Are you a retro game artist? - Windows Phone 7 Software Development

I originally posted this on deviantART earlier today but have received no responses. 1800PocketPC recommended that I also try here. I didn't even think there may be designers lurking in the developer ranks...!
[EDIT: Apparently I'm not allowed to add a link to back-reference the deviantART link because I'm a newbie.]
I'm a software developer from the UK with absolutely no graphical ability. None. Every time I come here and see the awesome visuals that you guys produce I am literally blown away. The sheer range and quality of graphics are mind-blowing.
I'm primarily a web developer but in my past I've been involved with creating Flash-based games along with designers, but my eye's recently been caught by the Windows Phone 7 system that Microsoft are producing and the XNA architecture that you can use to develop games for it.
If you don't know, basically MS are throwing a tonne of money at their new phone operating system (coming out in a couple of months) and will have an application ecosystem similar to Apple's. My plan is to get a few (simple) 2D retro-style games up on their app store to try and capitalise on this surge of new people.
I am more than capable of developing the architecture for the game. I have experience in developing tile-based gaming engines and have already produced one example of a top-down "fighter" game using XNA and some dodgy graphics as a proof-of-concept. My plan is to take this and some other games I have ideas for, develop them in conjunction with a designer (or two) and put them on the marketplace.
I'm looking for someone interested in creating some retro-style game graphics/sprites to help me achieve the goal of selling these games and making us both - hopefully - some money. I'm hoping that someone out there there's someone, possibly a student, who'd like help. Even if the games don't get off the ground (and/or don't make any money), I will provide Windows-executables of the game that the artist might be able to use for course credit, CV, or something similar.
Please note that this is not a paid job. Not up-front, at least. However it is something that I hope will take off and we can arrange a profit-share for. I'm willing to accept the costs of getting onto the approved-developer-list (so that we can submit applications).
Is anyone interested?
Craig.

check out this;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=776429
So, yes there are people interested .. here! right here!
cboy

I have some cogs turning in my head about a variant of audiosurf, except its more of a puzzle, with your favorite tunes. I really think it will take off if its done right, I just need the know-how to develop it myself

Cheers guys
Have emailed you both. Anyone else interested?
I think this is a great idea and my plan is to work with a number of designers on a number of different games/applications/projects over the coming few months, so as many as possible!
Craig.

I'm interested. I have experience in Photoshop (7 years) and am a beginner in character design and fine arts as well. Shoot me an email and I'll show you some of my work.

glad to see you finaly got the ball rolling on this
Saijo George
Editor 1800PocketPC.com

Cheers Saijo - yes, thankfully things seem to be starting to move forward!
Thanks for all your help. I'll let you know when we have something public if you'd like.
Regards,
Craig.

Would love to see it , when you are done with it. just shoot me a mail [email protected] or on twitter @1800PocketPC

Hi,
is your offer still actual? I would be interested in such project.
Worked as a graphic designer for few years. Also have experience with modeling in 3D, hand drawing etc.
Originaly from Czech, currently livingin UK.
Let me know if you still looking for somebody
Cheers
Bobby

Related

Just an idea!

Im fairly new here but in the several months Ive been a member Ive realized that this sight has by far attracted the best developers out there to post there creations here. So I have an idea. Why not select the best 10 or 15 developers around and have them work on one project. One ROM upgrade that is jam packed with only the best of the best, then make it available for as many devices as possible. Why not? Imagine taking some already amazing programs developed by a single developer and having 5 more jump in to. I may be jumping the gun here but I dont think so. Lets get to the point though. I am willing to fund the project if any EXTREMELY experienced programers think they are able to do so. I have the means to market any software created for sales. I currently own a decent size business in Southwest Virginia and two websites, one of which will be dedicated soley to this project. Any programmers whare interested post a reply with a link/download/Info on some of your work and ill pm you with my contact info. Location has to be in the US or CAN. THIS IS NO JOKE!!! Payment for programmers will be determined once people start stepping up but it will be really good as long as your work is the same. Youll be paid before it starts and after that its up to your skills. Hopefully some will step up here. The possibilities are amazing. One last thing. Im not trying to start a Microsoft or Apple, but Ive seen genius work posted here. This is where Windows Mobile phones come to life. Without these programs these phones would be nothin special and we would all be carrying Razrs! I think with the right people and funding something could really turn out. We'll see who replies now?
If the creator of s2p,s2u2,s2v, A_C is interested, I would love to see what you could do for the looks of windows mobile. Your ideas with ten others and good funding WOW.

One of the best WM apps, Griff, looking to become open source- will you take over?

So one of the best apps on Windows Mobile, Griff, is about to die. The developer doesn't want to continue with it. I suggested that he make it open source and let the community take over, rather than let it die. He told me to post an inquiry here and see if there was any interest from the community.
Do any of you developers want to take over? Some more info on Griff:
http://www.planetgriff.com/galleria.php
http://www.planetgriff.com/index.php
The thread where the developer asks me to post here to possibly find someone to take over an open source project:
http://www.planetgriff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1528
For those who don't know, this is the best mobile music making/sequencing app on the market. It has won plenty opf awards. It's virtually unchanged since 2000 (except for adding support for additional resolutions) and still today is better than anything on the iPhone.
I'm hoping there is someone out there who will take over this project and make it continue to be the best app out there as we move onto capacitive screen devices and devices that don't have a d-pad.
If you know of a better place to post this, please post it there...
Hmm Im not really into music making on my phone but It looks like a good piece of software
Im not a developer but I CAN do this
~~~~~BUMP~~~~~~
(lol hope it helps)
Hrm... very very interesting indeed! This would blend my personal life (writing music), professional life (development) and my hobbies (big focus on PDA's and WinMo for the last 4+ years) very well.
I'd be interested in joining a group to do this - I couldn't take it over alone (there just isn't enough time).
What language / libraries are used?
I was a C/C++ programmer at one time. Today I'm mainly enterprise Java with a smattering of other stuff. I've also designed quite a bit as well (project plans, UML, ROI, yada yada yada corporate stuff).
I run our corporate builds and manage developer assignments / team coordination - so out of the box I can pledge to help with source code management and developer support / project coordination. These are easy for me as I do 'em all day every day. Besides active development, as well
I'd like to see a few people express interest and I think I'd be willing to jump in with both feet here - especially if it migrated to a freeware kind of system.
~Eric
Oh please someone take this over and make it COOL. It has potential but the UI is so unintuitive. I been doing pro audio for years and years and years and I had to drop the idea of killing time with this app.
B-to-the-IZUMP
Griff is easily one of the best applications for music production on windows mobile and indeed any mobile platform.
Im not a dev but i write music... i would be happy to get involved with this project somehow.
i do have some experience with programming but my code would probably be buggy as hell
I am personally very interested in this. only demoed the thing but found it really, really brilliant.
I can't promise I will have much free time for it, but I will be more than happy to give all the support I can.
I can do sourceforge, github, C/C++ also for Windows Mobile, C# for what matters. I can also do a lot of other things that probably don't apply in this context
cheers,
Aldo
bloody hell.. I didnt even know such an app existed.. thanks for sharing.. now who is going to take it over.
devices that don't have a d-pad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean 500+$ phones.
Edit: Just excited to see offers of contribution
You might be late on your ESP payment, looks like service is down and giving you erroneous insight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fixed now, sry.
*bow* thank you, I'm still optomistic that a project like this can come together and resurrect a great piece of paid software into a community-driven piece of open source and freeware.
~Eric
And I didnt heard of this software before now?
Greetings and what a piece of software.
I'm a producer myself and have been looking for a software as this, looks awsome.
I'm not a developer but hoping that someone here will take over this fantastic project.
Haven't used Griff in a few years, but I'd would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see this project brought current.
Wow
This looks like something that could blend so well into an HD2.....and give Intua Beat Maker (iPhone), a very good run for the money.
I looks like it just needs a home start and a drum pad section, and it matches the best iPhone has to offer.
I hope someone takes this and runs with it.
please make it happend!
Greywolf_Ghost said:
Wow
This looks like something that could blend so well into an HD2.....and give Intua Beat Maker (iPhone), a very good run for the money.
I looks like it just needs a home start and a drum pad section, and it matches the best iPhone has to offer.
I hope someone takes this and runs with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that would be nice
So here's what I know so far - Griff is primarily a single developer project with ~ 300 cpp/.h files based on the MFC framework. There's a couple of people who write plugins for it.
So, I'm in if Daniel (the developer / code owner) decides to go open-source with the project. Looks like we have several SMEs and testers ready to go - anyone interested in contributing with the coding? I can go it alone, but life has its time constraints
~Eric
eknutson said:
So here's what I know so far - Griff is primarily a single developer project with ~ 300 cpp/.h files based on the MFC framework. There's a couple of people who write plugins for it.
So, I'm in if Daniel (the developer / code owner) decides to go open-source with the project. Looks like we have several SMEs and testers ready to go - anyone interested in contributing with the coding? I can go it alone, but life has its time constraints
~Eric
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't now much about coding, but I do own Visual Studio 2008 (was planning on getting into it) and I would be happy to try. I do make a lot of music on the PC though (using Cubase) so I could definitely contribute some ideas at least.
I would definitely be willing to help with the coding too provided someone can help me out when I get stuck.
awesome SD!
~Eric
Neither I was aware about this application. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I play the guitar and the piano myself and occasionally I do some home-recording with Cubase although it is just a hobby. But still, I have a few ideas and knowledge about the music-tools available out there.
Playing around with Cubase is not my only hobby - I am also fond of programming. Unfortunately I hardly know any C++ at all since I am old "Basic"-user and now I am programming (both for desktop and Windows Mobile) in the .Net enviroment with C# and VB.Net.
So I doubt I could help with programming but I could indeed help with beta-testing (since I know the "logic" and way of thinking normally used by a programmer).
Just to summarize, I am ready to give a helping hand.

Just found a Doodle Jump like game for WP7!

Guys I don't know exactly whether or not this is the right place to post this, but I'm just SO EXCITED right now.
While searching for cool WP7 apps I just found a game called "Doodle Tower".
It looks pretty much like Doodle Jump for the iPhone! I can't wait to get my hands on this one, read some UK forums and many people say it's even better than the original Doodle Jump.
There are like 8-9 platform types with different functions and the level generator seems to be pretty solid with a combination of randomization and scripts!
Has it been released yet or is it "Coming soon" ?
It's already released!
You can find it in the marketplace by searching "Doodle Tower" or have a look at some screenshots at the developer homepage: modmonkeys.net
I would post links to some reviews and opinions I read about it, but I'm not yet allowed to do so because I'm new to this forum.
Thanks, I'll take a look.
Update: Just taken a look at the game....no way is it better than doodlejump. The level design is the most simple thing I've ever seen. good foundations, but it needs some proper skinning before I even consider a purchase.
In my opinion the level design is exactly the thing that makes it more interesting than Doodle Jump. You have to see that Doodle Jump received dozens of updates and this game is at it's beginning, however the platform types currently in the game are much more fun than in Doodle Jump.
It is more random than the Doodle Jump levels, Doodle Jump got boring as soon as you have seen the possible platform segments. Doodle Tower uses more randomization without giving up the scripted segments, they just combine it a very balanced way.
The game misses some background enhancements and enemies or some special effects, but the foundation is more solid than Doodle Jump 1.0 has been back then. It will be interesting to see what the devs plan in future updates, I personally love it the way it is atm, and I'm sure I will love it even more with future updates!
All in all Doodle Tower is the best game of its kind you can get for WP7 at the moment. Doodle Jump may have more updates, but Doodle Tower will receive more and more content, I'm pretty sure about that.
Hi guys,
I'm one of the lucky German citizens that received their WP7 device yesterday. And I just registered here to thank FW8 for this topic!
I was sceptically when I saw the screens, but hell, the gameplay is freaking awesome!
Played it for about 1-2 hours and it's still a lot of fun! I'm using every free minute trying to get a new highscore.
I'm missing online leaderboards, enemies and some cool special effecs (particles or something that uses the power of my device a bit) but for an early version it is just BADASS!
MonsterUp
As you may have already noticed, Doodle Tower was taken down an replaced with Birdy something because of naming disputes. No matter though, cause our game, MonsterUp, is way better and available since beginning of January. Already voted best WP7 for January 2011, featured in Channel9 Hot Apps show, and getting awesome reviews in the Marketplace.
Check it out at www.kariosgames.com, get the trial version and let us know what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE_XtxZgrvs

DEV IDEA POOL [Sift through for ideas] USERS must post REQUESTS/IDEAS here -MANDATORY

Not with all the live stuff (would be nice though) but when I flip something up it goes into trash or closes it (think it is nice interaction) also with only pages/programs open shows up in screen slides with this interaction. Could possibly make winmo perform a little better. Sorry for bad wording and such but pressed for time at work Hope someone takes interest in this .
A really good simple app idea for Windows Phone 7
Its funny how one always has a great app idea after the event (read; http://www.windowsphone7.com/ineedt...2526pmodex253D1x2526gridviewx253D0#pbbh21054p),
An app I thought that would be really cool is a supermarket price comparison. The 'story' is that you visit you local store with your shopping list on your phone; the phone checks off the items on the list when you scan their respective barcodes, also as you scan the barcode it brings up the price for the product and the price from the competitor supermarket chains. I think this app would really sell well, and people will buy it because they know they will make their money back in their first shop
What do you guys think?
i would definitely use it
+1 !
but the problem is: who will update the price and the product list?
I believe there already is an API available (for the web -UK supermarkets) which does this for you...all a coder/dev needs to do is build the app.
an API for worldwide would be perfect... i think google provide such api for US/europe?
otherwise, maybe somebody can find an agreement with online stores to provide prices and models ...
really the idea is interesting and someone should start coding it (personnaly i don't currently have enough time )
I remember hearing of the Iphone porting of apps a while back
I was just wandering is anyone actually doing this? I know there is an windows equivalent every now and then but sometimes the apple app works better. I know I am a 6'4 guy that 270, and I love the Lose it App (my fiance has) and I know about vita one (no were near the build in database). And other things that help communicate with others and such. I am not going to apple been there 2x and always perferred windows mobile for the last 6+ years just wanted to ask this. If someone took it up to port apps I am pretty sure there would be hundreds or thousands of people willing to donate/pay for your hard work. Just a thought.
Problem with porting certain apps, is it requires you to actually have a iPhone
If you got some links to apps you would like ported, with screenshots and so on, I'd love to check it out, as porting apps is a good challenge to get familiar with the development environment.
Thanks I meant to put this in the development and hacking section in general not just windows 7 , here is a link to one of them I thought about creating a bounty or reward system for people to request apps and pay developers here to port them? Here is the link for one http://www.loseit.com/
really nice app because the database is constantly updated with nutrition facts from most of places we eat. I will have more later when I repo my girls phone for a while.
I would totally use this. I have the Shopaid app and it is okay, but doesn't update the price and such
The thing is with applications like that, is it depends more on the data that's available. Duplicating the interface into a Metro styled hub for weight-loss and exercise could be done in a day or two, but getting the actual data setup is a completely other story.
Beyond that, you can be totally sure people will duplicate that type of app.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_A4TdEV3Sk
Looks like someones already getting the ball rolling.
Someone is already developing that app actually, just go to Youtube and type "windows phone price check app" and you'll see. I can't post the link because I'm new here! The app looks amazing so far.
My company, with decades of experience with Windows development, is looking to break into mobile development in a big way with the launch of WP7. We have a couple of original ideas we are working on, but we would also like to officially port a successful iPhone app or game for some additional credibility.
I've approached a couple of different iPhone app developers with this proposal:
>>Let us port your app at our expense and we split the proceeds 50/50.
>>You retain all ownership and have quality assurance approval before launch.
I have tried every phrasing I can think of to convince them I am legitimate and that I want to create an arrangement where I take on 100% of the risk, but we share equally in the reward.
So far, not even a reply.
Any ideas?
Regards,
Jason
ebook readers
I curently have an HD2 and will probable end up with a WP7 device at some point when they come out. However I'm a big ebook fan and at the moment i'm tempted to get an android phone so that I can use he Kindle app. I'm waiting to see what developers come up with for WP7.
Do you think there's a good chance of a kinde app or something like it being made for WP7?
Cheers
Steve
I think so. I think the amount of sales will be suprising, and that there will be more hardware with WP7 on it than critics give it credit for. There are alot of peopl ethat HAVE an iPhone that want out. My father just got the AT&T Galaxy S (Captivate) and loves it, diching his iPhone 3G.
I think they would be silly not to. I'd prefer a Nook app on WP7 myself, but something to start would be nice!
Brandon Watson said they were worknig with developers who already had WM apps - that means B&N for sure. MS also has an eboo reader but it's unclear if they are going to bundle it with the phone (not likely). Based on the ease of writing WP7 apps I'd suspect all of the large developers to write a WP7 app and they are permitted to have their ebook stores.
Let's hope that you guys are right and there is a strong enough uptake to make all the big players developer readers for WP7. competition is a good thing after all!
Cheers
Steve
I relay like your idea…
After all because I had nearly the same
But I would give it more features…
X Online Service for the markets where they can register the products with barcode and price
-„POI“ Database with geodata of the markets
-Markets can enter special offers
X Online „Community“ section
-Users can Post reviews and vote for products
-Users can vote for markets / stores
-Users can enter alternate products
X Private section for Users
-You can make your grocery list an search for alternate products
-You can enter an amount of saving and a distance you would go for
So the system could give you a shopping tour
Now to the Phone App
X The App can download your grocery
X You can make a Live price comparison with the barcode
-The app could give you a market / store, it would consider your amount of saving and a distance you would go for
X You can do a live vote for Products and Stores
X You can enter a grocery list
X You can search for alternate products
X The app would use the geodata and GPS
SHOP NAV!
I thought of an app years ago called shop nav.
You type in your shopping list and your phone guides you around the store in the correct route.If your in your local then you know where everything is.but how many times have you shopped in a different store one only to find everything is in a different place.You spend most of your time doubling back on your self and walking up the same flaming isle 3 times!.Supermakets are getting bigger and if an app like this was possible it would save everyone time and ease shop congestion.

Appaloosa for WP7

Sadly this project is no more. We were a dev team of 3 people who had about 3 months into Appaloosa. However, the slow build of the WP7 platform and some reported low sales numbers in the App Marketplace made it hard to justify the additional time needed to bring this title to market.
Was very hard to let go of so much work and creative energy.
Here is a walk thru of an alpha build. It definately shows what that phone is capable of pushing (forum is perventing the url, sorry first post).
img816.imageshack.us/img816/3521/32430348.mp4
You're kidding, right?
The WP7 platform has had a faster uptake than both iOS and Android when they were first launched. As for marketplace sales, I don't know what numbers you have seen, but games is what generally sells well, especially ones with great graphics as they are not only used as a game but also as a "look at what my phone can do" kinda thing amongst the owners friends.
From the video, and with no background information available, it doesn't look like a game for me, but if it was performing well and priced correctly I would still probably pick it up.
Anyway, that's my $0.02.
Hi there
lard666 said:
However, the slow build of the WP7 platform and some reported low sales numbers in the App Marketplace[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know exactly what numbers you are referring to, but I guess you mean LG's statement. Isn't LG maybe just part of the picture? There are Samsung and HTC that are currently the main sellers of WP7. (for the shares, look here: http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/wp7oem.png)
Although I can't exactly be sure why LG is doing that bad (it might have to do something with the phone they offer...) - that's up for speculation.
I'd like to add that T-Mobile Germany just stated that they are ahead of their plans regarding WP7 sales (source: http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/201...-windows-phone-7-sales-are-ahead-of-schedule/ along with several other sites)
Personally, I don't get the impression that WP7 is doing badly.
lard666 said:
Was very hard to let go of so much work and creative energy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Judging from what is shown in the trailer, I'd say it's a great thing you did so far.
And I'd like to buy a version as soon as it is out (I know that I am just one person - but there might be others who think the same)
lard666 said:
Here is a walk thru of an alpha build. It definately shows what that phone is capable of pushing (forum is perventing the url, sorry first post).
img816.imageshack.us/img816/3521/32430348.mp4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like stated above, it looks fantastic up 'till now.
I'd like you to continue your work and take this project all the way to the Marketplace.
Wow! That looks absolutely amazing.
Maybe this is a stupid suggestion but if you get it to be an xbox live game (they seem to do well) then it has every chance of being a success. Not sure how much Microsoft will take but worth consdering.
Good job!
I'm with you guys. I don't even know what this game is about but from the alpha build the 3D graphics look slick as hell. If you look at a game like Zombies!!! MS took it under its wing, gave it XBox Live integration and now it'll get a sh!tload of sales because of that. And that seems to be what they're donig with high performance games so it's worth pursuing...
If you write for Android you won't make money. No one buys anything on that platform. if you write for iOS no one will see your game in the sea of apps. WP7 still has potential.
Moving this to SW development since this is an ongoing project. Once its in the "its an app" stage I will move it back to the release section.
~~Tito~~
With regard to the kind words about the looks of the project, thank you.
The environment for level one (which was shown in the video in it's incomplete form) was 210K polygons.
Appaloosa is an old school western pistol pack'n arcade style shooter. It's based in a fantastic, toony, world centered loosely around America's late 1800's Old West. It's a rail shooter with shorter action-areas that can be completed in a single mobile time wasting session. So think western popup shooter crossed with Time Crisis; and add tumble-weed bonus rounds ala Galaga. It also had direct Face Book integration for quick posting of achievements. The game was to be priced at $.99 for each level (we were toying with the idea of releasing one level at a time, episodic style) or $2.99 for the complete game.
About WP7 being viable (currently, say this year 2011) to develop apps for... I don't see the indicators or hard data that proves so. And I'm not saying this with a confrontational tone, I just haven't seen any. I keep hearing lazy statistics (which are easily manipulated like, "fastest sales", "highest rate of apps", "most devs to date", etc.) and praise ("performing better then expected")... but the hard numbers are being held for some reason. I would bet no one had recovered their time investment for WP7 development yet, let along make a living from it.
Regardless, the numbers of phones sold is something to be mindful of, but more important is how the paid apps are selling. And the short answer is they aren't.
Games sell more then any other app and 'LIVE' games sell the most. We knew we would be dead in the water without 'LIVE' support, but when we spoke to a MSFT rep in Belgium we got the answer, "oh LIVE... yes yes, that is tricky. Probably can't get you LIVE status; that is reserved for the big guys. Let me know when your game is done, and I will see what I can do to push it up the list."
We were also in contact with a dev studio who's game has always been in the top 10 and has "LIVE" certification. Their game has sold in the tens of thousands; which doesn't even cover dev costs. Maybe the costs will be recovered over the next year. But that 'maybe' was a risk I couldn't take; not with a self-funded (sweat equity) game.
We weren't looking to make big bucks. Just wanted to be able to exercise our craft and make a living. Everyone on the team was willing to live on 1/3 a typical studio salary in exchange for creative freedom and a chance to gain from their own sweat equity. We all brought senior experience to the table (I've worked on Tomb Raider, Half-Life, Tribes, Tony Hawk, and others). Sadly, the numbers aren't there. Punch in some basic math numbers on keeping 3 people alive for a 9 month dev cycle; plus additional time for sales and payment, and it's just not an equation that balances yet. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I'm bound by the realities of the real world, so at the New Year we had to evaluate the project progress and platform landscape.
If anyone has direct access to a MSFT rep, I would be happy to chat with them about bringing the game to market; Or point them to this post.
I guess the point of this post is that the phone is capable of pushing some great graphics and supporting original, mobile specific, titles of very high quality. But if a tiny 3 person team can't justify a 9 months development risk... then I see a chicken-n-egg scenario formed.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=902681
the person that posted this works for Microsoft... send him a message.
@lard666 One thing you have not accounted for in your numbers are Xbox sales. I am assuming this is written in XNA which means you can release it on the Xbox with it's 30 million users and $1 billion revenue last year almost at the flick of a switch.
I'm not saying this means you would definitely recoup your costs, but I know quite a few people who have high-selling titles on XBL, so it is possible.
I'd also like to point out that regional MS reps are nowhere near as helpful as their US counterparts. We had more luck contacting US people directly than we did liaising with the Swedish reps. I cannot say for certain that this is the same everywhere, but I have had similar experience in two other European countries in the past.
I'll forward this to Brandon Watson right now.
Guess you didn't hear about the Nokia deal. Too bad you quit.
lard666 said:
With regard to the kind words about the looks of the project, thank you.
The environment for level one (which was shown in the video in it's incomplete form) was 210K polygons.
Appaloosa is an old school western pistol pack'n arcade style shooter. It's based in a fantastic, toony, world centered loosely around America's late 1800's Old West. It's a rail shooter with shorter action-areas that can be completed in a single mobile time wasting session. So think western popup shooter crossed with Time Crisis; and add tumble-weed bonus rounds ala Galaga. It also had direct Face Book integration for quick posting of achievements. The game was to be priced at $.99 for each level (we were toying with the idea of releasing one level at a time, episodic style) or $2.99 for the complete game.
About WP7 being viable (currently, say this year 2011) to develop apps for... I don't see the indicators or hard data that proves so. And I'm not saying this with a confrontational tone, I just haven't seen any. I keep hearing lazy statistics (which are easily manipulated like, "fastest sales", "highest rate of apps", "most devs to date", etc.) and praise ("performing better then expected")... but the hard numbers are being held for some reason. I would bet no one had recovered their time investment for WP7 development yet, let along make a living from it.
Regardless, the numbers of phones sold is something to be mindful of, but more important is how the paid apps are selling. And the short answer is they aren't.
Games sell more then any other app and 'LIVE' games sell the most. We knew we would be dead in the water without 'LIVE' support, but when we spoke to a MSFT rep in Belgium we got the answer, "oh LIVE... yes yes, that is tricky. Probably can't get you LIVE status; that is reserved for the big guys. Let me know when your game is done, and I will see what I can do to push it up the list."
We were also in contact with a dev studio who's game has always been in the top 10 and has "LIVE" certification. Their game has sold in the tens of thousands; which doesn't even cover dev costs. Maybe the costs will be recovered over the next year. But that 'maybe' was a risk I couldn't take; not with a self-funded (sweat equity) game.
We weren't looking to make big bucks. Just wanted to be able to exercise our craft and make a living. Everyone on the team was willing to live on 1/3 a typical studio salary in exchange for creative freedom and a chance to gain from their own sweat equity. We all brought senior experience to the table (I've worked on Tomb Raider, Half-Life, Tribes, Tony Hawk, and others). Sadly, the numbers aren't there. Punch in some basic math numbers on keeping 3 people alive for a 9 month dev cycle; plus additional time for sales and payment, and it's just not an equation that balances yet. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I'm bound by the realities of the real world, so at the New Year we had to evaluate the project progress and platform landscape.
If anyone has direct access to a MSFT rep, I would be happy to chat with them about bringing the game to market; Or point them to this post.
I guess the point of this post is that the phone is capable of pushing some great graphics and supporting original, mobile specific, titles of very high quality. But if a tiny 3 person team can't justify a 9 months development risk... then I see a chicken-n-egg scenario formed.
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