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Stephen(at)InkkyGames.com
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2012-01-31 0 notes
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2012-01-10 4 notes
Why Nothing Else Matters
The only thing that matters, is what you’re doing right now and the goals you’re moving towards. OWS is saying “blah blah blah.” I don’t care what they have to say. All I care about right now is working on my startup Inkky Games. I don’t care about corruption in our government, and I don’t care to listen to the news about the fall of the US Dollar. Obama could be exposed as a Chase employee being paid hundreds of millions of tax dollars at a 1% income tax rate… I don’t care. Sure, knowing what’s happening in the world is important, but how does that affect the success of my startup right now? It doesn’t. Unless the value of the dollar drops to $0 then sure, because I wouldn’t be able to pay my team. But that’s not happening right now. All I listen to and read about is what’s happening in the startup community because that could affect me RIGHT NOW. If a headline were to read “All investors dropping investment in game companies” then yeah, that’s important. “CitiBank pays huge bonus to CEO after laying off 500 employees” Yeah, I don’t give two shits about that. That doesn’t affect me right this minute. What effects me right now, is the amount of money in my bank account, the credit cards I’m going to apply for and max out, and trying to create and release an awesome game. America is the greatest country with the most opportunity and I am taking full advantage of it. As “corrupt” as our free market is, it’s the best system there is.
Alright guys, let’s get right into it. In my first Under30Ceo post I spoke alittle about my new startup, Inkky Games. We’re developing mobile games based on great characters who lead great stories, and this blog is the adventure of our first game!
Last week OKAM was working hard on the initial prototype and the sprites required for the game. I just reviewed the 80+ initial sprites and have to admit I was upset. The character was off-model! Off-model being a character that isn’t drawn 100% correctly, so it looks a bit funky. (FYI: I’m likely gonna end up defining alot of these animation terms so bare with me! However, it’s a really great start and we have some awesome and funny poses. My background as an animator will be tested with this project. Not only did I drop out of an awesome animation school and everyone is eagerly wondering if it was worth it and the pressure is on, but this project is the biggest thing I have ever done. My future depends on it’s success, and it
hasto work. Will work. You think I’m really “hoping” at this point? This is going to be a great game.8 hours were spent today writing notes, re-drawing poses and cleaning up colors. You know, fun stuff! Actually, it really was fun stuff. I haven’t drawn on my Cintiq in a while, and being in-charge feels great! We’ve initially started with key poses, which are the positions of the characters movements. So if the character is standing, then he raises his arm, the first keypose is standing, second keypose is arm straight out, third keypose is arm raised. Then come in-betweens, which are the drawings between the keyposes so that the motion is smooth. We only have key poses right now, but because we have so many, the thing already looks animated. We already have animation that is just as good as any 2D mobile game I have seen soo far, and it’s only going to get better and smoother with our inbetweens. I have a feeling this game will trick the user into thinking they’re playing a Nickelodeon cartoon! Here’s how I imagine it:
Player 1: “Wow this is an awesome game!”
Player 2: “What a funny cartoon!”
Player 1: “Wow, a game with Pixar quality animation!”
Player 2: “Wait, I’m controlling a cartoon?”
Player 1: “Wait, is this a game or cartoon?!”
Player 1&2: “Huh? Wait..Cartoon…Game..Animation…Magic….”PLAYERS EXPLODE*
Something like that!
As for the prototype game that will be playable on my iPhone, we’ll be able to see how sensitive the sensors are, how bouncy the blobs should be, how charactery the character is…Just kidding, how the character reacts to the environment, etc. etc. This is the first time I’m developing a game, so I think that’s how it works! *happy shrug* :) I believe that should with me tomorrow, so we’ll see.
So far the conversations with the developers have been great. Not only because I’m hiring them and they want my monies, but I’m actually good friends with one of the owners. It’s always fun though, before things begin. “yeah, this project will kick ass!” “Dude, I can’t wait to work with you!” “We’re soo f-ing excited to start.” And in the short time I’ve begun working with them, we’re all on the same page! Which is awesome!
Cheers for now!
Stephen M. Levinson
Follow @InkkyGames !!*All Sales final, no returns if you explode while playing
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2011-11-02 4 notes
Angry Birds Hits 500mm downloads!
I have my work cut out for me! Angry Birds is a story driven game (ie a story leads the characters vs the other way around) and there are many disadvantages to this. First, you don’t know each individual Angry Bird from the next Angry Bird. Second, the story is lead by an outside force, the pigs stealing the eggs. If the pigs never stole the eggs, the Angry Birds wouldn’t be angry. Character driven games are really going to shut the game down, which is what I’m developing. A story that is lead by a character with goals, rather than being affected by an unknown force. If spongebob was sitting in a room, you can predict what he’d do. If Angry Birds were sitting in an empty room, they’d have nothing to do until something effected them. Story driven is the equivalent to a great Movie. and the sequels usually suck. Character driven is like a great sitcom. There can be a billion episodes, and they all work, because characters were developed and they LEAD each episode. Enough ranting, at least Angry Birds set a goal for me to abolish.Stephen M. Levinson
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2011-10-28 3 notes
Monopolies don’t exist.
If someone tells you “Company X has a monopoly over Y products there’s no way to compete against that” Please do me a favor and smack them in the face as they have the worst kind of mentality.
There’s no reason a tiny corporation of 1 person is incapable of competing against an extremely large corporation with 100% market share.
Chances are, if you don’t think you can compete, you’re probably right.
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2011-10-22 16 notes
Angry Birds + Cut The Rope = Fail.
Rope Rescue By Chillingo
JIM “Hey Bob, people love Angry Birds”
BOB “Indeed they do Jim”
JIM “Hey Bob, people love Cut The Rope”
BOB “That they do Jim”
JIM “Hey Bob, let’s combine Angry Birds and Cut The Rope”
BOB “Well Jim, sounds like you’ve got a winner!”
CUSTOMERS: “WE WANT SOMETHING NEW”
Stephen M. Levinson
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2011-10-21 20 notes
Why “Roll In The Hole” Was A Failure.
Roll In The Hole is published by Chillingo and was expected to be the next Angry Birds. However, it was a massive failure, and has disappeared from the charts. After it’s launch I recall seeing it at #20 top paid app, and it just went away from there. So, what did they do wrong?
Well, let’s examine the game play mechanics.
You press the right side of the screen to move the panda to the right, and press the left side of the screen to move the panda to left. You then have to reach the Hole to advance the next level.Let’s look at the character and design.
Initial appearance of the game shows high production value, with well designed assets. However, look at the Panda. If that’s not the most generic looking Panda ever, I don’t know what is. It looks like a clip art Panda. Secondly, the Panda isn’t believable as a Panda. It has the face of a Panda, but it does not move at all like a Panda. It’s head stays still like a Rolls Royce wheel center cap. What does rolling have anything to do with a Panda? And why does the Panda move unlike any other Panda in the world?Back to some game play…
Sure, it’s nice and simple, BUT you have to collect Ice Cream to get the equivalent of stars. Where are the points? If my buddy gets 3 ice cream and I get 3 ice cream in the same level, how do we compare who beat the level better? There’s simply no way to judge.The game is too much like Angry Birds!
The sound effects in this game are a complete rip off of Angry Birds. Nothing unique about that at all. People are ready for the next Angry Birds, they don’t want more of the same!Overall why it failed.
It’s sort of a maze game. Maze games don’t succeed very long on the iOS market. The characters are generic looking and you can only judge your performance based on how many ice creams you collect. The SFX are a rip directly from Angry Birds. And lastly, the characters have absolutely nothing to do with the game play. They simply came up with a game play, and thought “Well, we need a character. Anyone like Panda’s and Monkeys?” “Great idea Jim!” “Thanks Bob! This is sure to be a success.”Tip to game developers, don’t just add characters on top of game play mechanics. Focus your game play mechanics AROUND your characters.
Stephen M. Levinson
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2011-10-18 27 notes
Are YOU real?
I can’t tell if people reading this blog are real, or just spam bots. Been getting a few of those.
If you’re real, what do you think about our lead character? (hint: he’s the man!)
This is the character that will become the next big game, putting Angry Birds on the shelf next to History books.
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2011-10-14 62 notes
My Dev Is Gonna Be In HELL!
Image Courtesy of Todd Hamilton @DribbleFor the past several weeks I have been working on the game mechanics for our first game. I have a potential investor who wants to produce the prototype, so first things first. Get a quote.
The quote is pretty detailed. I have to define, very specifically, how the game mechanics work.
Well, you’ve done that before, right?
Nope! The only specs I’ve designed were for my screenwriting app, Scripts Pro. I have never made 1 game in my life.
You’re hopeless!
It’s funny. I’ve never made a game in my life, I don’t have an extensive knowledge of games, but I know the iOS market and what games work and don’t work, and why.
My Developer said “[This Game] can be one of those gameplay breakthroughs or a developing nightmare.”
He posed a few questions about what would make this a nightmare and I laughed. Everything he thought would make it hell, was never apart of the plan. It was almost like he suggested gameplay that sabotaged the vision! C’mon, man, you know I’m better than that! He let out a big breathe of air in relief, “Glad we’re on the same page!” I guess I need to work on those specs a bit more… but hey, it’s only our first game!…ever.
Stephen M. Levinson
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2011-10-13 13 notes
“We’re Ready For The Next Angry Birds!”
Angry Birds is down to #5 over night! Where’s My Water has been a top chart favorite, originally knocking down Angry Birds to #2. Along came Scribblenauts Remix and became the #1 top grossing app in the app store. Now Hanging and Words with friends has topped the top charts over Where’s My Water and Scribblenauts Remix.
Angry Birds not being at the top is a trend.
First it was Tiny Wings that knocked down Angry Birds. Then Tiny Wings, went away and Angry Birds came back on top! Then Spy Mouse came along and knocked down Angry Birds, but that game soon disappeared as well. Then Where’s My Water topped the charts knocking down Angry Birds once again. And as you see now, Angry Birds is #5.
Angry Birds keeps coming back, they always do!
Clearly the iOS market is open to some thing new. They’re BEGGING for something new. They want a new hit they can believe in. There are always times that hits are new and fresh, and Angry Birds had the biggest mobile success soo far, but there will always be something newer, younger and sexier. Angry Birds has had a great life, but we’re ready to end it a little bit sooner. ;)
So, you think you can really knock and keep down Angry Birds? They’ve sold 350 million apps.
Absolutely. The people who made Angry Birds came from a gaming background, and added the characters. I come from an animation background, where character development is #1.
Character Driven > Story Driven.
Angry Birds is great, don’t get me wrong. They’ve set the stage for the possibilities this market can explore. But our game plan is fundamentally different. We’re not just developing a game and seeing if it becomes a hit. We’re making calculated decisions, we’re brewing the hit formula. Gonna sprinkle that shit all over Bing Bong!
Stephen M. Levinson
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2011-10-11 11 notes
What is Inkky Games?
Well, what is it?
At Inkky Games, we’re developing mobile games based on great characters who tell great stories. And we’re shaping every one of those stories into a fun game with unique game play mechanics. Our customers will fall in-love with our characters and grow attached to the stories behind them.
People pick up Mario games because they’re familiar with the character and all previous Mario games are fun. Mario games come in all types of game play, and we’re taking that same approach and applying it to mobile. Why release a new game with unknown characters and an unfamiliar story, when we can grow a fan base for our characters into each successive release?
So what exactly is the problem we’re solving? You don’t NEED games…
Businesses adhere to one fundamental principal. What is the problem you’re trying to solve, and why are you best qualified to solve it?
But is there really a need of gamers that needs to be fixed?
Maybe there are, but that’s not our focus. The iOS market is very saturated, so how do we stand out?
By creating the most engaging games.
We are actively examining the reasons people play games and expanding on that in a very subtle way. Why do people pick up certain games? What makes the top games on iOS successful? Why do games slowly disappear from the top spot? What aspects in the games should be avoided, and what should be incorporated? How will the market react to a certain type of game? Are they looking for something new? What grabs and keeps the customers attention? How do you expand on that? What ways can you incorporate social media?
This and many other are questions we have already asked and continue to answer. By simply examining what does and doesn’t work and predicting and following trends, we can create the most successful mobile games.
