last ace of space postmortem
DESCRIPTION
This is a presentation given by Brian Stabile to the Orlando iOS Developer Meetup group. He outline the ups and downs of developing Astro Crow's game "The Last Ace of Space". Like the slides? Learn something useful? Show your appreciated by downloading The Last Ace of Space or a measly 99 cents via: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-last-ace-of-space/id429228289?mt=8TRANSCRIPT
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Post-MortemBrian StabileCo-Owner/Executive Producer, Astro Crow
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■ Brian Stabile■ UCF Digital Media (Comp Sci Minor) Graduate■ Worked for UCF on Serious Games■ Worked on ‘Three Dead Zed’ for PC■ Plays drums in Yogurt Smoothness (www.yogurtsmoothness.
com)
Who Am I?
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■ Released April 7, 2011■ iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
■ Company created and game conceptualized in one day■ Development cycle: ~8 months■ Number of Sales Worldwide: *insert sad face*
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What Went Right
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Excellent Presentation■ High-Quality Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fpQAKUV46zY)■ Great Artwork / Sound Design■ Humorous
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Unique Take on Existing Model
Jump Jump, Collect Jump, Slide, Turn
Jump, Slide, Flick, Pop, Shoot, Collect, Run, Fart!
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Continued Support■ Constantly updating game to improve the overall experience■ Past updates included
■ Game Center Integration■ Tutorial Overhauls■ Retina Display Support and native iPad Support■ New Enemies
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Tons of ‘Ground Work’, Positive Press■ Press Releases■ Promo Codes■ YouTube Reviews■ Generally Positive Reviews
■ “…one of the more interesting variations on the runner genre I’ve played” –Destructoid
■ “purr-fectly addictive!” -iFanzine
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Physical Ad Materials■ Small and large promo cards■ Great conversation starter■ Adds credibility/ No longer creepy.
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What Went Wrong
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Positive Reviews Did Not Translate To Sales■ Large number of iPhone casual gamers do not read game
blogs/materials aimed for hardcore gamers.■ Front Page of Destructoid■ 1,300 views■ Only averages 1 sale a day
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Lite Version Not Limiting Enough■ Full game minus a few enemies, no iPad or Retina support.■ Updated:
■ Incorporated Ads■ Added Nag Screen■ More limiting updates to come!
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Tutorial Not As Foolproof As We Thought■ Only tested amongst our gamer friends■ Bad design made obvious through further testing■ If not 100% obvious, some players just don’t get it – even
when it is 100% obvious!■ Improved in updates■ More improvements to come!
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ZERO Advertising Budget / No Love For Indies■ Too broke to ‘gamble’ on an ad campaign with no guaranteed
return.■ Hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches.■ Friends unwilling to help■ Consumers can’t distinguish between our title and EA’s titles■ Piracy (Unavoidable, but still annoying)■ Search function sucks!!■ Misjudged Twitter
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Tools Updated Too Quickly■ 4 different tools issuing updates at almost monthly pace■ No deprecation – very time consuming!■ Incorrect installation instructions!
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Remember: They Can Only Buy Your App Once!There’s Room For Us All On The Market!
■ How to help fellow indie developers■ Tweeting■ Sharing on FB■ Downloading, Rating, and Reviewing■ WORD OF MOUTH
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■ Brian Stabile■ [email protected]
■ Twitter: @AstroCrowGames■ www.facebook.com/astrocrow■ www.facebook.com/lastaceofspace
Feedback and Suggestions Welcome!
Thanks! Keep An Eye Out For Future Astro Crow Projects!