Game quiz: from idea to appstore
In 2013, our company decided for the first time to take part in the GDCEurope exhibition, and not just like that, but by taking a stand. The place we got was not the best thing to do, so there were no numerous non-politically correct ideas about attractive stand assistants and other questionable activities. But in the end we decided to make an application for the iPad and invited visitors to spend 15 minutes guessing their favorite games. Since we are working in the field of localization, we suggested guessing the game by quotation. And since this is only possible for hardcore players, then for the sake of expanding the audience and facilitating the gameplay, we decided to supplement the quotes with images suggestive of the game (the screenshots were decided not to take, fearing the right holders).
Below we have tried to briefly describe our path to a working prototype.
It all started with the concept:
Slightly more formalized look:
')
Mockups of the page with the main game mechanics - the necessary elements (there was no iPad in the standard settings of the program, I had to draw in an inverted iPhone).
The final list of games and quotes (initially there were about 120 options) began to be collected in parallel with the development of the application itself. All friends and partners helped, the most difficult thing was to choose the top 20.
The result was 167 games in the database to select the correct answer (to collect information about games, we used all the wealth of the Internet, in particular, sites like gamesdbase.com , which contain lists of all games ever released).
Draw art for each game.
It could look like this:
or so:
But then we decided to hire an artist:
And here are the steps to create one of the pictures:
General description of the concept (in the language of mobile application developers, that is, rather dry):
There are a number of questions and a list of several thousand answer options common to all questions. The user reads the question and selects the answer from the list.
Questions and answer options are taken from the server via web services. The correctness of the answer is checked in the client part. At the end of the passage the user is prompted to enter their data The results of the quiz and the entered data are sent to the server and recorded there.
This is how the instructions for working with the admin panel look like:
This is how the gameplay itself looks like (the screenshot was taken at the functional testing stage):
Interface (contact form):
After several months of development, we received a ready-made prototype, installed working ipads, tested office work and went to the conference - there was a competition for the most erudite visitor and PS Vita award as a prize. All those who took part in our game were relied upon by the Medhroids and Airedisks as stickers on phones or tablets.
Andreas Madenis (Blue Byte GmbH) won the main prize
Recently, we decided to return to the application - in plans to launch it in the AppStore and GooglePlay.
To do this, we plan to add some functionality:
1) several game modes - at the time, infinite, with prompts, change the format of the answer (the choice of several options);
2) add a social element: the ability to share results with friends, ratings of participants, etc.
Tentative terms are:
1. Revision and deployment of the server, revision of the android application (icons of social networks, “about the company” and other trifles), publication on the Android Market - 2-3 weeks depending on the amount of changes.
2. Load testing the server - 1 week, but at that time the application will already be running.
3. On the iOS version, you need 4-6 weeks with testing and publishing. But to start immediately after paragraph 1 and 2 is not worth it.
What do you think?
Below we have tried to briefly describe our path to a working prototype.
It all started with the concept:
Slightly more formalized look:
')
Mockups of the page with the main game mechanics - the necessary elements (there was no iPad in the standard settings of the program, I had to draw in an inverted iPhone).
The final list of games and quotes (initially there were about 120 options) began to be collected in parallel with the development of the application itself. All friends and partners helped, the most difficult thing was to choose the top 20.
| # | Quote | Game |
| one | - Okay, I have only one question, very important question: - Got gum. | Resident evil |
| 2 | Pretty ones over there, Ugly ones over here. Personally, I think everyone is beautiful. Mostly me. | World of goo |
| 3 | The cake is a lie | Portal |
| four | But our Princess is in another castle! | Mario |
| five | Finish him! | Mortal kombat |
| 6 | Names are for friends ... so I don’t need one. | Hitman |
| 7 | All right, now I'm seriously serious! | Serious sam |
| eight | Limbo's biggest loser? | DmC: Devil May Cry |
| 9 | They were all dead. The final gunshot was led to this point. | Max payne |
| ten | It smells like a whale ... ate some cabbage ... and died in your mouth ... like a year ago. | Brutal legend |
| eleven | If you want to make enemies .... try to change something. | Deus ex |
| 12 | - Are you afraid of god? - No, but I'm afraid of you. | Bioshock |
| 13 | Puurrfect. When taking up too much space. | Alice: Madness Returns |
| 14 | What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets! | Castlevania |
| 15 | A strong man doesn't need to read the future. He makes his own. | Metal gear solid |
| sixteen | Sometimes you have some eggs, ya know? | Grand Theft Auto |
| 17 | Jason! Jaaaaaaaaason! | Heavy rain |
| 18 | What is locked - can be opened, what is hidden? | Thief |
| nineteen | Hello, my friend. Stay awhile and listen ... | Diablo |
| 20 | ... the world. Where to strike? <...> You should be done towards the Brotherhood towards this final victory. The choice, my friend, is yours. | Command & Conquer |
The result was 167 games in the database to select the correct answer (to collect information about games, we used all the wealth of the Internet, in particular, sites like gamesdbase.com , which contain lists of all games ever released).
Draw art for each game.
It could look like this:
or so:
But then we decided to hire an artist:
And here are the steps to create one of the pictures:
General description of the concept (in the language of mobile application developers, that is, rather dry):
There are a number of questions and a list of several thousand answer options common to all questions. The user reads the question and selects the answer from the list.
Questions and answer options are taken from the server via web services. The correctness of the answer is checked in the client part. At the end of the passage the user is prompted to enter their data The results of the quiz and the entered data are sent to the server and recorded there.
This is how the instructions for working with the admin panel look like:
This is how the gameplay itself looks like (the screenshot was taken at the functional testing stage):
Interface (contact form):
After several months of development, we received a ready-made prototype, installed working ipads, tested office work and went to the conference - there was a competition for the most erudite visitor and PS Vita award as a prize. All those who took part in our game were relied upon by the Medhroids and Airedisks as stickers on phones or tablets.
Andreas Madenis (Blue Byte GmbH) won the main prize
Recently, we decided to return to the application - in plans to launch it in the AppStore and GooglePlay.
To do this, we plan to add some functionality:
1) several game modes - at the time, infinite, with prompts, change the format of the answer (the choice of several options);
2) add a social element: the ability to share results with friends, ratings of participants, etc.
Tentative terms are:
1. Revision and deployment of the server, revision of the android application (icons of social networks, “about the company” and other trifles), publication on the Android Market - 2-3 weeks depending on the amount of changes.
2. Load testing the server - 1 week, but at that time the application will already be running.
3. On the iOS version, you need 4-6 weeks with testing and publishing. But to start immediately after paragraph 1 and 2 is not worth it.
What do you think?
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/234179/
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