App Reviews

[Balloon Loons]

Also worth noting we started sending out emails doing the Facebook and twitter and YouTube thing a month before the game came out and through the release. Even bought ads on the big sites!

[Calvini]

Originally Posted by Balloon Loons

Hey Calvin. Good morning (new York time). We dropped from 1.99 to 99 and nothing. We are going to release a free version in a few weeks at the same time as we update a huge improvement in graphics and 3 choices of controller styles as well as some tweaks in gameplay. I'll see how that goes.

Nope not one single review!

Well I hope your new changes will garner you some more attention, I took a look at your game and it reminds me of old school Balloon Fight, a really fun game. I'm not sure if a lot of new generation gamers would understand how awesome that game is.

I have a question though, when I first looked at your trailer, I had trouble trying to figure out on how you would go about controlling your balloon character. I didn't read any descriptions or anything, I watched the trailer and had some questions on how you would go on about trying to play it.

Have you tried getting some peer reviews for your game? Like people on these forums to try and see how your game is like? I find peer review to be highly important (I'm not sure if you have done any of this, I'm quite new to this website).

When I finish my game, It's going to be a freemium model, and I'd appreciate any sort of peer review. I don't plan on just contacting large review sites, but I also plan on contacting a lot of individual bloggers and get some input.

I think these kind of games we're making have to really spread through word of mouth, meaning you'd probably have to contact a lot of the small guys, before you can start contacting the larger more established ones. I'm just guessing though, because this is pretty much going to be my first time trying out all these great advices. I've just been doing a lot of researching so far.

[Balloon Loons]

Originally Posted by Calvini

Well I hope your new changes will garner you some more attention, I took a look at your game and it reminds me of old school Balloon Fight, a really fun game. I'm not sure if a lot of new generation gamers would understand how awesome that game is.

I have a question though, when I first looked at your trailer, I had trouble trying to figure out on how you would go about controlling your balloon character. I didn't read any descriptions or anything, I watched the trailer and had some questions on how you would go on about trying to play it.

Have you tried getting some peer reviews for your game? Like people on these forums to try and see how your game is like? I find peer review to be highly important (I'm not sure if you have done any of this, I'm quite new to this website).

When I finish my game, It's going to be a freemium model, and I'd appreciate any sort of peer review. I don't plan on just contacting large review sites, but I also plan on contacting a lot of individual bloggers and get some input.

I think these kind of games we're making have to really spread through word of mouth, meaning you'd probably have to contact a lot of the small guys, before you can start contacting the larger more established ones. I'm just guessing though, because this is pretty much going to be my first time trying out all these great advices. I've just been doing a lot of researching so far.

You we are definitely balloon fight inspired! It's balloon fight with a twist and an "updated look". But it plays the same. Tap the action button to flap your arms and create lift and use the d pad or joystick for left and right.

I did have some peer reviews. Actually a lot. For the most part the comments were positive and they enjoyed the game. That's why we have 55 five star reviews . The game is fun! They did comment on the background graphics which is why we are updating them along with some of the other art in the game. So that should bring the quality of the game to 100%. The music and sound is perfect and the gameplay is tight. Achievements are all in there and are fun to collect.

We will be releasing a free version along with the updated graphics and controls so look out for it.

Yea freemium seems to be the way to go especially for us little unknown guys.

Research is easy to do but to put it all into practice seems to be a whole different animal than what the research tells us. It really seems to be driven by luck or who you know. That has been my experience so far.

Let me know when your game is done. I'll dl and review it for you in the app store.

[ColeyWoley]

Originally Posted by Balloon Loons

Nope not one single review!

Did you release on iOS only? We found it a lot easier to get reviews on the android sites. Not sure why, really.

Might be worth getting someone to write a good press release for you? And target smaller sites and sites that are happy to promote indie games.

[Balloon Loons]

Yea for now it's iOS only because of limited resources. If the game does well at some point then we can try a droid release. We'll see how it goes.

For now my focus is on releasing the new art update and a free version. Then we will start reaching out again to sites and blogs like you said.

[Calvini]

I actually have another question, has anyone here been able to get Toucharcade to review any of their games? If so, would you be able to share the process or show us your game? Thank you.

Also, would this be the section of the forum where you'd advertise your game?

[Balloon Loons]

I would assume some of these guys know the editors or owners or something. Think of Mikey shorts. Not only did they review it but they did a hands on video as if super Mario bro 2016 just came out. Lol. But I don't know if the editors associate with us low level devs or if they even read the forums. I could be wrong. But when Mikey shorts came out they said in the article it was made by guys from our forums.

If anyone could shed some light on this I know everyone is interested. I surely am!

[Calvini]

Hello Balloon Loons (Catalin right?), thanks for replying. I hope more people who were able to get reviews from here would be able to respond. I'd like to see a wide range of games from indie developers like us who were able to get their game reviewed. I just wanna know what they did and how they were able to do so.

I'm curious but did you try advertising your game here on the forums as well? I'm wondering would I do that on the iPhone and iPod Touch section?

I'm extremely new to this, I'd just like to receive as many feedbacks as possible. I'm still working hard on my game (along with my talented group of developers). I hope to show something soon to the public (possibly around late October). I'm really excited about my game, and I know most developers feel the same about their first game. I just want to make a good first impression when I start sending out my game for reviews. As you know, first impressions are usually the most important! So I'd prefer to get all the nit-picky details from as many more experienced indie developers.

I also applied to the private developer forum. Hoping to get accepted.

[Rainier]

Originally Posted by Calvini

I actually have another question, has anyone here been able to get Toucharcade to review any of their games? If so, would you be able to share the process or show us your game? Thank you.

Also, would this be the section of the forum where you'd advertise your game?

I have a feeling the Touch Arcade staff looks at the Upcoming threads and then hunts for those with the most responses/views for a starting point. They want people who visit to be interested in what they write, so having an upcoming game with lots of interest is a pretty good way of forecasting that.

Once you have that, it might make it easier for you to pitch TA on an exclusive.

Just a guess on my part.

[Blackharon]

While it may be true that they do get some of their reviews from the upcoming threads it's not a requirement.

Both of my games have been reviewed, and both games have had almost attention in the upcoming thread.

The best thing to do is send them a FANTASTIC pitch to tips@toucharcade.com.
The subject and first 2 sentences of your email are the most important things you'll write to any reviewer. I wish I had the link where I learned this still... but I found it on the forums here so it should be searchable if you're determined enough.

Edit: Wow... so the link I was looking for is earlier in the thread. Sorry - I just realized I may have just repeated things I've stated before... This topic pops up so often I didn't notice!

Have a clean, professional looking press kit. Eli tweeted he loved this blog post and it's what I'm using.

And of course, have a interesting game that has something writable about it. Yet another angry bird/tiny wing/bejewelled clone with no twists or improvements on the formula will have little chance of anything written besides the weekly release round up.