, player has to swipe a finger on the screen, either to the left or right to hit away in-coming objects to stay alive as well as obtaining score.

However, there are some items that should not be hit away but to be consumed, such as first aid kit which revives HP, or the magic scroll which enables super combo power. Although the gameplay mechanism is pretty simple, but it will test your instinct as to which item to kick or not to be kicked, especially when the items are flying toward your character at an increasingly faster speed. Also note that in the current version we have 100 different items to be discovered and to be filled into the item database!

Waa Cha! currently has 3 different game modes:
1. Survival Mode - No time limit. Stay alive for as long as you can.
2. Arcade Mode - No HP value. Get as much score as you can in 2 minutes.
3. Insane Mode - Inverse control. All items are explosives-only.

We have planned for the 4th game mode which is multiplayer mode. We will be adding this extra mode in the coming updates.







Currently the game only runs on iPad, but we are planning to make it universal in future updates.

For more information, please visit our blog: http://blog.bigbunkerstudio.com

Thank you for your time. Have a pleasant day! ]]> Announcements Virion http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30243-Waa-Cha!-iPad Professional art studio looking for freelance Job 2D/3D/UI/animation/effect http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30242-Professional-art-studio-looking-for-freelance-Job-2D-3D-UI-animation-effect&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 19:27:37 GMT Hi My name is James Huang. I run a game outsource named Danzige Game studio. We provide professional, creative game outsource work for game company,game studio, indi-game developer. We consider every clients not just as work provider, but game develop partner. Our service including 2d, 3d,... Hi
My name is James Huang. I run a game outsource named Danzige Game studio.

We provide professional, creative game outsource work for game company,game studio, indi-game developer. We consider every clients not just as work provider, but game develop partner.
Our service including 2d, 3d, UI, animation, pixel art, vector art, after effect. Basically we can do entire game.

We can do any style and different type of game.
Please no hesitate to ask us any question, but we need you to present us some information to give you the price or advice.
1, The art style you want. We need description or art list. Some picture reference will be very help.
2, How many you want ? We give a discount for big project.
3, When you want it. It just for plan a time schedule we can focus on your game.

How to contact us
Msn:chenyangh@hotmail.com
Email: chenyangh@hotmail.com
Skype: Chenyanghuang1

Pay way:
Paypal
Bank transfer



Here is couple example, if you want to see more professional art please check our website.
danzige.wordpress.com


2d:



3d



UI:
]]> Art Portfolios danzige2009 http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30242-Professional-art-studio-looking-for-freelance-Job-2D-3D-UI-animation-effect Sonamor Music-Custom Game Music http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30241-Sonamor-Music-Custom-Game-Music&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 19:06:15 GMT Great audio is a cost effective way to dramatically increase the user's gaming experience. Here is a snapshot of my portfolio:

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/tribes Competition-Battle score developed for Hi Rez Studio here in Atlanta

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/hunting-rabbits A Crysis 2 style battle score

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/j...gh-the-omega-4 A Mass Effect
retro scifi Heroic theme and battle score followed by reinvented galaxy map music

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/frontier-action-loop loopable action
loop developed for an indie company in the UK

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/chernoble a sad orchestral WW2 battle music

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/circus humorous and quirky

http://soundcloud.com/electric-lou/cybernetic-life-node retro sci-fi

To hear more or see scored game trailers goto:
Website: http://electriclou.permagrin.us/ ]]> earworm http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30241-Sonamor-Music-Custom-Game-Music Feedback on Marketing Strategy http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30239-Feedback-on-Marketing-Strategy&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 12:41:13 GMT This is as much me arranging the jumble of ideas around marketing in my head into something more coherent, but I'd very much appreciate any feedback on my marketing strategy

TLDR summary is at the bottom.. of the fourth post ::)

Thanks,
James

Product
"The best thing you can do to market your game is to have a great game"

Premise
The game is a managerial / business simulator set in space. Imagine Transport Tycoon had used the Homeworld engine. It is for Android only

Aspirational
Arguably, a game is a mass market, consumer product, so it can at best imitate the techniques used by aspirational branding

Art Style
The art style comprises of several parts

Minimalism
Clean, clinical, uncluttered, small colour palette. This taps into the vision of the future presented in science fiction. Minimalist architecture and interior design has an association with high-quality and affluent living. This style also helps the UI design

Financial Aesthetic
Graphs, numbers and figures of the stock market. An indication of a 'higher plane' of business where success is measured in millions and billions. Intricate geometric patterns, guilloches and shiny metal holograms on paper bank notes represent value and authority

Sound & Music
Non-frenetic, chilled, relaxed, cool and stylish. Musical style and sound effects should reflect the overall aesthetic. Electronica fits best, incorporating synthetic instruments often used or associated with science fiction and the future

User Interface
The user interface must not only look stylish and be functional, it must flow. The movement must look and feel as good as when static

It must work with and not against the platform, taking advantage of touchscreen capabilities of swipe and movement, whilst still considering the limitations (variable and small screen size)

Mechanics
The game mechanics are what keeps the player playing, so rightfully constitute the most important part of the game.

There should be a single core mechanic, that is intuitive to understand. It must be easy to learn, but hard to master.

Additionally, the mechanics must allow skillful players to advance, but maintain an element of luck

Core Mechanic
Programming spaceships' activities (Go here, buy this, go there, mine that)

Emergence and Exploration
The functions players can program into their spaceships are on the surface, simple enough, but have hidden complexities. When multiplied over many ships, they create a huge diversity of combinations leading to unexpected results

The game world is dynamic, reacting to players actions, and endlessly creating new challenges (skill)

The game world is sufficiently large, and mostly-procedurally generated; enough to allow players to explore many different locations and discover new phenomenon (luck)

Pacing
The game has no twitch reaction mechanics or those that rely on precise accuracy of movement. This fits with a more cerebral type of game that ties in with the aspirational image ("work smarter, not harder").

Variable speeds also allow players with limited time to 'skip forward' or slow down or even pause when conducting complex, time sensitive operations. The player can control how much pressure they wish to put themselves under, and "skip the boring bits"


Price
Give the player as many ways to pay as possible, but don't force them into one model. See also Monetisation

Premium
The product is a quality product, and should have a price that reflects that. At the same time, market rates for similar games must be considered. Current thinking is $5 - $10

There are two dangers however

Fans of the game may resent developers charging above market rates, knowing they will still pay.

Pirates may be particularly attracted to try and crack an 'expensive' game

Elasticity
Any sort of price drop seems to cause a temporary spike in sales. People like a bargain. Starting with a high price allows the price to fall and still be relatively high.

However, the idea of a 'bargain' does not fit with a premium, aspirational product. Those that buy into the original dream may feel their exclusive experience has been devalued. Typically price-cuts in isolation generate a spike in sales, rather than a long term trend, so should be used only as part of a wider, considered campaign

Freemium
Or a demo as I like to call it, allows the player to get a taster or sample of the game. This may lead some to decide they like the game enough to buy the premium version, but it acts more to reduce casual piracy

IAP Cap
Many players resent the way some F2P (Free-to-play) games feel like dressed up slot machines, designed to milk them of their money ad infinitum

A price cap will help alleviate that. In essence, once the player has spent the same amount on IAP (in-app-purchases) as they would have spent to buy the game at the premium price, all further content will be unlocked and they will be upgraded to a premium version of the game

The danger is that it destroys the ability for the 0.5% of fans for whom the game is basically their hobby (the so called "whales") to spend as much as they want (or can afford) on the game.

However, I personally believe this can be picked up in other ways/areas, whilst not frustrating the far larger number of players who aren't willing to "pay to win"


Distribution
Players can get the game through many different markets and websites. The aim is to make cost in time+effort to get it from pirates > time+effort+money to get it legitimately

Market Distortion and Volatility
The android market in particular, amongst app markets, has been subject to poor visibility/discoverability and product differentiation spiraling the average price to "Free". It has likewise suffered from frequent changes both to the platform, devices and the market app itself. Not to mention the pace of change in the wider tech and games industry. In short, it is not stable

Payment Systems
From a business perspective, the payment process is the most important experience to get right.

The player must trust (and feel comfortable with) the payment method/system. At the same time, the systems must be streamlined to stop players being lost (i.e. as few steps as possible between player deciding to pay and transaction being completed).

The solution is be to provide as many quality options as possible. Large established companies (paypal, amazon, google, telcos) have trust by their brand and understand streamlining payment

Intelligent awareness of context can also help (e.g. identifying the phone sim carrier and not displaying payment options for other carriers)

Platform Holders
Visibility / discoverability is poor on most app stores. Appealing to the platform holder's own interests may increase the chance of a coveted 'feature slot'

i.e. Make a game for the players, market it at Google or Amazon or Samsung or whoever has an android app market

The danger of doing this more than once or twice is the loss of exclusivity that cheapens the aspirational image of the game

Hard to Pirate
Forcing paying players to register may put some off playing or resent the extra effort paying customers are put through compared to their freemium-using counterparts.

Requiring an internet connection (to authenticate) adds an extra permission to the list required (and displayed in the app store). Equally, getting the device's unique ID adds some permissions that are not instantly obvious why they are needed, and may discourage players from making a purchase

Finally, there is an overhead cost to running authentication servers, as well as extra development time to implement said servers as well as obfuscate code

Giving Soft Pirates a Way Out
The game should give players who are detected as pirates an easy way out, so as to soften the feeling of being cheated out of the full game (e.g. still letting them play the freemium parts of the game)

Importantly, the game should be up-front with the would-be pirate, and encouraging them to play rather than chastise them and have them throw the whole thing in.

Localisation
It takes a lot of effort to play a game in a language that isn't your native tongue. Providing a legitimate localised version removes an incentive many pirates have for cracking the game

The downside here is the cost, which is significant, plus the multitude of languages in the world, and finally the expectation that a localised game will provide localised support

(continued below...) ]]> Indie Business James Coote http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30239-Feedback-on-Marketing-Strategy iOS game: NOVA ranger space adventure http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30238-iOS-game-NOVA-ranger-space-adventure&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 01:27:40 GMT Greeting everyone. NOVA ranger space adventure. iOS game available on AppStore. Support iPhone, iPodTouch and iPad. Image: http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/mika-chai/Publiched/NovarangeriTune.jpg Screen short Image:... Greeting everyone.

NOVA ranger space adventure.
iOS game available on AppStore. Support iPhone, iPodTouch and iPad.


Screen short


Apple Store Link: http://itunes.apple.com/th/app/id525667618
CHAI
http:.//charochai.com ]]> Feedback Requests mika-chai http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30238-iOS-game-NOVA-ranger-space-adventure Touch Chess (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch) http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30237-Touch-Chess-(iPhone-iPad-iPod-touch)&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 18:54:25 GMT Hi everybody, I'm excited to plug our latest game for iPhones and iPads.
Touch Chess is an app based on the Faile chess engine by Adrien Regimbald.
You can play versus the computer at varying difficulty levels, replay classic games and much more.
Features
-Powerful chess AI
-Play vs friends locally
-5 board styles
-Over 10 levels of difficulty
-Over 2000 openings
-Over 200 (20000 in the full version) classic games, traps, miniatures and more



Try it free: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-chess/id521451218
Full version for just $0.99: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-chess/id518266745

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eLJE0fNxLg ]]> Announcements dopeman http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30237-Touch-Chess-(iPhone-iPad-iPod-touch) Rusty Axe Dungeon Tiles - Core Pack released! http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30235-Rusty-Axe-Dungeon-Tiles-Core-Pack-released!&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 03:41:52 GMT Rusty Axe Games is proud to announce the first art pack in the Rusty Axe Dungeon Tiles series and part of a growing catalog of inexpensive RPG artwork for use in RPG's and tabletop wargaming.

All of our art products come with an optional commercial license making them a great addition to the indie. and hobbyist game developer looking for ways to inexpensively improve the artwork in their games. I am running a 1/2 off launch sale, the personal use PDF is $2.49 and the commercial version with PNG files is $9.99 through the month of May!



http://www.rustyaxe.com/apps/radt/core.php ]]> Announcements lennard http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30235-Rusty-Axe-Dungeon-Tiles-Core-Pack-released! Setting wallpaper in code. http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30233-Setting-wallpaper-in-code.&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 22:43:27 GMT Hellooo

My game has an option to let the player set a themed wallpaper from inside it. It works fine in windowed mode. In fullscreen though it sets the wallpaper fine but the size is the same size as the screen res, not the desktop res. So it turns up at 1024x768 even though I'm setting it to "stretch". Any ideas?

Thanks! ]]> luggage http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30233-Setting-wallpaper-in-code. <![CDATA[Indie dev interviews at PAX: East: Beans Quest, Not w/o You, Girls Like Robots & More]]> http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30230-Indie-dev-interviews-at-PAX-East-Beans-Quest-Not-w-o-You-Girls-Like-Robots-amp-More&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 19:22:54 GMT Sometimes the audio is rough due to the blasting music but the interviews are pretty cool.


Not Without You and Lawn Mower Challenge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3O3sX1UxS8&feature=plcp

Girls Like Robots and Spell Tower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdFhIN2D1Y8&feature=plcp

Beans Quest and Metroid Metal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzcovveHncc&feature=plcp

Hope you like them! ]]> Indie Related Chat bottle capper http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30230-Indie-dev-interviews-at-PAX-East-Beans-Quest-Not-w-o-You-Girls-Like-Robots-amp-More CD Projekt RED is looking for specialists! http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30229-CD-Projekt-RED-is-looking-for-specialists!&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 08:54:35 GMT Imagine a place where spells and technology combine to create a mature fantasy world. Imagine an office, where tempting sorceresses and brave knights combine their effort to make real magic happen. Sounds great? Well, that’s our workplace at CD Projekt RED. We’re looking for people, who will work... Imagine a place where spells and technology combine to create a mature fantasy world. Imagine an office, where tempting sorceresses and brave knights combine their effort to make real magic happen. Sounds great? Well, that’s our workplace at CD Projekt RED. We’re looking for people, who will work on a great fantasy RPG, so prepare to play your role in creating a dark fantasy realm.

If you can't stomach dwarves, elves or sorceresses who put their ample charms on display in Playboy magazine, we've got something special that might be right up your alley! We're looking for people who would rather work on an entirely new and different IP - a vast RPG for which we want to assemble the best possible staff. It represents an opportunity for you to create a grand new project from the ground up! So apply away, make an effort to join us and apply your talents to creating a game you yourself would want to play!

We are currently looking for talented and passionate people for these positions:

RPG in a Brand New Setting

Senior Gameplay Programmer
Gameplay Designer
Technical Animator
3D Artist
Environmental Artist
Engine Programmer

RPG in a Dark Fantasy World

Animator
Gameplay Designer
Gameplay Programmer
Senior AI Programmer
Engine Programmer


Please visit our website where you can find all details concerning particular positions and our studio:
http://cdpred.com ]]> Help Wanted CD Projekt RED http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30229-CD-Projekt-RED-is-looking-for-specialists! Grimind http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30228-Grimind&goto=newpost Sun, 13 May 2012 23:53:52 GMT Hello I am developing game named GRIMIND. Last time I have released alpha version which contains one chapter of full game. I would love I You would take a look at it. Here is some content on indieDB and download link: http://www.indiedb.com/games/grimind/downloads/grimind-alfa-v02 my... Hello
I am developing game named GRIMIND. Last time I have released alpha version which contains one chapter of full game. I would love I You would take a look at it.

Here is some content on indieDB and download link:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/grimind...imind-alfa-v02

my development: blog http://szamq.wordpress.com

Generally GRIMIND is 2d physics platformer focused on environment interaction. gameplay atmosphere is rather dark and scary. I am trying to create something like amnesia but in 2D. This is first level so it doesn't show whole game mechanics which will contain final release.

]]> Feedback Requests szaman http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30228-Grimind <![CDATA[[OFFERED] Programming Help]]> http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30227-OFFERED-Programming-Help&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 23:42:44 GMT Hello, I am offering programming help to those who would like it. I have programmed off and on for many years. I know a lot of languages. My strengths residing in C++, and the Euphoria programming. I have also done work with C#/XNA, and Qbasic/QB64. Send me a PM and we can discuss further... Hello,

I am offering programming help to those who would like it. I have programmed off and on for many years. I know a lot of languages. My strengths residing in C++, and the Euphoria programming. I have also done work with C#/XNA, and Qbasic/QB64. Send me a PM and we can discuss further details, such as payment and what you would like to have done. I offer reasonable rates. I have linked to a video of my work.

Code:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo0nzTAszlQ
]]> Help Wanted ProgrammingFreak http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30227-OFFERED-Programming-Help Shiva3D http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30225-Shiva3D&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 11:27:47 GMT Thoughts, comments and suggestions are appreciated.

I was a programmer when Visual Basic was cool. And trying to jump back into programming, mainly game programming. I was looking at UDK, Unity and just came across Shiva as I was about to settle on Unity.

I'm not looking at FPS games. My main interests are baseball and RPGs along with other genres.

Tired of outsourcing my ideas.

I do not know C+ or C# so was going to go with Unityscript or Unrealscript to learn and/or whatever would be necessary. ]]> EddieX http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30225-Shiva3D Avalon Legends Solitaire for iOS and ONLINE version available http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30224-Avalon-Legends-Solitaire-for-iOS-and-ONLINE-version-available&goto=newpost Fri, 11 May 2012 18:14:51 GMT Hi
It's been a great week for us. We have released iPad and iPhone versions of Avalon Legends Solitaire (with cooperation with BFG). You can get a freemium version here:

iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id448966876
iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id448969951



We also launched online version today - on our site and on Kongregate as well. Kongregate is a new experience for us. It looks like it's a great place to learn about your game if you do it right (for example we created high score table for biggest combo - you can learn about how real players play).

Please play and rate our Kongregate version and help us get some more eyeballs :)

http://www.kongregate.com/games/anaw...ends-solitaire


Thanks!
Roman ]]> Announcements Roman Budzowski http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?30224-Avalon-Legends-Solitaire-for-iOS-and-ONLINE-version-available