Exisiting iPhone game research.

To aid me in finding a concept, i want to look at some existing iPhone games that may appeal to my ideas. I went to the local Apple store and browsed some of the gaming applications on the menu. Here are the following games that caught my attention:

Wacky Land's Boss:

I really liked the visual style of this game, as it was very simplistic yet colourful and nice to look out. I also really liked the simplicity of the concept, and how i didn't need to know too much of an in depth story to get me started on playing. The concept was ideally around role reversal, where instead of fighting a boss, you ARE the boss. It was this that humoured me, as when playing through the game watching your opponents try to hurt you was feeble and entertaining, you felt powerful and superior. I also admired the way the controls didn't obstruct too much of the screen so that you didn't feel secluded to a certain space. There were no specific buttons, just using the strokes and taps of your finger to attack, roll, charge and heavy attack. The main thing that i enjoyed the most was the way you could customize the way your 'Boss' looked, by unlocking them through obtaining treasures within the game. The more treasures you obtain, the better costumes you can get for your Boss. This also applies to benefits like getting stronger powers and weapons. I liked this method, as it keeps the game shelf life sustained, as you initially want to get the best, but you need to play more and work harder to get them. 

 

 Plants vs Zombies:


Is a very popular strategy game for the iPhone that involves a zombie invasion, where you have to use to plants to defend your house from the zombies getting to you! The plants you obtain all have unique attacking attributes that help stop the zombies getting closer to your house. However, the better you do, the better plants you get, but that comes with a difficulty increase that not only makes the zombie horde large in size, but also a lot tougher. As you play through the game you have to collect items and strategically place your plants in order to make the best defense from the attackers. I think this game is very good for it's excitement and unreadability, you don't know how the moves you make will benefit you. Also as the game gets harder, the fast paced it becomes which makes you panic yet excited. Throughout the game you don't really find yourself getting bored, because you're always trying to do better to the point it becomes addictive. The game is easy to pick up and play, without needing an extensive story line or plot. This is why i believe it appeals to such a broader audience, and from this  i think it is wise to focus on making a game that is also easy to just pick up and play when or whenever you like. Not to over complicate it and to keep it simple but exciting is what i believe is the perfect formula for this project.

 

Doodle Jump:

Is 2D puzzle game in a sense, where you your character has to jump higher and higher off structures placed in your aid. As you progress through the game, you get little structures to jump off and enemies which block your path or knock you aside. If you fail to land on a platform, you fall and lose the game. This game has clever controls, in which you use the iPhone's tilting capabilities to steer your character left or right. From this you have to strategically work your way through the platforms to venture higher and higher, but also being weary of oncoming threats. You also have the power to use a pellet shooter/gun from your character's mouth in order to defeat some of the opponents that block your path, but you have to be careful with your footing in case you fall off the side. This is game is very good in terms of keeping it simple and sweet, with also keeping that element over not complicating itself too much. The designs may seem very simple, but this is all in aid of the experience and the way the game develops as you play. This sort of concept would fail if the scenery was too busy, so i think this game has done it's designing carefully. Just like Boss and Plants vs Zombies, Doodle jump appeals to everyone and makes the fun limitless and unpredictable ends. It makes me think that making a game like this would appeal more to an iPhone customer, as games with actually plots and stories have a definitive start and end, like a lot of Xbox or PS3 games. Whereas, keeping it simple like the ones i have demonstrated, keep the shelf life extended as there is no real end to the fun at all. I will keep this in mind, when making my own concept.