App Review: Timberman (the new Flappy Bird?)

Gameplay screenshot

I know everyone watching apps nowadays is looking out for the ‘new flappy bird’ or just an app which will reach its successes. There have been many apps which have flown us by in the last few months, none which haven’t reached the heights of FB. But this app looks more likely than others to take the top spot.

Timberman made by Digital Melody the first thing we notice about this app is that looks-wise it is very reminiscent of Flappy Bird. Its pixelated graphics are nothing to shout about and it’s simple tapping controls take us all back to the controls of Flappy Bird.

Familiarity: This is very important for app success, hell it’s one of the reasons flappy bird was so successful. Players want something familiar, a twist on an old game is what makes user acquisition and activation so easy. Lets go through a few examples:

• Flappy Bird: With simple controls and a look which was very very close to Mario with the green pipes and grassed floor.
• Candy Crush Saga: Basically it’s the other popular match 3 game Bejewelled with candy and a few more power ups
• Jetpack Joyride: Takes after Canabalt and other infinite or endless runner games. They just added a power up and level up mechanic with stars and different obstacles.

All these games are just evolutions of what has come before, I’m sure you could draw a family tree and trace it all back to Tetris or Pong. But too much of a similarity can be very damaging and shorten the life time and success of your app. Just look at all the clones in the app store of successful games. So what makes Timberman like Flappy Bird, but better?

Like Flappy Bird or infinite runner games the player just need to get as far as they can. They have to chop down the tree without getting hit by a tree branch. These branches appear randomly on the left or right of the tree and players must swap sides of the tree to avoid them.

Controls: During the game the player must tap on the left hand side of the screen to make the Timberman cut from the left hand side of the tree or tap the right hand side of the screen to make him cut right. Again it’s simplicity makes it a winner, like Flappy Bird and candy crush a simple tap or swipe is all that is required of the player to continue.

Social: When first playing it asks you to log into your android account (I played on android, I assume something similar happens on iOS) and it also encourages you to share your score via twitter. This game has the extra viral link that Flappy Bird didn’t. Thus giving it potential to grow and grow with the teen market.

Monetisation: The app allows you to unlock new characters the further you progress. Players can also skip this by making a £0.79 purchase on the app store. The app also contains ads which it obviously draws revenue from. But are these ads too annoying as to drive people away?

Problems: The game will not be as popular as Flappy Bird or Candy Crush. Why? A few reasons:

One of the very annoying ads which pop up and interrupt gameplay

• The game requires urgency and concentration, the player needs to chop and chop fast if they want to go further than their previous record. This extra concentration makes this game less of a relaxing game or a game you might play on your down time (like CCS or the slow paced Flappy Bird). I can see players only giving it a few tries before giving up.
• The game has ads in it. This would be fine if they were just at the top or bottom of the screen during play like other free games. But unfortunately they appear up on screen and interrupt play. Recent research has shown that this can be fatal in driving people away from your app especially if the game isn’t very engaging.
• Too similar to Flappy Bird. It will draw crowds and it has done so but I don’t think this game has anything over Flappy Bird. It’s certainly an evolution from the frustrating little bird but not so far as to draw people for long. It needs a huge social following and a viral factor which will help it grow.

Verdict

This is a fun app and worth a download, you’ll soon find yourself addicted and comparing scores with friends. But how will it perform in the long term? This app will probably remain a success for a few weeks, but I cant see it going beyond that. We won’t be hitting play, start, select on apps in the future and saying “oh, I wonder if this is going to be the new Timberman”

But what do you think?

Top 5 apps in the app store this week

A few notable mentions for this week. We’ve seen some apps rise to the top of the app store knocking off such kings as Candy Crush and Flappy Bird remakes. So with thousands of apps out there it can be hard to find those great jewels within the charts. This list hopes to make it a bit easier for you. All apps on this list are free and are based around the Android app store but all exist in the iOS store also.

There’s something here for everyone! So play, start and select some of these for all your app needs.

 

1. Don’t Tap The White Tile

Price: Free

Currently at the top spot in the app store this strangely simple app has hooked a lot of us. The game is as simple as it’s name. Don’t tap the white tile. Players must tap the black tile at the bottom of the screen as fast as possible. Once a tile is tapped the whole row disappears and players must tap the next one. Sounds boring but it has hooked many app players this week. Try to beat your own score and those of friends in this simple but addictive puzzler. This game requires quick reactions to play. Despite it’s addictiveness I can’t see it lasting for long in the top spot.

Score: 7/10

 

2: Godzilla: Strike Zone

Price: Free

This is a great companion to the movie or an introduction for those who haven’t yet seen the feature film. You play as a soldier dropped into the city via HALO jump, you must land safely in the city amongst all the chaos and navigate the streets to get to civilians. All the while the treat of Godzilla hangs over you. See my full review here

Score 8/10

 

3: Plague Inc.

Price: Free

You may have played similar games to this online like Pandemic. If not this game is a morally questionable one. You play as a disease, your objective to destroy the human race. You must evolve the disease to help it reach new countries, battle a cure, and eventually kill the population of the world. Sounds horrible but is a fun game to play. It doesn’t require a great deal of attention so can be easily played on the way to work. You level up and can unlock many game modes and also save you game for later.

Score 9/10

 

4: Monster Busters

Price: Free

Claiming to be the most advanced match 3 game ever. As you guessed it’s a match 3 game. The game effects are very similar to Candy Crush and you will recognize some of the effects through matching 4 in a row and so on. Much like Candy Crush there are lives too, so don’t be surprised if there are micro-transaction pop ups which appear on screen. Levels are split on a tower based system (pictured). It requires players to have a Facebook account to play. The story feels more developed than Candy Crush too. If you love match 3 games this is the one for you this week.

Score: 8/10

 

5: Sonic Racing Transformed

This is a beautiful app from SEGA with mechanics like Mario Kart and Angry Birds GO it is a great. Players drive around the track racing others, picking up power ups and boosts and trying to beat the other racers. The graphics are great and the controls are quick and easy to pick up in seconds. For a free app I was quite impressed with the quality and is a definite top app of this week!

Score: 9/10

 

Let me know what your app of the week is in the comment section below.

App Review: Cut the Rope 2

With this sequel it seems as though Zeptolab behind Cut the Rope are trying to create a fuller brand full of new
characters, depth of storyline and a better game than the original. Obviously there are other sub games to the franchise like Cut the Rope: Experiments but this is the first to return to the original game and add upon it significantly.

The first Cut the Rope game saw great success and it allowed the game to expand into new levels and make the game a noticeable brand in the app store. Cut the Rope 2 expands this further and gives a game which has more personality and fun than the original.

Downloading and first time play – Downloading the game was fast and generally this app is very quick due to its small size. Loading screens only take a few seconds compared to larger apps like Injustice and Tiny Death Star.

The game is introduced with a mini cartoon which shows Om nom the green happy faced character looking discernibly sad as his candy hoard is stolen away from him and the pieces are scattered around different areas. This game is a physics puzzler with great simplicity which gradually increases.

This makes acquisition and activation very short and allows the player of any age to pick up new skills and techniques to get the candy to Om noms mouth.

Gameplay – The gameplay is very simple, so simple it could be played with one hand and simple swipes or taps on the screen are all that is needed for control. Gameplay is relaxed so you won’t find yourself rushing or furiously tapping your smartphone or tablet.

How is it different from the last one? – There are several additions which make this game markedly different from the last game. Notable additions are:

• New characters which help reunite Om nom with his candy pieces
• Cartoon mini episodes called Om nom stories – they operate as a method of introducing new characters

• Purchasable power ups which allow players to complete the levels in any way they choose
• Each level has 3 challenges – 1 to collect all stars, 1 to collect fruit, and 1 unique challenge to the level

 

Look and feel – The graphics in a cartoon style are very smooth and the bright colours give a nice look. Bright colours help discern different characters and game elements.

Progression and levels – Levels are displayed in a map format like app games like Candy Crush, giving the game a nice sense of progressions. On the level map are several barriers. But don’t worry payment or social connection isn’t required simply completing enough levels is all that is needed.

Monetisation – Micro-transactions are present but it is far from necessary. The game is generous is its gifting of coins for level completion. These allow players to purchase hints or power ups to help players complete levels. Players can watch Cut the Rope mini cartoons to earn coins or watch ads to earn coins as well. All of which are unlocked as the player progresses through the map.

There is also an ‘energy’ system like with other game like Candy Crush or Angry Birds GO which prevents players playing for long periods or trying a level too many times. This restricts gameplay which can be irritating and is of course an attempt to get the player to buy more energy. But this is the only down side to the game.

 

Social – There is a simple optional Facebook connection button to allow you to compare yourself to your friends.

Verdict

This app is tons of fun, it’s gameplay is simplistic and the gradual difficulty curve allows anyone to pick up and play in seconds. The Om Nom Stories add a great fun new element to the app and make earning extra coins a joy and not an expense. Obviously there are micro-transactions but all are far from necessary to continue gameplay. This app is sure to keep many adults and children pressing play, start and select on this game for a long time.

But what do you think?

 

App Store Rage Games: A New Trend

The two biggest app games of the past few months are clearly Flappy Bird and Candy Crush. Both succeeded due to simple short burst gameplay which leaves the player frustrated because they were ‘almost there’ whether this was through running out of moves in Candy Crush or just hitting the pipe in Flappy Bird.

What do these games have in common I hear you ask. It’s the frustration factor or rage games as many of you may know them. There are several unfair rage games on the market which give the player an impossible task which seems easy but the game mechanics are bent against the player to the Nth degree like the Impossible Quiz or Cat Mario. Often these games are spread through youtubers like PewDiePie. Candy Crush Saga and Flappy Bird on the other hand have managed to veil this difficult task and set the parameters of the difficulty at a level which causes the player to end the level with a fail but leave them with a feeling that they could easily beat the level.

The Impossible Game

These games have now set a new trend in the app store. Rage games. These games have ‘oh so simple’ controls which may just be the tap or swipe of the screen but a difficulty level which causes the player to end a level with a fail but a desire to continue. Their short burst gameplay also helps with this meaning that trying again doesn’t take too long and a fail can be almost meaningless, but a success to mean so much more. A new game to recently hit the market running is The Impossible Game which again uses simple controls but precision and timing are key to success, thus driving frustration.

The parameters set in these games are carefully chosen to be at a level which mean the player only misses out on success by a pixel or a misplaced move. Whether this is through obstacle generation, gap between pipes or moves allowed for a level.

In-app advertising in Flappy Bird

Tighter controls over in-app purchases and complaints to the app stores flying in from games which seem to cheat players out of money, or drive them towards monetisation instead of gameplay like Dungeon Keeper have meant that monetising an app is harder than ever to navigate well. For these rage games it may mean that they will never be as successful in monetisation as Candy Crush and many will just be free to play. Despite this app developers can still see a good return in in-app advertising just like Flappy Bird did.

With hundreds of clones popping up all over the marketplace this game type looks to soon evolve into game with more longevity and possibly more rage. We are clearly moving away from the genre of games with consumables and ones where players must grow crops or build a city. So for the time being we shall have to endure playing, starting and selecting some lazily made app rage games which in their simplicity and difficulty drive us to distraction. While waiting for some truly good app games to hopefully delight us in the spring.

App Review: Flappy bird – Flap flap flapping into your life

Flap…Flap, flap flap flapflap flap…flap…flap. Flappy bird has this week bulldozed its way up the app charts reaching the number one spot on the charts on both android and iOS beating knocking the giant which is Candy Crush Saga and other King titles off the top spot. But why is this game so successful?

Game Mechanics: The game is very simple you play as a bird who flaps its wings every time you tap on the screen. Players have to navigate the flappy bird through obstacles which resemble the green pipes seen in Mario Games. That is it. With such a simple control system it has allowed this simple game from publisher Gears to be picked up and played almost instantly. It simplicity makes the entry barrier as low as can be and the small app makes installation a 2 second job. Players efforts are scored and a different coloured medal is earnt for players reaching a certain score milestone eg. silver at 20.

Random: the obstacles generation of pipes which you have to pass between is random. Making the game more difficult and giving the player the sense that they could reach a higher score next time around if luck is on their side.

Simplicity: It’s simple in terms of controls,  monetisation (because there is none), downloading (because its small and free) and gameplay.

Frustration and competition: The key elements which have allowed this game to rise. Players are scored by the number of obstacles they manage to pass, and believe me they are simple to pass but often you’ll find yourself getting annoyed because you tapped the screen one too many times and your flappy bird has hit the pipe. Candy Crush Saga nailed this too, balancing randomness with frustration at the player just missing out on their goal makes the player want to play again to beat the game immediately. Happily with flappy bird there are no lives and no in-app purchases allowing player to play to their hearts content.

Competition comes through the scoring system and players being able to lord their high score over their friends. I even found myself doing this this weekend with my girlfriend, causing us both to be playing at the same time just to reach a score the other couldn’t surpass.

Quick burst gameplay: The game is very easy to play and can be easily picked up and put down. The shot burst gameplay caused by players inevitably dying and retrying the level means it can be played in those little gap moments in our lives. Like when you’re waiting for a bus or on the train.

No in-app purchases: With no in-app purchases this game doesn’t look to be one of the highest earners for Gears but with in-app advertising at the top of the screen. They may just have a quick winner here like Rovio did with their early in-app purchase free Angry Birds.

Familiarity: With a look similar to Mario especially with the pipes and background and coupled with simple controls like those in Jetpack Joyride and other side-scrolling infinite runners it gives a familiar and comfortable feel for new players.

 

Verdict

This game is addictive beyond belief and due to its simple nature of gameplay it looks to be a winner. But will it last? Will this game be just a flash in the pan for the publisher and be gone by next month. Only time will tell, but for now it’s easy and frustrating gameplay has at least for a while made it a winner for many mobile gamers, keeping them playing starting and selecting this title above the greats in the app gaming world.

But what do you think?

App Review: Jelly & Pie

The Jelly Pie books are a bunch of books all about the adventures of funny larger-than-life characters including Mr Gum, Ellie May, and Moon Hare. Jelly & Pie are two characters created by publishing company Egmont to personify this group of books. The app is available free on Android and iOS, but what is it really like?

The Jelly & Pie app follows these two characters who live together, one literally sitting on top of the other, as seen in the picture (left). But in this app the two characters Jelly and Pie have been separated and it’s the players job to run and jump around as Jelly to rescue pie from a purple squid character.

Gameplay – The game is set out in a platform game format like Mario or Sonic. The playable character Jelly is constantly running so it is your job to make him jump over obstacles and avoid falling through holes, or bumping into smelly jellies to reach Pie who waits at the end of every level. Making Jelly jump is very easy, it simply involves tapping the screen, the longer the tap, the longer the jump. Players try to collect jelly cubes while jumping around and at the end of each level their score is rated on a 5 star scale.

Progression – The game is based around this simple story of reuniting Jelly and Pie which gives the game a structure and with cut scenes in-between some levels it helps keep the player engaged with the story and not just the gameplay. Only 12 levels are available to play but these levels should keep you entertained for a while. As you progress the levels get harder and they take quite a few tries to complete which is effective at keeping you replaying.

The easy controls make it a simple game for children to play and very easy for them to pick up as there is really only one control to the game. The simplicity makes the journey from install to playing and completing levels very short.

Look and feel – the game has a nice simple look to it with warning signs marking out dangers and fun cartoon images and effects which work well. The music and sounds are also good, before some levels there is a cut-scene of the story which involves character voices and the music is very catchy. Even I found myself humming the gameplay song to myself after playing.

Monetisation – The app is free and includes no in-app purchases so there’s no worries there. The game also doesn’t have any limited resources like lives or energy which stop you from playing, so happily players can play to the hearts content. Many parents get concerned or are put off by in-app purchases so not including them is a smart idea for acquisition of the game.

Return Loop – There isn’t really anything in the game which tries to get the player to return to the game every day or even twice in a day. It’s very casual and so may not engage some players to the point of returning to play instead of moving on to the next app. Also when returning to the app it immediately starts the player at level 1 again instead of jumping ahead to where they were in the level progression or to a level map like Angry Birds or Candy Crush Saga. Improving this may help improve player retention and engagement as young players may think they have lost their progress, and after all this is probably who the game is aimed at.

Level completion screen including score and 5 star rating

Levels are mapped out and a star rating score is achieved for each level which helps improve return play if players haven’t got the full 5 star rating.

Referral – there is not social connection in this game which is appropriate for the age of the target market. The app does encourage links to the Jelly & Pie website at Jelly Pie Central. During the game players have to try and collect a bonus golden jelly cube which will grant them a secret code to put into the website in return for a joke. This is a clever idea to direct the kids to the site and introduce them to the books and the games on the website. I felt that the app while being a fun game was trying to direct the player to the site to explore some more.

Difficulty – The difficulty of the levels increased gradually and even caused me to have to replay the levels over and over before eventually winning. Hopefully more levels will be introduced in updates with a slightly varied gameplay, as athough fun I think further levels should change things up a bit.

 

Verdict

A very nice simple app which will hopefully keep kids returning to reunite Jelly & Pie. The simple controls make it a very easy game for kids to pick up and it is appropriate for any age. The lack of in-app payments and the app being free make it an app which has parents sighing with relief as many apps nowadays include limitations to play or in-app payments which can be a constant annoyance for parents and kids alike. This app may even get parents playing starting and selecting the levels for a go at reuniting Jelly & Pie.

But what do you think?

App, Movie and Game of the year!

Just before we get too far from January the first I thought I should do my app, movie and game of the year. Some of those featured may be from 2012 but it is those which I enjoyed most this year and a bit.

2013 Apps

• Candy Crush Saga – now I know many are now sick of this game and its oh so sweet annoying addictiveness. But as it has remained at the top of the app charts this year it has to be a contender on this list. Many players picked up the game this last year after constant requests from friends on Facebook and found it to be just as addictive as the rest of us. To see my full review go here.

• Clumsy Ninja – This game is also unique in its delivery and acts like a pet where you train your ninja each day to level up and get new items. Although with this game is requires very little attention, you don’t need to feed him or exercise him. It’s a very casual game to be played at your leisure. But each time you do play he ‘learns’, he learns how to defend himself, how to land after you throw him around and how to jump and run about. Enough time playing with him and you’ll start to refer to the ninja as ‘him’ not it. This attachment and its great gameplay is why it is in my top of 2013.

• Injustice: Gods Among Us – A late comer to the app store and not as highly successful as CCS but one of the most noticeably different apps on the market. With stunning graphics for a mobile game and relatively unique look and gameplay it stands out for 2013 and maybe even 2014. For a full breakdown go here.

2013 Games

• GTA 5 – on almost everyone’s list even those who haven’t played it, the sheer scale and variety in this game makes it so. Although experiencing problems early on and asking for far too many purchases for my liking it can be played without all this and anyone who does will have a great time. But parents don’t buy this for your child without knowing what the game is, judge the situation and don’t blindly believe media scare tactics.
• Minecraft – I know I know its older than a year, but this year I caught the bug and I’m glad I did. Enjoyed by young and old alike and allowing players to just create or adventure it is definitely a stand out game. Its blocky and cartoony style makes it appropriate for anyone and its simplicity and freedom has allowed for some truly awesome structures to be built.
• Slender: The Arrival – Warning this game may cause screaming and sleep deprived nights. Ok before you play this game please play the first one, that is all. Some say that this one is not a scary as the first game (Slender) but I found it to be just as scary and with the addition of a proper story this time and better graphics which made it slighly easier but no less terrifying. If you can then play this with friends, all being terrified at once is hilarious and makes it way scarier, and play it at night with the volume turned up. But don’t annoy your neighbours.

2013 Movies

• Man of Steel – a movie which has divided fans of superman or maybe just made them hate the film. It received a lot of negative feedback but I for one liked it. Sure it stood out because it did something no other superman movie has done but isn’t that what fans wanted? At some points it gets a bit ridiculous but I liked it because if you read the comics and know the characters that is what the comics are like. One epic battle after another and that is what director Zack Snyder is all about.
• Elysium – a great story by the director of district 9 it is a story which will have you captivated from start to end. What I would describe as the height of dystopian cinema and just brilliant. My full review here.
• Monsters University – Does not disappoint. When Pixar start making sequels, or prequels in this case, it can lead you to think ‘oh god is this going to be another cars 2’ happily it isn’t and is a unique movie which beautifully leads on to Monsters Inc.

Overall my top 3 have to be:

• Candy Crush Saga
• Slender: The Arrival
• Man of Steel

But what do you think? Let me know if you agree or disagree with my list and as always keep pressing Play, Start and Select.