Animal Trackers (Release Date: Thursday 3rd May 2012)

Discussion in 'Upcoming iOS Games' started by DaveA, Oct 18, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
?

When playing Animal Trackers, which control method do you see yourself mostly using?

  1. Finger point: Tracker moves to where you point to.

    2 vote(s)
    18.2%
  2. D-pad: Tracker moves in same direction as position of thumb relative to centre of on-screen d-pad.

    9 vote(s)
    81.8%
  3. Accelerometer tilt: Tracker moves in the direction the iDevice is tilted.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    #1 DaveA, Oct 18, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2012
    Hi everyone

    I'd like to introduce my game 'Animal Trackers', which is currently nearing completion.

    If you'd like to follow along as the game progresses, please visit my development blog at animaltracker.wordpress.com.

    Below is the first trailer for the game, a few screenshots and the game description.

    All comments and questions are welcome. :)

    Dave




    Animal Trackers Trailer







    The Cast: Team Tracker (foreground) and Team Quarry (background)


    [​IMG]




    Foxy
    [​IMG]



    Pumi
    [​IMG]



    Bearny
    [​IMG]



    Coyli
    [​IMG]




    Sidey
    [​IMG]


    Animal Trackers

    Team Quarry has challenged Team Tracker to the ultimate tracking competition across 50 levels, from lush lawns, through grassland, across rivers, through snow, up mountains and beneath the sweltering heat of the desert to prove once and for all, which team is best.

    With a parting taunt of "Catch us if you can!", Team Quarry has already made a flying start with Chicko, their first member, already on his way. Team Tracker has elected Foxy to take the first leg of the challenge and track down Chicko before time runs out and the trail goes cold.

    Guide each member of Team Tracker, each specialised in tracking two members of Team Quarry, by following the foot-, paw-, or hoof-prints that make up Team Quarry's trail. Beware, though, as Team Quarry isn't going to make things easy and so may have a few tricks up its proverbial sleeves.

    Be prepared for doubled-back trails, trails disappearing down holes, multiple trails, trails that cross water, hedges that need to be hacked, boulders that need to be moved, switches that need to be flipped, snow that will slow you down and sand dunes that need to be negotiated... these are just some of the obstacles you'll be confronted with... plus in 'hard' mode, you'll have less time to do it in, so shortcuts will also need to be found.

    Oh, and if you think you're a master tracker, why not rub in your ultimate victory by finding all 50 golden eggs hidden throughout the levels and wave them under Team Quarry's nose.

    Features:

    * 50 levels
    * 5 different terrains, including lawns, grassland, snow, mountains and desert
    * 10 different Team Quarry animals, each with its own unique tracks
    * 5 different Team Tracker animals, each specialised in tracking two members of Team Quarry
    * Graded rewards, from 1 star for just finishing a level in time, to 3 stars for finding all the short cuts to finish a level in a super quick time
    * 50 golden eggs to find and carry to the end of the levels in the fastest time possible
    * 3 fast paced tunes to get you in the mood, or listen to your own music in the background
    * High score table detailing best score, stars achieved and egg discovered for each level
    * Lots of achievements leading to graded titles awarded for mastering various aspects of the game
    * Game Center support
    * 3 difficulty modes: 'easy' for young children; 'medium' for casual gamers; and 'hard' for players wanting a real challenge
    * 3 control methods, including finger point, d-pad, and accelerometer tilt

    So, have you got what it takes to guide Team Tracker to an emphatic victory and earn the most prestigious title of 'Maestro Grandslammer'?
     
  2. Iljimae

    Iljimae Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    So cute characters :) Look forward to see more update and videos. Cheers!
     
  3. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Thanks, I'm glad you like the characters. I plan on making another video with more gameplay within the next few weeks.
     
  4. xxteargodxx

    xxteargodxx Well-Known Member

    Jan 11, 2011
    349
    0
    16
    Male
    NJ
    Looks like it will be a fun game, though the characters eyes are all the same, is it meant to be that way? I personally think they should be a little changed up and have them be different and unique but that's just me.

    Either way, looks like fun :)
     
  5. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Thanks for the comments.

    I did make a conscious decision that the characters would have the same eyes in order to give them a more cohesive style. I think they play a large part in the 'cuteness factor', which often comes from our inherent ability to attribute human baby features, in this case large forward-facing eyes, onto animate (and inanimate) characters and objects.

    As a result, for example with Team Quarry in the background, I've used artistic licence with regards to putting large forward-facing eyes on animals whose eyes would normally be small and on the sides of their heads. I'm not sure if changing the eyes wouldn't adversely affect things, though.

    As for the game being fun, I often find myself playing a few levels more than I need to when I'm testing a change, so hopefully that's a good sign. :)
     
  6. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    #6 DaveA, Oct 24, 2011
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2011
    Slide-out console and Help Panels 1, 2 & 3

    Animal Trackers has a slide-out console which provides access to various options and in-game help.

    Help can be accessed from within the game by tapping the pause button to slide out the console, and then tapping the help button (question mark) to slide out the help panel. On the panel will be an image showing the most pertinent advice for the currently played level.

    Can anyone guess what advice / information each of the following images is saying?


    Help Panel 1

    [​IMG]



    Help Panel 2

    [​IMG]



    Help Panel 3

    [​IMG]
     
  7. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Game Center support added

    I'm pleased to announce that Animal Trackers now has Game Center support.

    In addition to a locally stored (on device) high score table showing the best score, number of stars awarded and egg collected for each of the 50 levels, plus a table of achievements, there is also a button to connect to Game Center where you can compare your best scores and achievements with your friends and the rest of the world.



    Foxy's Leaderboard 1

    [​IMG]



    Foxy's Leaderboard 2

    [​IMG]



    Achievements 1

    [​IMG]


    Achievements 2

    [​IMG]
     
  8. burn

    burn Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    746
    0
    0
    Sys Admin
    #8 burn, Nov 16, 2011
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2011
    This one looks really cute. I bet my kids would love it. What type of skill level is involved? Would a 4-yr old iPad master be able to play it?

    Editing to say that I'm really digging your website. It feels like you're a real person, not just a company that writes games. I like seeing the behind-the-scenes of game developers ... you're giving us the insight
    of the obstacles you face during the design phase. I dig stuff like that. :)

    Are you on the Twitter, too?
     
  9. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Thanks for commenting and taking a look at the blog.

    The game starts out easy with the first few levels each having a single trail wending its way around a small play area, which gives you time to get accustomed to playing the game. The controls are very simple with a choice of: touch the screen where you want your tracker to go (the default setting); d-pad control wherever you put your thumb down; or tilt control if you want to keep the screen finger free.

    As you progress through the levels, the play area gets progressively larger and each new member of Team Quarry has a trick up its sleeve (like going down holes and coming up somewhere else). Later levels have multiple trails, differing terrain (such as snow slowing you down) and also interactive objects, such as hedges, boulders and switches which need to be tapped, so these will require a bit more thought.

    None of the levels are mind-bendingly difficult, but whereas the first few levels are fairly straight forward and can be completed in well under a minute, later levels will require a certain amount of exploration and practice to be able to complete each one within the time limit (several minutes). Players who only want a bit of fun can aim to just complete the levels in the allotted time, whilst those who want the ultimate challenge can aim to find the best route, finish the levels in the fastest possible time and find and collect the golden egg hidden within each level. As a result, I hope the game will offer a challenge to players of all skill levels and ages.

    In fact, my girlfriend's sister (who I hope won't mind me saying that she's over 40 and who has, to my knowledge, never played an iPhone game before) and her 14 year old son came to visit a couple of times and she played an alpha version of the game for about an hour each time and would hand it over to her son when she got stuck. He would play it for a while and hand it back once he'd completed the level.

    So, to answer your question, yes, I think your four-year old could play it, although he or she may need a little help during the later levels. But then again, maybe he or she might end up helping you out. ;)

    As for Twitter, I don't currently have an account, but I do plan on creating one in the near future.

    Oh, and I can confirm that I am a real person ;) and that after working on the game before and after work for quite a while, decided to take the plunge, save up some money, quit my job and work on it full time at home. :)
     
  10. burn

    burn Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    746
    0
    0
    Sys Admin
    Wow, thanks for your elaborate reply. You quit your job?!? That's dedication right there. I really hope this game takes off for you. Who knows, maybe you'll get bought out by EA one day. :)

    If you do create a Twitter account make sure you get a lot of hype built up before you release the game. Make people buy it even if they don't want to. :) Send promo codes to the big reviewers and get some of the big names like @Doomfan to spread the word for you.
     
  11. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Twitter

    Well, the near future is here, as Animal Trackers now has a Twitter account. I'd been meaning to create one for a while, but hadn't quite got round to it.

    And thanks for making me aware of @Doomfan who is now following me. I've updated my blog and have given you a mention. :)

    [​IMG]
     
  12. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Playtesting and HUD

    Just a quick progress report.

    I'm currently in the process of playtesting each level using all three control methods (finger point, d-pad and accelerometer tilt), so that it's just possible to get three stars (and separately the golden egg) with each of them.

    Remember, earning three stars is for those players who want a real challenge, requiring you to find and follow every short cut from start to finish.

    But if you just want to enjoy guiding each member of Team Tracker around each level in a more leisurely manner, there will be enough time for you to do so (once you've discovered and subsequently avoided any red herrings, of course).

    Well, while I continue with the playtesting, I'll leave you with a picture of Pumi trying to decide which way to go...

    [​IMG]

    Oh, and the eagle-eyed of you may have noticed an addition at the top right of the screen - a HUD (Heads-Up Display) showing the relative distance between Pumi and her quarry, in this case, the elk.

    Hopefully, this visual indicator will give you the incentive to try one more time if you've still not quite caught your quarry after a number of plays.
     
  13. burn

    burn Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    746
    0
    0
    Sys Admin
    This seems like such an original idea. I'm really looking forward to this game. Will this be a Universal game or is it just for the iPhone/iPod?
     
  14. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    iPad and OTA Limit

    Ever since I was a kid I thought it would be fun to be able to track animals, but living in a city doesn't really give you much scope beyond the occasional fox or squirrel track in the local park. So now that I'm older, I figured I'd do the next best thing and make a game about it.

    Since this is my first iPhone game, I decided to do the simplest thing and write Animal Trackers for the iPhone / iPod touch, with iPad compatibility in the form of 1x / 2x modes. In an ideal world, Animal Trackers would be Universal, but there are a number of hurdles that need to be overcome before that can happen.

    The first and most important is time. I had originally planned for Animal Trackers to be released before Christmas with the hope that it would sell well enough so that I could continue working on updates full-time at home. But with unforeseen issues cropping up which were taking up to a week each to solve, it became apparent that I wasn't going to make it. So, rather than release a rushed game in the hope of taking advantage of the holiday season, I decided to spend a little more time on it, polishing it up. As a result, from a financial point of view, I can't afford to delay launch any longer than that.

    Secondly, there is a limit to the size of an app that can be downloaded OTA (over-the-air) via 3G without hooking it up to a computer or using wi-fi. This is currently only 20 MB which is barely enough for the iPhone / iPod touch version, let alone the high resolution graphics needed for the iPad. Making Animal Trackers Universal from the outset would mean that no one would be able to download it until they got home or got to an accessible wi-fi hotspot and I think that may deter a lot of people who may wish to have it on impulse.

    However, should Animal Trackers do reasonably well on the App Store, I'll be able to continue working on updates for it full-time, potentially including an iPad version. Otherwise, I'll have to go back to how it all started and just work on updates before and after work which will naturally take longer (assuming I can find another job, that isÂ… lol)
     
  15. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    #15 DaveA, Dec 9, 2011
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2011
    Control method poll

    I've added a poll to the top of the page asking which control method you see yourself mostly using when playing Animal Trackers.

    The three options are: finger point, on-screen d-pad and accelerometer tilt.

    With the finger point method, you just touch the screen wherever you want your tracker to head towards.

    The on-screen d-pad is semi-transparent and centred wherever you place your thumb on the screen. You then slide your thumb in the direction you want your tracker to move. If you take your thumb off the screen, the d-pad will be re-centred wherever you place it down next time.

    Tilt control moves your tracker in the direction the iDevice is being tilted.

    Naturally while testing, I'm using all three methods, but I'd be interested to know if there's likely to be a favourite method or if it will be relatively evenly spread amongst the three.

    Thanks.

    P.S. I just noticed when I wasn't signed in that the poll read, "You may not vote on this poll". It's a shame that only TA members who are signed in can vote as I think there may be a large proportion of readers who are unable to vote. :(
     
  16. burn

    burn Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    746
    0
    0
    Sys Admin
    I like the D-Pad myself. That's what I use when playing Harry Potter. Sometimes I'll move him directly by touch but I prefer the D-Pad.
     
  17. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Merry Christmas!

    [​IMG]
    Merry Christmas!


    I hope you all have a great holiday season.

    All the best

    Dave
     
  18. burn

    burn Well-Known Member

    May 20, 2011
    746
    0
    0
    Sys Admin
    Merry Christmas to you, too! Don't spend too much time opening all of those presents, you've got a game to finish!! :D
     
  19. Doom

    Doom Well-Known Member

    Jan 27, 2011
    412
    0
    16
    Working for the man
    Northeastern California
    Wow, just stumbled across your thread and was shocked to see my name:D thanks guys for that..I don't get out much ;) this game will do well BTW..
     
  20. DaveA

    DaveA Well-Known Member

    Jun 7, 2011
    76
    0
    0
    Indie iOS Game Developer
    Progressively challenging

    Well, I've done the first pass at playtesting all 50 levels of Animal Trackers.

    I did originally plan on giving enough time for each level to allow a leisurely amble to earn 1 star, but I later felt that without much of a challenge to progress to the next level, it would detract from the gameplay.

    So, even though the game is playable as is, I'm now doing a second pass (I've done levels 1 ~ 20 so far) adjusting the times and scores so that the first few levels are easy enough to get used to the game, but subsequent levels become progressively more challenging.

    The key to a good time is to look for shortcuts. You may be able to get away with blindly following the tracks in the early levels, but sooner or later you'll come to a level where there just isn't enough time to do it that way.

    I've added some extra help diagrams to the console offering tips on how to do that, so I hope they'll be self-explanatory enough to be useful.

    There's also a tips and comments section on the Animal Trackers website (not the developer blog), so there'll always be help in one form or another available.

    Lastly, I've been conscious that it's been a while since I last posted on the TA forums, but if you'd like to know what's what on a more regular basis, please feel free to follow me on Twitter as @AnimalTrackers.
     

Share This Page