tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37924531489011468072024-03-13T12:38:41.211-07:00Creating a Successful Mobile ApplicationDavid Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-40797036491552862352012-12-12T07:25:00.003-08:002012-12-12T08:40:27.408-08:00Interview With A Game Developer<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">I would like to thank L. Spiro for taking the time to perform the following interview. His responses are very insightful.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"><span style="color: lime;">David Ransom</span><span style="color: white;">: What is your Name?</span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: orange;">L. Spiro</span></b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">: Shawn (L. Spiro) Wilcoxen</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;"><span style="color: lime;">David Ransom<b>: </b></span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;"> </span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">What is your job title and job description?</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;">L. Spiro</span></b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">: R&D programmer. I create and optimize the core engine used for our mobile games.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">David Ransom</span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">: </span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">How long have you been in your field?</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;">L. Spiro</span></b><b style="background-color: black; color: white;">: </b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In games, ~10 years. In mobiles, ~6 years. In R&D, ~1 year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><b style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;"><br /></b></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">David Ransom</span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">:</span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;"> Do you have any advice that you would like to offer someone who is interested in pursuing a career in mobile game development/design?</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;">L. Spiro</span></b><b style="background-color: black; color: white;">: </b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Like with any other type of game programming, just stick to your goals and produce many demos.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> Most mobile development is not satisfying on a personal level. At my current job we are making AAA games with huge brand names for mobile devices, which is satisfying, but a very rare case. Most of the time, especially when you start out, you will be working on very low-budget games and you may easily be finding yourself questioning the value of what you are putting out there.</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: black; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">David Ransom</span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">: </span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">What are some highlights from your career?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>L. Spiro: </b></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I was the lead programmer for Fit for Rhythm which became the #1 free iOS app in many parts of Asia for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b> </b>I am writing a book for Addison-Wesley Professional on advanced game architecture and OpenGL ES 2.0 optimizations for iOS due to hit shelves next year.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><b style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;"><br /></b></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">David Ransom</span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.16666603088379px;">: </span><span style="color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.18181800842285px;">(Bonus) Anything else you would like to add. Feel free.</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: orange;">L. Spiro</span></b><b style="background-color: black; color: white;">: </b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As mentioned before, mobile development is not usually a </span><i style="background-color: black; color: white;">goal</i><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for people; it is usually just what they get stuck doing since the industry is going that direction for now. But it is an easy place to start and to get into the industry. Just be ready to move on to more exciting jobs when the initial rush of getting into the industry subsides and you find yourself unsatisfied with the games you are putting out there.</span></div>
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David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-38720608022944744732012-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:002012-12-21T13:32:12.864-08:00Development and Promotion of Sales<br />
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<u>Development</u></h2>
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Your game is now ready for the development
stage once it passed through the prototyping and wire frame requirements. This is an exciting time when developers can witness their game coming to life. The overall process requires lots of patience, time and effort. You will require team members that are proficient in programming code, 3D modeling, and art design. The following list contains popular software development kits (SDKs) for cross platform games:</div>
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<li><a href="http://unity3d.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Unity3D</span></a> - Free and pro versions available.</li>
<li><a href="http://gaming.adobe.com/getstarted/"><span style="color: blue;">Adobe Gaming</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.scoreloop.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Scoreloop</span></a> - Free version available</li>
<li><a href="http://www.coronalabs.com/products/corona-sdk/"><span style="color: blue;">Corona</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://developer.blackberry.com/html5/documentation/packaging_your_app_in_ripple_1904611_11.html"><span style="color: blue;">Ripple</span></a></li>
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<u>Sales Promotion</u></h2>
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Gamer players will want to be in the know about upcoming or new games. Promoting your game is one of the most effective ways to create a demand and generate revenue<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 13px;">.</span></span> Start building networks with individuals in the game industry ASAP in order to create opportunity for your game to be featured in game review websites such as <a href="http://gamespot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Gamespot</span></a>, <a href="http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/latest.asp?t=game+review"><span style="color: blue;">Pocketgamer</span></a>, <a href="http://www.ign.com/wireless"><span style="color: blue;">IGN</span></a>, etc. Doing so will help to build up anticipation and create a following for when your game is released. Use methods such as <a href="http://blog.ngmoco.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Blogs</span></a>,<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/forums/index.html"><span style="color: blue;"> forums</span></a> and social networks offer free promotion for spreading the word about your game (<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 13px;">Stalk, 2011).</span></span> Some pay services such as <a href="http://new.appsfire.com/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">Appsfire</span></a> specialize in app promotion which can be very beneficial if you can afford it.<br />
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<strong class="username" style="background-color: #fefefe; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></strong></div>
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<strong class="username" style="background-color: black; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">References:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><strong class="username" style="display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; margin-top: 0px;">Stalk, M. (2011, Dec.) </strong>Publishing your mobile game? Free DIY marketing: my insights so far.</span></span></div>
<strong class="username" style="display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Retrieved from:</span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> </span> </span><a href="http://www.triolith.com/2011/11/24/publishing-your-mobile-game-free-diy-marketing-my-insights-so-far/" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.triolith.com/2011/11/24/publishing-your-mobile-game-free-diy-marketing-my-insights-so-far/</span></a></strong></div>
David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-60446841732027496832012-12-09T19:25:00.000-08:002012-12-21T13:52:49.823-08:00Infographic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/186960/time-spent-with-videogames-in-the-us-since-2002/"><img alt="Time spent with videogames in the U.S. from 2002 to 2012" src="http://www.statista.com/graphic/1/186960/time-spent-with-videogames-in-the-us-since-2002.jpg" title="Time spent with videogames in the U.S. from 2002 to 2012" width="660" /></a><br />
You will find more statistics at <a href="http://www.statista.com/">Statista</a>
<a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/237187/global-video-games-revenue/"><img alt="Global video games revenue in 2012 and 2017" src="http://www.statista.com/graphic/1/237187/global-video-games-revenue.jpg" title="Global video games revenue in 2012 and 2017" width="660" /></a><br />
You will find more statistics at <a href="http://www.statista.com/">Statista</a>David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-76946403934080203042012-11-11T21:49:00.002-08:002012-12-21T13:27:50.373-08:00Design Elements<br />
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<u>Design Elements<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Today’s blog entry will focus on design elements of mobile games. Aesthetics are very important for attracting
users to your app; however it is not always the most important factor. The user interface must be well designed to allow for easy navigation. Ensure
the <a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/mobile-apps-designs/"><span style="color: blue;">game display</span></a> matches up with screen sizes on all of the different devices the app is
marketed for. Please visit the following website for a list of well
designed mobile apps. </div>
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The following list defines key Design elements:</div>
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>Simplicity</u></b></div>
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Make the game easy to understand. Some game developers use children to test their games. (Edis, 2011). Simple games may attract a wider audience.<br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>Fun</u></b></div>
Ensure your games are fun to play. Create your game so that it can hold someone’s interest for as long as possible. The app markets are full of games, so you will need to be creative to ensure your game stands out. Choose your play testers wisely and gather feedback. (Edis, 2011).<br />
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<b><b><u>Take your time</u></b></b><br />
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Test, test, and test your game content to
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help to make the difference if game players are using your game. Quality content will typically matter more to most players than appearance. <br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>Material</u> </b><br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Ensure </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">your game is packed with plenty of well designed</span> material. The story and appearance must be excellent in order to attract player's attention. Offer incentives for replay
value such as the ability to unlock items once players meet certain requirements. (Edis, 2011).<br />
<b><br /></b><b><u>Reward Players That Invite Their Friends to Play</u></b><br />
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Use the mobile devices’s resources to your benefit. Encourage players to get their
friends involved, but do not punish if they don’t. (Skipworth, 2012). Some games allow for the ability of players to send virtual gifts to other players within the game. In game rewards can be a way for the players to get ahead in a game; however, many games are known for being annoying.<br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>Break content into small units</u> </b><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many people use mobile games for brief
distractions in their busy day. Keep
this in mind to allow users the ability for brief game play. Breaking the content into smaller pieces will allow players to pick up the game where they last left off easier (</span>Skipworth, 2012).</div>
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References:<br />
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Edis, S. (2011, Feb, 7). 4 Golden Rules of iPhone Game Design<br />
Retrieved from: <a href="http://iphone.ezone.com/2011/02/4-golden-rules-of-iphone-game-design/">http://iphone.ezone.com/2011/02/4-golden-rules-of-iphone-game-design/</a><br />
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Edis, S. (2011, Jan 17). 4 Tips to Get in the App Store Top 200<br />
Retrieved from: <a href="http://iphone.ezone.com/2011/01/cracking-the-app-store-top-200/"> http://iphone.ezone.com/2011/01/cracking-the-app-store-top-200/</a><br />
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Skipworth, H. (2012, Mar 20). How to build a chart-topping app game<br />
Retreived from: <a href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/44968/how-to-build-succesful-app"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/44968/how-to-build-succesful-app</span></a></div>
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David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-6824376847081626102012-11-10T18:30:00.003-08:002012-12-21T13:28:13.022-08:00Wire Frames and Prototyping <div class="MsoNormal">
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Wire frames and prototyping methods for mobile game design are tricky topics to write about. Both methods are considered similar yet very different. One key difference between the two processes is that wire frames tend to focus on creating a rigid skeleton for a mobile app, and prototyping focuses on the design elements. Some mobile game developers may choose to bypass wire frames entirely or switch the order of steps in development. Each development team might have their own development techniques and opinions about the use of wire frames and prototyping. (Gordon, 2010). You as a mobile game developer must choose what is best for you. </div>
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<u>Wireframes</u></h2>
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The wire frame methods are considered similar to a
conceptual reference or rough draft while keeping the general goal in mind. Wire frames can very useful for ensuring games have the proper placement of user interface elements such as menus and general shapes. Keep in mind that different mobile devices will have various screen sizes. For example, the size of a mobile phone is smaller than a screen on a Ipad or tablet. Sketches are typically used to examine how the general outline of your game would appear on a mobile screen. Some developers may prefer to complete their wire frames using freehand sketches. Other methods are often used such as computer software or mobile apps. (Lim, 2012).<br />
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<u>Prototyping</u></h2>
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Prototypes are beneficial for ensuring a game contains the proper design elements and offers early detection of major issues. (Turner, 2012). Prototyping tools are often used in the following formats: <br />
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<li>software programs</li>
<li>mobile apps</li>
<li>websites with drag and drop capabilities </li>
<li>traditional pen and paper </li>
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The process for prototyping has the potential of saving a great deal of time and money if done correctly. Designers can take advantage of finding checking to see how the look and feel of their game will be viewed before it is brought into the development stages. Some modern prototyping software allows designers to create a test version of their game and exported it to multiple devices. (Turnbull, 2012). The exportation of a test version provides the opportunity for users to pre-screen, play test and offer feedback. Feedback is a valuable resource which can help to ensure the game has the correct focus before proceeding to the later stages of development.<br />
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References: <br />
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Gordon, J. (2010, Dec. 22). 5 Steps for Wireframing and Paper Prototyping Mobile Apps.<br />
Retrieved from: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mobile-design-tutorials/5-steps-for-wireframing-and-paper-prototyping-mobile-apps/">http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mobile-design-tutorials/5-steps-for-wireframing-and-paper-prototyping-mobile-apps/</a></span><br />
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Lim, W. (2012, Jun. 18). A Beginner's Guide to Wireframing.<br />
Retrieved from: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/tutorials/workflow-tutorials/a-beginners-guide-to-wireframing/">http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/tutorials/workflow-tutorials/a-beginners-guide-to-wireframing/</a></span><br />
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Turnbull, C. (2012, July 26). Codiqa: Mobile App Prototyping, Reinvented. <br />
Retrieved from: <a href="http://web.appstorm.net/reviews/graphic-design/codiqa-easy-mobile-prototyping/">http://web.appstorm.net/reviews/graphic-design/codiqa-easy-mobile-prototyping/</a><br />
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Turner, N. (2010, Nov 18) .Wireframes are dead, long live rapid prototyping.<br />
Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.uxforthemasses.com/rapid-prototyping/" style="color: blue;">http://www.uxforthemasses.com/rapid-prototyping/</a></div>
David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-22820579378212485502012-11-09T22:52:00.002-08:002012-12-21T13:28:24.366-08:00App Development Part 1<br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">App Development Part 1</span></u><br />
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<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Game Development Pay Services</span></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;">Today’s blog entry will be divided into two parts. The first part will focus on pay services
for game app development, and the second will feature DIY development tools. Growing popularity for mobile games has paved
the way for specialized services such as outsourcing game development. Developers have the option to hire a professionals to program for them or create them on their own. Hiring a
professional may be a desired option in cases where the developer lacks skills such as writing code. Outsourcing is often considered expensive in the event the programming requires lots of
time to complete the project. The cost
of expenses for outsourcing your programming varies from pay services. (Stetler, 2011). The following link will direct
you to a </span><a href="http://www.jazdcommunications.com/commtech/leaf/Mobility/Mobile-Application-Development-Services.htm"><span style="color: blue;">list of app development services</span></a><span style="color: white;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />Many of the professional services specialize in various
areas such as security, cloud-based services, business friendly, and many more. Take the time to seek for the service that
best meets your needs as you develop your game.
You may save money by paying only for the services you need. Skilled programmers may charge up to $100/hr. Estimated costs for paying a professional to
develop your game may range from $10,000 to $250,000 and up. (Thomas, 2012). Be
careful that the developing professional has a good reputation before hiring
them. Cutting corners on the quality of
your coding has been known create more issues in the long run. These issues may require more money to fix
them and cause a delay in development. (Stetler, 2011).<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">References:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Stetler, M. (2011,
Jan. 11). APPMUSING BLOG, Hiring a professional App Developer. How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Mobile App?</span><br /><span style="color: white;">Retrieved from: </span><a href="http://appmuse.com/appmusing/how-much-does-it-cost-to-develop-a-mobile-app/"><span style="color: blue;">http://appmuse.com/appmusing/how-much-does-it-cost-to-develop-a-mobile-app/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Thomas, C. (2012). How much does it cost to develop an
app?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Retrieved from: </span><a href="http://www.bluecloudsolutions.com/blog/cost-develop-app/"><span style="background-color: black; color: blue;"> http://www.bluecloudsolutions.com/blog/cost-develop-app/</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span>David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-71710094907139099712012-11-08T22:09:00.002-08:002012-12-21T13:30:23.416-08:00App Development Part 2<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Software development kits (SDK) are specialized to allow for simplified app development. SDKs integrate both the graphic interface and coding into the program. The greatest advantage to using a SDK is the ability to create an app once for multiple platforms. </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Some large companies take advantage of this approach in the instance where they require the graphic interface of an app to be identical across platforms. (Picciotto, 2012).</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"> Using SDK's for development</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"> can be beneficial in cases where time and money are factors for your development decision. SDKs are capable of producing simple apps that require</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">little to no knowledge of coding skills</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">, however complex apps will require coding skills. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black;">Use of</span><span style="background-color: black;"> a one size fits all approach such as an SDK can have its drawbacks. App users may experience conflict issues with software or hardware because the app was not developed using the native code. The graphic interface integrated into the app might confuse the user. (Vyas, 2012). The app will have access to fewer specialized components of the device its used with. Consider custom tailoring your app for each platform to avoid encountering these issues. Doing so will require more time, however the app will be a better quality product. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black;">Other Considerations When Designing your App:</span></div>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;">Hardware limitations such as CPU power</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"> Screen size on devices</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"> Memory storage on mobile </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;">Battery life </span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"> Software limitations</span></li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;">Option of web-based app such as Flash vs HTML 5. Flash and HTML5 may use less device storage, but requires a fast internet connection speed. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">References: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: black;">Picciotto, O. (2012, Aug. 22). </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Solve your many-device-to-many-platform mobile application integration challenges.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Retrieved from: </span></span><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="background-color: black;"><a href="http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/cloud/library/cl-mobileapplatform/index.html">http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/cloud/library/cl-mobileapplatform/index.html</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: black;">Vyas, J. (2012, March 4). </span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">How to design identical UI for cross platform Mobile app?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Retrieved from:</span> <span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/18125/how-to-design-identical-ui-for-cross-platform-mobile-app" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">http://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/18125/how-to-design-identical-ui-for-cross-platform-mobile-app</span></a></div>
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David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-47514719955901155302012-11-08T21:53:00.000-08:002012-12-21T13:32:22.599-08:00Registering Yourself As a Developer<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">It is time to decide which platform you will make your game will be available n</span><span style="color: white;">ow that you have decided on a genre and concept for your game. It is possible for your game to be available on more than one platform as long as the requirements are met. </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Each platform/operating system has its own unique set of requirements or terms of agreement to ensure quality control in the market place. Click the names of each platform to visit each of the following desired pages and f</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">ill out all the information to fulfill the requirements. </span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Take note that some mobile platform/operating systems offer helpful information on their websites such as tutorials, blogs, tools, and other r</span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">esources to assist app developers.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://play.google.com/apps/publish/signup"><span style="color: blue;">Android</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://developer.apple.com/"><span style="color: blue;">iOS/Apple</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://developer.blackberry.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Blackberry</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://licensing.symbian.org/"><span style="color: blue;">Symbian</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsmobile/bb264318.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Windows Mobile</span></a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">App developers have several options when featuring their app in the market place. For example, some developers may choose to sell their app for a set price while others choose to release their app free of charge. Paid apps are typically sold for a one-time fee. Most of the free apps will either feature embedded ads or offer allow players to use real money to buy in-game items. Perform research on each of these methods for offering your game so that you will know which best suits you as a developer. </span></span><br />
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David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-38987877575272792552012-10-26T21:17:00.001-07:002012-12-21T13:32:30.488-08:00Mobile Game Concept<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Today's blog entry will feature the first step in creating a successful mobile game application (App): </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The first step involves </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">choosing a concept</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> for your mobile game. Game concepts can range from very simple to complex. Successful mobile games do not require intense graphics to be popular. For example, take a look at the popular game Words With Friends. Newer mobile devices with increasingly powerful hardware create more opportunity for success with intense graphics. Keep in mind that games using intense graphics could potentially take longer to develop than games using simple graphics. A portion of your choice of the intensity of graphics may rest type/genre you choose for your game. </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">As you probably already know, there are many types of popular genres in mobile games today. </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Some examples include:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> First person shooters</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Role playing</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Action</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Puzzle</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Racing</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Each of the game genres may require</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> different steps</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> for the concept phase of development. For example, a role playing game generally uses more complex story lines and 3D models compared to simple puzzle game. The game may include items such as</span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"> style, design, complexity, story, etc. Popular games such as Angry Birds has been successful in attracting all ages of players. Angry Birds allows for simple play catering to an audience seeking brief distractions throughout their day. A game that requires more time and skills which may result in the game being less popular by the public. You as a developer will need to find the happy balance. Content will play a role in the audience you seek as you develop your game. <a href="http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp"> </a>ESRB provides content ratings for video games on a voluntary basis. ESRB recommends all games to be rated due to some game sellers frowning upon unrated games. Visit <a href="http://www.esrb.org/ratings/faq.jsp">ESRB's FAQ</a> for more information.</span></span></div>
David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792453148901146807.post-29755923286205539452012-10-19T21:13:00.002-07:002012-12-21T13:32:37.383-08:00Creation and Success of a Mobile Application<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have you thought about creating your own mobile game application (app)
for portable devices? Do you know where to begin? Do you know what
makes them successful? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Ever-growing
technology has opened the flood gates for many subtle or not so subtle changes
in America’s culture as we know it. These changes often create a
dependency. For example, can you remember a time when many of your
friends or family did not own cell phones? Portable devices are so
ingrained into our culture that many people might have difficulty getting
through the day without them. There are currently 1 billion smart phones in use
today. Bloomberg estimates that number will double by the year 2015.
(Yang, 2012). With so many individuals using smart phones for
business and personal use, it is no wonder that the demand for mobile apps has
expanded exponentially. The list of mobile apps and their uses grow
each day. These uses might vary greatly from individual to
individual. Keeping track of these apps can get overwhelming
quickly. As a developer, wouldn’t it be nice knowing how to create a
mobile game and what it takes for it to be noticed in the mobile marketplace? Each
Generation of mobile devices has increased progressively in powerful
hardware and software functions. In turn, the latest generation devices always seem to raise the bar for potential in mobile games.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This blog will focus on the process of creating mobile games and the science behind making them successful. I will offer a new blog entry every Friday afternoon. My goal is to provide useful and reliable information to help individuals. </span><br />
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<span style="background: black; color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">References: Yang, J. (2012, Oct. 17).
Smartphones in Use Surpass 1 Billion, Will Double by 2015. </span><span style="background: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">Retrieved from: </span><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-17/smartphones-in-use-surpass-1-billion-will-double-by-2015.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-17/smartphones-in-use-surpass-1-billion-will-double-by-2015.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>David Ransomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18007502028154990162noreply@blogger.com2