[GAME] Woolcraft « cocos2d for iPhone

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[GAME] Woolcraft

(38 posts) (11 voices)

Started 1 year ago by Holmiz
Latest reply from Holmiz

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Holmiz
Member

I am very proud to say that my game, Woolcraft, is released today!

It took me 2 month from start to version 1.0. Every night and all the weekends I worked with the game. Its not so easy when you have a family and a full time job. But I really enjoyed every minute of it! When I started I did not even had a Mac or any experience from xcode or Cocos2d. So I started with my Mac (borrowed it) at work but after a while my boss was complaining so I bought an iMac (my wife say ok when she saw how happy I was) hehe...

I made some games many years back. Actually its been 20 years since my last game. Back then my computer was a Amiga 2000 and I made games with something called Amos. I'll guess that a lot of you dont even know what I am talking about...

One thing I really like is that I managed to do the game so it worked directly for both the iPhone and iPad.

Here are some screenshots of Woolcraft:

Here are is my "trailer" I did with my new friend - iMac ;)

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You can read more about Woolcraft at:
http://www.woolcraft.net

You can download Woolcraft from iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/woolcraft/id419713638?mt=8#
But be aware that it cost 1.99(!), but 30% will go for helping people who is suffering (Steve Jobs, Apple)... sorry for that... ;)

Please feel free to leave comments.

Posted 1 year ago #
Benihana
Member

Looks good. (: Did you augment the Lost Garden art set with the sheep and things or do I have an incomplete set?

If that is the main video you are using to promote it, I would revise it a bit to show more of the actual gameplay. I got a sense of what the game was about (rescuing the sheep using various methods), but not how I would be doing it. The gameplay video cleared that up, but was a bit slow for a promotion video. I think people usually don't care about the intro screen/level selection in those kinds of videos so you can get right into the gameplay.

Posted 1 year ago #
Birkemose
Moderator

Could this be the next World of WarLambs?

Posted 1 year ago #
abitofcode
Moderator

Good looking game, I like the graphic style. My only criticism would be 'Amiga'! Really, we al know the Atari ST was the machine of the time ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
Birkemose
Moderator

It looks great ... but the music?

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Benihana: Thanks for the advice. When my kids dont drag me around I will try to do a new trailer. Damn kids - love them... hehe... I used just the iMove set and videos from the game.

abitofcode: Atari ST? OK! you were joking! You fooled me for I while. Hehe...

Birkemose: I agree. Just used Garageband... To bad that, because my wife is really good doing music. But she did not have the time for it. Perhaps in another game in the future...

Posted 1 year ago #
Birkemose
Moderator

Then please delete Garageband and spend more time with your wife.

Posted 1 year ago #
Birkemose
Moderator

You could also delete your wife and spend more time with Garageband.

Posted 1 year ago #
FogleBird
Member

If you upload 960x640 screenshots (instead of 640x960), they'll show in the proper orientation on the iTunes page.

Posted 1 year ago #
FogleBird
Member

Just bought your game and playing now. Leaving comments as I go:

Major typos: "If you get stucked. Touch Woolcraft logo in the top left for menu. God luck!"

Replace with: "Tap the Woolcraft logo at the top left to access the menu at any time. Good luck!"

"Lvl 1" might as well be "Level 1"

The options, help and credits don't have the same quality as the rest of the game.

It took me some time to figure out that the sheep moves until it can't anymore. Basic game mechanics should be explained somewhere. The "Tips" section seems to cover more vague tactics.

In-game level editor is cool!

Level 6 start screen finally tells me to touch the grass to stop the sheep. But I had to do that in previous levels!

I was able to remove a grass block after I finished the level and before the menu popped up.

I love the graphics style.

I wish the arrows were at the bottom where my thumbs are instead of at the top where I have to reach for them and block my view of the screen.

Not as fun to play as I had hoped, but I'll keep at it and see if I change my mind. 99c would probably be better.

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Birkemose: Hehe... I must show your comments to my wife!

FogleBird: Try the "Not so easy" levels. Thats when the game starts to be fun... or perhaps annoying because you sometimes will think its impossible (or you are a really smart one) hmmm...

And thank you so much for the review! You are actually the first one who is not an relative or a friend who is reviewing it to me... damn family and friends... they told me it was awesome (was it all lies?)! hehe... ;)

Major typos = its actually my bad. Not used to the english words. Like the swedish words better...

The arrows... yes I thought of it too. The problem for me was that I only tested it on my iPad and the simulator (with a mouse). Damn friends - they promised to come with there iPhones so I could try it)... Serious: Have to fix that in the next version.

The level 1-5 you can actually finish without touching the grass... but I know its not perfectly informed.

I will give you back 99c when I see you... ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Benihana: Sorry, I missed a couple of words before... I now looked up (translated) "augment".

Yes, I "augment" it myself! Cute sheeps - arent they? And Mr Mole made by me, my mouse and Mr Photoshop!

Posted 1 year ago #
cublah
Member

Looks good, just a couple of things, in the video you spelt sheep as seep and the plural of Sheep is Sheep not Sheeps, Sheep is both a singular and plural noun.

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really do appreciate it!
I will have it with me when I start with next version 1.1

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Just checked AppAnnie and it says this about my Woolcraft:

Featured on the App Store in 6 places.

Germany > iPhone > Family > New & Noteworthy
Germany > iPhone > Puzzle > New & Noteworthy
Sweden > iPad > Family > New & Noteworthy
Sweden > iPad > Puzzle > New & Noteworthy
Switzerland > iPhone > Family > New & Noteworthy
Switzerland > iPhone > Puzzle > New & Noteworthy

But what I dont understand is where to find this i AppStore! I can find New & Noteworthy, but how do I do it for the categories?

Posted 1 year ago #
FogleBird
Member

You can only find those lists in iTunes.

App Store > Games > Puzzle > New & Noteworthy, for example.

You can change the country selection at the bottom right of the app store page. Click on the country flag icon.

Posted 1 year ago #
ruben301
Member

Looks good!

Kul o se svenskar här, har du några promo koder förresten?

Lycka till i app store Patrik!

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Tack ruben!
Behåller promo tillsvidare. Får se om det finns några kvar när 1.1 är klar... för jag har för mig man får nya för varje version.

Posted 1 year ago #
Benihana
Member

Yes, I "augment" it myself! Cute sheeps - arent they? And Mr Mole made by me, my mouse and Mr Photoshop!

I asked because they look very well integrated (another lookup!) with the Lost Garden artwork. You took something available to everyone and made it yours, and made it look good at the same time!

Again I hope you do well, and it'll definitely help to listen to everyone's suggestions. Got plans for your next project yet?

Posted 1 year ago #
ruben301
Member

Perfekt, man får 50 promo koder per version. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Benihana: Thanks. That was really nice words. It makes me really glad!

My plan is to release 1.1 but perhaps it will be a bigger release. I want to "augment" the ingame level editor so that you could upload your five levels to a server and download others levels. I also want to implement a rating system.

Next project? A new game in the Woolcraft universum... Hehe... Perhaps with cocos3D. Or somekind of sandbox game. My kids love Minecraft... I havent decided yet.

I do love this! Making small games. Its so creative and fun. And now that my sells reports inform me that people from all over the world is actually buying and playing my game. Thats awesome I think. No big numbers but when I read 4 people from Japan, 2 from Thailand and so on... Thats... So incredible fun!

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

AppAnnie says now: "Featured on the App Store in 354 places."
http://www.appannie.com/woolcraft/

There is a lot "Argentina - iPhone > Puzzle > Paid > See All"...
Does this mean that my app has been released in Argentina or?

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Woolcraft 1.1 has now been submited to AppStore. Now "Waiting for review".
...and I have listen to you all! Lots of changes...

Will return when its approved and released.

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Woolcraft 1.1 is now out. And I have listen to you guys!

Here are the changes:

- 30 new user created levels.
- Added the link "Please vote". Jumps to AppStore.
- Added backgrounds. Suggestion from @spadict
- Major typos fixed. Used suggestion from @FogleBird
- added "water touch". Tap water for waves. (just for fun)
- added sound when finished / failing.
- Option to have the controls in bottom of screen.

and some other things:

- proper orientation in AppStore...
- lots of bug fixes...

...but sorry @Birkemose, Wife and Garageband is still here...

If anyone wants a promo code - just send me a PM.

Posted 1 year ago #
spadict
Member

Very nice, the game looks filled out now. I'm definitely going to download this update and continue my journey. I haven't quite gotten to putting it all together yet :D

All the best, have you announced this game formally on TouchArcade.com yet?

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

TouchArcade.com, thanks for the advice.
- I have now...

Do you have any more advices? hehe...

Posted 1 year ago #
spadict
Member

To me, TA is the place to go and interact directly with your customers. Of all my efforts to encourage feedback, TA has been one of the key places. I usually ask people to post in my thread if they want a promo code and say I'll give 5 away or something. It can help keep you boosted in their threads and getting attention. You've got a solid game with lots of content so I hope you can get some conversation.

Check back often, always inform people of the latest news etc..

Posted 1 year ago #
cocojoe
Member

@Holmiz congrats on your game, only just seen this thread. Amiga 500 all the way, many found memories of Deluxe Paint 2 and Amos. Kids have coding too easy these days with all these damn internet tutorials ;-)

Agree with @spadict Touch Arcade was one of the best places for us to post.

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

@cocojoe, thanks. I agree, its too easy these days... hehe...

No, of course not. Internet and all people that contributes with there knowledge its awesome... and the community... I remember when I worked totally alone ( long before Internet ) and tried to figure out how to make the Amiga do things I wanted... Today; just Google it and you have your answers...

Posted 1 year ago #
Holmiz
Member

Today when I googled Woolcraft I found a review from 148apps!
http://www.148apps.com/reviews/woolcraft-review/

Most of the time nothing happens... A couple of buyings every day and some new user created levels, but this month I worked a bit with my little game and suddenly things happens:

- the review above
- a swedish iPhone newspaper interview me about game development (comes out aug)
- lots of mail from users. That is awesome! People really like my game... From all over the world.

So what work am I talking about?

First I updated the game with new features; OpenFeint, the Black Sheep and some more...
...so I got new promo codes that I sent to forum users and game sites.

I also updated the games homepage http://www.woolcraft.net and did some twittering...

One thing I planned from the beginning was to make a Lite version of Woolcraft. I read a lot here and on other forums about Lite versions. Are those good or bad? So I started to think it perhaps was a bad idea. So I asked my gaming family; the wife, the daughter and my clever son what they thought about it? They all said "of course we must have a lite version! But! Only a few levels - max 10"

So I have now submitted a Lite version to Apple with 12 levels... Guess I must have the last word...

Will return with the result if the Lite version was a good idea or not.

Posted 10 months ago #

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