Land-a Panda HD - (by Big Pixel Studios) +lite

[ImNoSuperMan]

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iPad Screenshots:
(click to enlarge)

http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/037/Purple/85/34/fd/mzl.trrzlqzb.480x480-75.jpg (http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/037/Purple/85/34/fd/mzl.trrzlqzb.1024x1024-65.jpg)

http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/020/Purple/83/d1/c6/mzl.iqbugwza.480x480-75.jpg (http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/020/Purple/83/d1/c6/mzl.iqbugwza.1024x1024-65.jpg)

http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/043/Purple/bc/5e/54/mzl.enrjuyft.480x480-75.jpg (http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/043/Purple/bc/5e/54/mzl.enrjuyft.1024x1024-65.jpg)

http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/021/Purple/4d/8a/0b/mzl.tylwbruy.480x480-75.jpg (http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/021/Purple/4d/8a/0b/mzl.tylwbruy.1024x1024-65.jpg)

http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/043/Purple/e1/1a/8a/mzl.hunmunkp.480x480-75.jpg (http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/043/Purple/e1/1a/8a/mzl.hunmunkp.1024x1024-65.jpg)


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/land-a-panda-hd/id420626814?mt=8

Lite: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/land-a-panda-hd-lite/id420627152?mt=8

iPhone Version: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=86785

[Bitsandpixeltester]

I love your previous game so I am very excited to get this when it comes out. The gameplay is both unique and has a real visual flair.

[Squeaker]

Posted in the iPhone game thread:

Very impressed with the high level of polishness. I love how OF is integrated into the game's UI. I was so pleasantly surprised by the panda popup notifying me that a fellow OF friend was online.

Overall really nice game. Fun, evenly paced and addictive. A perfect example of how casual games should be. I'll be paying close attention to Big Pixel Studios from now on.

By the way I'm playing the HD version and it looks slendid on iPad.

[Big Pixel]

Posted in the iPhone game thread:

Very impressed with the high level of polishness. I love how OF is integrated into the game's UI. I was so pleasantly surprised by the panda popup notifying me that a fellow OF friend was online.

Overall really nice game. Fun, evenly paced and addictive. A perfect example of how casual games should be. I'll be paying close attention to Big Pixel Studios from now on.

By the way I'm playing the HD version and it looks slendid on iPad.

Thanks for the kind comments, it's always great hearing from people who are enjoying our games :)

[madebymadison]

Oh wow you guys this is just the kind of easy access fun game I like! The graphics are so cute (all your graphics in your games are superb!) and the gameplay is superb!!! Thanks for making this for my iPad! Now I cannot choose between Piyo2 and this! :-)

[Chocolate]

Just read the iPhone version thread, then came here since I plan to get an iPad 2 soon (when I can find one!).

QUESTION: why does the iPad version cost twice as much?!

Same game? Same content? Bad enough it's not universal, but twice the price on iPad? Yes, I'm new to iPad app pricing - never really paid attention much until the iPad 2 came along. But seems unfair. I mean, it's basically just the iPhone game with slightly higher resolution, right?

[Big Pixel]

QUESTION: why does the iPad version cost twice as much?!



Hi Chocolate,

I'll try my best to explain our pricing structure.

We were going to make it a universal app, and to make it financially viable for us we'd have to price it at $2.99 (the same as most of our other games normally cost). However, to compete in the iPhone charts, we really need to be priced at the lowest price point of $0.99, especially as a small indie developer (the big guys can get away with charging a bit more).

Therefore we decided to produce 2 versions of the game, one for iPad and one for iPhone. That way, we can compete with the iPhone market by pricing at $0.99, and those users who want to play on the iPad as well, can purchase it for $1.99 (which is still pretty competitive pricing wise in the iPad market).

So even if you wanted to play on both the iPhone and iPad, you'd still only pay the price that a universal version of the game was going to cost anyway :)

And personally, I think the iPad version is worth the extra dollar - everything is chunkier and clearer on the screen, and I find it plays slightly better due to the sizing.

I know from a user perspective, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But just bear in mind how difficult it is for small developers like us to get visibility in the App Store, and to make a living from it.

Hope that comes across right! But if do you have any questions just ask.

Cheers

[P0tent1al]

Hi Chocolate,

I'll try my best to explain our pricing structure.

We were going to make it a universal app, and to make it financially viable for us we'd have to price it at $2.99 (the same as most of our other games normally cost). However, to compete in the iPhone charts, we really need to be priced at the lowest price point of $0.99, especially as a small indie developer (the big guys can get away with charging a bit more).

Therefore we decided to produce 2 versions of the game, one for iPad and one for iPhone. That way, we can compete with the iPhone market by pricing at $0.99, and those users who want to play on the iPad as well, can purchase it for $1.99 (which is still pretty competitive pricing wise in the iPad market).

So even if you wanted to play on both the iPhone and iPad, you'd still only pay the price that a universal version of the game was going to cost anyway :)

And personally, I think the iPad version is worth the extra dollar - everything is chunkier and clearer on the screen, and I find it plays slightly better due to the sizing.

I know from a user perspective, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But just bear in mind how difficult it is for small developers like us to get visibility in the App Store, and to make a living from it.

Hope that comes across right! But if do you have any questions just ask.

Cheers


Great reply :)

Just picked up the iPad version :D

[madebymadison]

It looks, feels and plays like a premium title from one of the 'big boys' and it looks ab-so-lutely gorgeous on the iPad. It's more than worth the price. Premium games like these usually cost more to begin with. I have no problem with the iPad pricing. You get a LOT of value for your money with Land A Panda HD.

I totally recommend it. (As do I recommend Piyo Blocks 2 for the iPad which is KING of the puzzle games for me).

[madebymadison]

PS @BigPixel:

I have an idea for an extra world: UNDERWATER WORLD. With water fx and possibly slower water delayed physics to add something extra hard in a future update?! Wouldnt that be awesome?

[crunc]

yes, I tried the iPhone demo (don't have an iPad yet - not for another 3 to 4 weeks. Boohoo) and liked except that my fingers get in the way and there's a lot of scrolling around. I can definitely see that this would be better on the iPad, so I'm going to get the iPad version.

One thing that would make me get the iPhone AND iPad versions, which I'm not going to do, would be if there was a way to switch back and forth between them with progress carried over. I can't see playing the same game twice, but if I could switch back and forth seamlessly, then it would make sense to get both.

[Big Pixel]

PS @BigPixel:

I have an idea for an extra world: UNDERWATER WORLD. With water fx and possibly slower water delayed physics to add something extra hard in a future update?! Wouldnt that be awesome?

Nice idea madebymadison :)

[Thrak]

One thing that would make me get the iPhone AND iPad versions, which I'm not going to do, would be if there was a way to switch back and forth between them with progress carried over. I can't see playing the same game twice, but if I could switch back and forth seamlessly, then it would make sense to get both.

I'm in total agreement with this. I know there are other games that let you sync your saves between iPhone and iPad, but I'm not sure if this is only for games that are universal, or where you run the iPhone version in 2x on the iPad.

[Big Pixel]

Hi,

The v1.1 update for Land-a Panda HD is now finished, and should be submitted in the next day or so

For the new level pack, Yang Guang and Tian Tian are off to Panda Island, where there are lots of new obstacles, cannons, enemies, and pickups to discover! Check out the video below.

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[madebymadison]

BRRRRINNNGGGG ME THOSE PANDAAAAAAAAS!

I'm sorry I had a Cruella moment. But I mean it. Looking good BigPixel! Thanks for the new levels. Cant wait to play them on my iPad.

[gatizo]

Something I would love to see is a change to the buttons used to rotate the cannons. Although the placement works OK on the iPhone, I find that having to move to them breaks the flow of the gameplay on the bigger iPad screen.

Since you control the game tapping on the cannons to jump, I think it would be nice to include an option to have the rotate controls appear next to the cannon rather than in the corners. Any chance we might see this in a future update?

[Big Pixel]

Since you control the game tapping on the cannons to jump, I think it would be nice to include an option to have the rotate controls appear next to the cannon rather than in the corners. Any chance we might see this in a future update?

It's a possibility. However there is a new "action button" control option in this v1.1 update. You might like that as an alternative to the current "tap to shoot" that is currently in the game.

[Big Pixel]

The Panda Island update will be released tomorrow :)

[Big Pixel]

The update is now available. Hope you enjoy it!

[Thrak]

Still haven't picked this one up, although I keep meaning to. It's the only Big Pixel game I don't own yet. Thanks for the nice update though.

[gatizo]

It's a possibility. However there is a new "action button" control option in this v1.1 update. You might like that as an alternative to the current "tap to shoot" that is currently in the game.

Thanks for letting me know. I tried the updated version, but can't say I'm especially taken with the action button, sorry :o

If the button was smaller and the user could reposition it in a more comfortable place to activate whilst holding the iPad in both hands (i.e. on the left or right sides of the screen) with similar controls available for rotating the cannons… maybe that would make for more seamless iPad play?

[Idoctor]

Wondering if anyone has any good tips or tricks for lowering your score on this game. Here's a couple I've noticed.

One - the starting position of the ghosts are different when you select a level for the first time, as opposed to after you reset. Sometimes you can get a better score with one ghost configuration versus the other.

Two - "Skipping" unnecessary cannons can save you a bunch of time and can increase the bonus.

Three - don't wait for the auto shooting cannons to shoot. Manually shoot them a little early and you'll save bonus time.

Hopefully we can get some discussion about this game going.

[Foxtail2010]

Wondering if anyone has any good tips or tricks for lowering your score on this game. Here's a couple I've noticed.

One - the starting position of the ghosts are different when you select a level for the first time, as opposed to after you reset. Sometimes you can get a better score with one ghost configuration versus the other.

Two - "Skipping" unnecessary cannons can save you a bunch of time and can increase the bonus.

Three - don't wait for the auto shooting cannons to shoot. Manually shoot them a little early and you'll save bonus time.

Hopefully we can get some discussion about this game going.


I've been using those too.. except I hadn't noticed the ghost positions changing on reset vs starting.

It's probably obvious, but bouncing pandas off objects can be a shortcut.

[Phantom X]

It amazes me that I'm still finding faster solutions to levels in world 1. My hat's off to the level designers for hiding points in several not so obvious ways.

My tips:
1) Time doesn't start until you break the balloon. There are many levels where you need to wait a bit (for ghosts or lasers) before you launch.
2) The flattest shot arc will almost always be the fastest, even if this means letting a cannon rotate a bit longer
3) Always look for new, not as obvious, ways to solve the levels as there are lots of ways to trim off time

[Big Pixel]

The new v1.3 update is now live in the App Store, featuring 20 new levels set in the Panda Desert world, and new achievements and high score table.

Let us know what you think.

[Big Pixel]

All Big Pixel iOS games are now FREE for a limited time!

Happy Holidays.

[neonbible]

I've already bought this lovely game before but many thanks for this xmas gift :) Keep up the good work.