Live data from Hacker News

Game about squares

gameaboutsquares.com

71–80 of 208 posts

Re: Game about squares

#71

And go! Tomorrow this game in full will appear on the Google Play store with the exact same colors. In 3 days this game will be rewritten in Swift, Erlang, and have a community based variation. In 4 days someone will find a way to merge this game with 2048 and Flappy Bird. In a week there will be 20 variations of this game including one called Dodge Squares on the iTunes App Store. I'm not psychic, I've just seen thi…

I don't think so. 2048 and Flappy Bird are based on a mechanic including random gameplay. This game is full of content (design of levels and text between them). Sure, someone can clone it, but it will take them slightly longer and it will be much tougher to make variations (possibly coming up with new levels, but that's hard). It's not the same kind of game.

Re: Game about squares

#73

I like the game and that it teaches you the rules as you play without needing any explicit instructions. I thought some of the comments between levels were annoying. Also the little flag in the corner indicating you're over the correct target could be a little easier to see at a glance. Just curious, how do you design these levels? Work backwards from the solution? edit: I'm a little further in, and I'm starting to t…

The comments kinda ruined it for me (I did enjoy the "I'm starting to feel like putting jokes between levels was a bad idea" one).

They were alright at first but I started developing a sense of urgency, like I just had to complete a few training examples before some kind of main introduction to the "real game" (which I expected to develop into some form of a puzzle game world, with labeled levels and sections, maybe themes, etc). After more and more one liners (that don't add any substance and aren't particularly funny) I became increasingly annoyed and was trying to pass levels just to get past that phase of the game. After a while I realized that that was the whole game, and my expectations had set me off on the wrong foot, so to speak, and I lost the will to continue.

I do like the concept and the puzzles were enjoyable, but I guess my recommendation would be to leave out the comments that make it seem like they are leading up to some prize or event but never actually go anywhere. The complete lack of indication of the level I'm on and where that is in the puzzle world (Am I still in training, or...?) also contributed to me losing interest.

Re: Game about squares

#74

Advice to author. Create iOS and Android versions of games ASAP. You are just hours away from getting cloned on app stores.

I'm hoping the author is way ahead of us. If he were smart, the game should be approved in iTunes and uploaded to Google Play, just ready for him to click "Publish" the moment this web version picks up some traffic.

Otherwise, Google Play will have a clone by the weekend if not sooner, and iTunes, maybe a week or two.

Re: Game about squares

#75

I like the game and that it teaches you the rules as you play without needing any explicit instructions. I thought some of the comments between levels were annoying. Also the little flag in the corner indicating you're over the correct target could be a little easier to see at a glance. Just curious, how do you design these levels? Work backwards from the solution? edit: I'm a little further in, and I'm starting to t…

This was the first thing that struck me as well - just fantastic level/game design. Immediately brought to mind the instructional level design from Super Mario Bros - http://www.theoryofgaming.com/gold-standard-for-game-design/

Re: Game about squares

#76

Advice to author. Create iOS and Android versions of games ASAP. You are just hours away from getting cloned on app stores.

I'm curious what would stop someone from directly copying his code and sticking it in an webview of an android app.?

Google would probably ban the developer for life. Not sure about iTunes AppStore.

Re: Game about squares

#78
Beautiful, polished, fun! Contrary to most people here, I actually like the comments between levels, and the "no instructions" policy just made it better. I wish more games were like this.

Nicely done, I have no negative comments to make. I'd totally pay for this.

Re: Game about squares

#79
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious what would stop someone from directly copying his code and sticking it in an webview of an android app.?

Google would probably ban the developer for life. Not sure about iTunes AppStore.

Fair enough, but look at all the duplicates out there for that piano keys game or...pretty much everything. My question was supposed to geared more towards functionality. What advantage do you have making something in html5 when it's easily stolen. How do you prove it was yours first? I believe I read a blog post on HN about a guy who was cloned like this before he made it into the play store and google banned him instead of the copycat.

Re: Game about squares

#80
post #40

I gave up on level 28. Solving it would require pen and paper or some serious thought. The difficulty curve is excellent.

I've gotten to 31 without the need for pen & paper - but yes, your right, the difficulty balancing is great. It's had me scratching my head a couple of times, but not so much to cause me to quit.

Sign of a good game.

Post reply on HN