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

[Estupendo1]

Looks brilliant - the tracker team have lots of little, lively touches! V good to see this.

[DaveA]

Well, after two and a half years of handcrafting, I'm pleased to announce that Animal Trackers will be released on the App Store on 3rd May 2012.


However, not realising just how the App Store works with regards to app submission dates, release dates, availability dates and updated dates, I think I made a faux pas when I first submitted the game last week, as I intended to actually release it at a later date in an attempt to coordinate reviews with various websites.

After I submitted it, I took the plunge and spent the last of my savings on a new iPad. Since this was my first game, I half expected Apple to find that I'd done something wrong, so I figured after testing it with the new iPad, if I found anything that needed tweaking, I could just fix them all at the same time and resubmit.

Well, as it turns out, there were a few improvements that I wanted to make. It usually takes 5 business days (7 days including weekends) for an app to be reviewed, and a week after I submitted the original version of the game, it actually passed. This had the unfortunate effect of setting the official release date in stone as 24th April 2012.

In terms of exposure on the App Store, however, this is bad because it seems that the official release date (rather than updated date or availability date) is what is used to sort new games, so by the time the updated version of Animal Trackers actually becomes available on the App Store on the 3rd May, it will already be nowhere to be seen on the list.

What I had been hoping for was for a few people globally to try the game, like it, show it to their friends, who hopefully would like it and show it to their friends, etc. and have a number of expanding 'pockets' of players eventually join up to become one big global 'pocket'… lol

But unless Apple decides to include Animal Trackers in the New and Noteworthy section, I guess that will just be a pipe dream.

Well, you live and learn, as they say…


Anyway, this is just the beginning.

I have numerous ideas for future updates and I'm sure some of you will have some, too.

But I need to get the word out that Animal Trackers even exists, so please tell anyone and everyone that ...

Thursday 3rd of May

is

Animal Trackers Day!

Dave

[Estupendo1]

Good luck DaveA!

I've bumped Animal Trackers around a little and will be an easy purchase when it is released. I know Miyamoto said he admired Angry Birds, but he'd probably admire this I reckon (assume gameplay plays as good as it looks like)

[burn]

Im so excited to see this finally get released. Don't forget to send codes to the review sites like ifanzine, etc. There's a thread around here that lists the upcoming games for the week, make sure you let triggywiggy know to put you on that list. I'm on my iPad right now or I would look up the thread. I'll find it in a minute and post it for you.

Also, not everyone is going to like your game. You know the saying about not pleasing everyone so don't be discouraged when a 15-yr old posts a crappy review because the game isn't an fps.

The game looks like it will be fun and most people love challenging games so I think it will do very well.

You should take after some of the other twitter devs and post screenshots and other reminders to make people excited. Make them aware of your game every chance you get. Then when it comes purchase day you'll be on their list.

[burn]

Here's that thread about upcoming games:
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=118476

Also this guy may be able to help you spread the word about your game:
http://www.smartappsforkids.com

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Estupendo1

Good luck DaveA!

I've bumped Animal Trackers around a little and will be an easy purchase when it is released. I know Miyamoto said he admired Angry Birds, but he'd probably admire this I reckon (assume gameplay plays as good as it looks like)

Thanks, I was playing it this morning on 'hard' level, just for fun, and as it's been a while since I was testing it, it took even me a few goes to rediscover the shortcuts on some of the levels.

I'm always open to suggestions to improve the game, as you know, so if anyone has any ideas to improve it, gameplay included, I'll consider it.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by burn

Im so excited to see this finally get released. Don't forget to send codes to the review sites like ifanzine, etc. There's a thread around here that lists the upcoming games for the week, make sure you let triggywiggy know to put you on that list. I'm on my iPad right now or I would look up the thread. I'll find it in a minute and post it for you.

These last few days I've been emailing various review sites with an intro and a link to the Animal Trackers press kit, although they're all so snowed under with submissions that I'm not really expecting much of a response.

Thanks for the heads up on the 'upcoming games for the week' thread. I'll look into that a bit later.

The game looks like it will be fun and most people love challenging games so I think it will do very well.

My biggest concern is not so much the gameplay, but rather the exposure.

Apparently, even Angry Birds and Temple Run sales were only so-so for their first month or so on the App Store. They're both great games, but until they got that exposure, their sales were just average.

And since I screwed up the release date with the original submission, I'm not sure how many people are actually going to see it.

You should take after some of the other twitter devs and post screenshots and other reminders to make people excited. Make them aware of your game every chance you get. Then when it comes purchase day you'll be on their list.

It's funny you should say that because I was just about to post something along those lines...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by burn

Here's that thread about upcoming games:
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=118476

Also this guy may be able to help you spread the word about your game:
http://www.smartappsforkids.com

Thanks for those.

Edit: I've now posted to the 'upcoming games' thread and pm'd triggywiggy, and also had a look at that kids' site and will submit the game once I have the necessary promo codes.

[DaveA]

[DaveA]