Apps What is holding back my app?

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 4, 2016

I released my first app to the play store a couple days ago. It is a quality game, with great graphics, and virtually glitch free. I spent 3 months working on it. I only have 6 active installs. I knew that it would be slow, but this is just ridiculous! There has to be something I am missing that is holding back my game. Ontop of everything before, the game idea is unique. Not just another clone. It is only in English, which I believe to be OK because the text in-game is not important. Your help would be appreciated, this is a really discouraging experience :\

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xpatgames.nunca

Slug · Oct 4, 2016

Hi, and welcome to AF!

I've moved this to our Application Development area, as I suspect this is an issue that many other developers have run into so hopefully you'll get helpful responses.

The most important thing is to get noticed in an increasingly-crowded market. We have our App & Game Announcements section where developers are encouraged to make members aware of their work. Other sites have something similar, and if a game if engaging and fun it will quickly gain traction simply due to word-of-mouth.

psionandy · Oct 4, 2016

I'm not sure why I'd play this game. Don't get me wrong.. I'm impressed that you've written one ... and I'm sure you've worked hard and everything.

But, There are limited times in my day when I can play other games/read books/listen to music etc... and I'm not sure what the compelling reason why I'd play yours instead...

scary alien · Oct 4, 2016

Hey Andy, I suspect it was to keep the OP from having an issue posting a link in their first post--adding (prefixing) "https://" to it makes it complete:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xpatgames.nunca

Slug's analysis is spot-on--it's very tough to get any "traction" while competing against the vast number of other developers to get noticed--especially in the very competitive game sector.

I can't give specific advice on how to help other than perhaps paying for your app to show up in ads? I've never done that so I don't know the costs or benefit, but hopefully others can chime-in with their experience.

Best of luck!

Deleted User · Oct 4, 2016

It's a really nice game. Very easy to play, quite challenging, and addictive. Only problem is, I suck at it, but that's not your fault. My daughter also liked it, and was better than me.

It's kind of a variation on this game, where the player has to tap to navigate a ball through various obstacles. My daughter loves this one.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fortafygames.colorswitch

If I had a slight criticism of your game, it's that the difficulty level ramps up way too quickly. This might discourage some people.

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 4, 2016

Thanks for your feedback guys! I guess I will try to post it in the App and Game announcements. I'm glad that you and your daughter liked my game LV426, that really did make my day!

zixxorb · Oct 4, 2016

Ok, downloaded.

First open, immediate crash
Second open, works but animation is laggy but game plays ok. Difficulty definitely ramps fast (ie starts spinning with no warning)

At first it wasn't clear where i should tap so my finger covered the circle at first.

Couple thoughts/ideas:
1. I like the two color modes
2. Would it be possible for the dot to be a different color than white? Maybe red
3. Well, I thought this had no ads and I thought it was too good to be true. But just hit my first ad.
5. I find this easier than flappy bird honestly, and more enjoyable due to the level changing.
6. I'll definitely help spread the word tho.

So far my highscore is 35 but I'm going to keep going.

Rating so far 7/10
Really good for your first app. Could use a couple tweaks.

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

Zixxorb thanks for replying to my post. I appreciate it. Might I ask what device you are using to test the game? Also, are the ads to frequent? About the spinning, it is random but I could make it wait a certain amount of time before spinning, maybe?

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

I have a question for anyone who may have an answer. Could the name of the game hold it back? Considering most users find the app through search. I'm sure not many people even search Nunca.

Deleted User · Oct 5, 2016

Possibly. What's interesting is that I typed the word "Nunca" into the search box, and your app wasn't even listed!
Question is, what would users type to search for a game like this?

Deleted User · Oct 5, 2016

So what's your top score? Amaze me

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

Yes I'm not sure LV426. The search is a problem. Not to discourage anyone , I mean, I am the developer after all, my high score is 800

dontpanicbobby · Oct 5, 2016

Never. Never what?

How do you play?

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

Never as in you will never win xD lol. I am bad at naming/marketing games unfortunately.

zixxorb · Oct 5, 2016

Wyatt Kampel said:
Zixxorb thanks for replying to my post. I appreciate it. Might I ask what device you are using to test the game? Also, are the ads to frequent? About the spinning, it is random but I could make it wait a certain amount of time before spinning, maybe?

I have the HTC Desire 626s running Marshmallow. Seems to be OK now, slightly stutters animations of the score window.

Ads are after every mess up so ya, a little too frequent.

And that sounds good, make it take a little longer before spinning.

So far, I'm really enjoying this game. Highscore over 40 now

Deleted User · Oct 5, 2016

I think it needs a difficulty setting, because I'm struggling. My daughter got 85 after 2 attempts, which was slightly annoying

zixxorb · Oct 5, 2016

My highscore so far. Just hit it. Fast spins = good score

Deleted User · Oct 5, 2016

Yup fast spinning can really bump up the score. My best so far is 82.

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

I will be working on an update soon. About the ads, there are 60 seconds in-between each add. It only shows the add on the score menu. Maybe I should make it 120 seconds in-between?

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 5, 2016

You mentioned spinning ramps up your score, does that need balancing?

zixxorb · Oct 5, 2016

Wyatt Kampel said:
You mentioned spinning ramps up your score, does that need balancing?

Maybe slightly

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 7, 2016

Still only 15 downloads total. Does anyone know if I am allowed to remove it from the appstore and re-release it under a different name?

scary alien · Oct 7, 2016

Wyatt Kampel said:
Still only 15 downloads total. Does anyone know if I am allowed to remove it from the appstore and re-release it under a different name?

You can certainly change the app's name at any time (easy, in the Developer Console)--I don't believe there's a restriction on this...

Many of us had to do this when Google clamped down a couple years back for those that had "Android" in their app name--or rather, at the start of the app name.

You, of course, cannot post/submit another app with the same package name--but it sounds like all you want and need to do is an app name edit in your developer console.

Wyatt Kampel · Oct 7, 2016

I expected downloads to be slow, but this is SO ridiculous, lol. The market isn't geared toward indies at all.

zixxorb · Oct 7, 2016

Sometimes you have to be patient

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