Game Dev Story (iPhone/Android/Mobile)

[hudson]

Downloaded this yesterday on my Android phone. I remember seeing a glowing review for it right here on NTSC-uk a few weeks ago.

I was laying in bed ill, too awake, tried some PSP/DS, got bored. Found this game and was glued to it for 3 hours before I was forced to switch it off as the bright light of my phone was starting to wake up my partner

The game reminds me of Rockstar Ate My Hamster, but parody-ing the last 20 years or so of gaming.

Basically, and to be honest it remains pretty basic throughout, but it has that just one more go factor. Seeing if you can make that #1 selling, award winning, perfect review scoring game. None of which I got when playing last night.

Just wanted to get a First Play thread as I think it deserves one (If there is already one, then...oops! )

[Rossco]

Awesome game. Excellent example of the "one more go" factor so many games crave for. Never did manage to make the ultimate perfect scoring GoTY though.

[rmoxon]

This didnt actualy have a first play thread until now, but the iphone thread became sort of one just for this game for a few weeks after it was released, its so good its the only thing people were playing on their phone.

Incidently, this is actualy a remake of a japanese PC game from a few years back, it also had a sequel, so i suspect that we may get that sooner or later as well.

[hudson]

A few years ago? Try 14 years ago

What does the sequel have in store?

[Rossco]

Oh I didn't know it was a remake! It is incredibly addictive but also very basic which I guess is part of the appeal but it would be nice to see another version with more features, better graphics, etc.

[hudson]

Really reminds me of Rockstar Ate My Hamster. Maybe that should be remade.

[EvilBoris]

I think there is a sequel for this on the way. loads of chatter about this in the iPhone thread

[Stoppy2000]

Bought this due to this thread and also my copy of Retro Gamer arriving today (they gave it 96&#37. Suffering from man flu so played this game for about 3 hours whilst watching Soccer Saturday. Its bloody ace.

[hudson]

Got me a number one selling franchise on the go in Dino Hunter (Online RPG Hunting). 1, 2, and 3 all released on Intendro's Super IES, and now Dino Hunter X has gone straight into the Hall of Fame on the Sonny Playstatus

We're starting to milk this now though. We're looking into a Aeroplane sim for the Senga Uranus at the moment.

[FelixofMars]

I do like the game as a whole but I think it felt a bit basic compared with the likes of theme hospital. They could have extended the actual gameplay so much but it did seem very shallow. I really enjoyed the overall visual style and the little nods to the console history/manufacturers.

I guess everything seemed so rushed in that aspect and left your not much (if any) time at the start to produce any games for the real retro consoles. Plus the fact you could only have one game running at a time (and one studio) limited the feel that you where starting out as a small company and getting bigger.

That said with the timescale as it was there is barely time to breath it seems.

I guess it was a phone game and I am probably expecting too much. Just a shame there was so much that could have enhanced it, but it was very charming for what it was.

p.s. Its 25% off on marketplace at the moment. And it is worth a punt for sure if your even remotely connected to games development.

[The Mole]

Game Dev Story (Android/Iphone)

I had a look for a first play on this and could not find one.

Game Dev Story or GDS has you take control of a videogame developer. You hire staff, set out marketing campaigns and even attend the big videogame show to plug your games and boost fans and sales.

The game is very simple to play and get into, once you have the staff on board you set them away on a project. To begin with you can only develop for the PC and only limited genres and directions to take the game in. If you select a genre and direction that match they both level up giving you more skill in developing those type of games, which results in a higher rated product and bigger sales. Once the game is released and rather by the 4 reviewers your studio starts to gain rep.

The game involves a lot of strategy. Selecting the right staff to do the right task is key otherwise your game will be panned by the critics and not sell. The 4 key areas are fun, innovation, graphics and sound. As well as having your in-house staff you can also hire extrenal staff who specialise in the 4 key areas. However these cost big bucks. Once a game is in development you will have onscreen graphics for each of these areas showing how well each is doing. From time to time staff will come to you and ask to try and help to boost areas but if they fail the game develops more bugs that have to be ironed out at the end.

Once a game has finished development it is debugged and for each bug that is removed by the staff you gain 1 XP which can be used to level up your staff. As well as the ability to level up staff you can also give training, so if you want a staffer to become an expert in music send them to concerts, for example.

The more the game sells the bigger the profit, which can be pumped into new staff, offices, better games, training, marketing and attending videogame shows.

Over time new games consoles come out and you have the chance to buy a licence to develop for that console, these can be pricey and have little reward if the console bombs and is revoved from sale.

Overall the graphics are simple 8bit-16bit style that works extremely well, the touch interface is fantastic menus and options are well spaced so you never touch the wrong thing and it is easy to find what you need.

The game is currently half price, it cost me about ?1 on Android and is worth every penny for the 10+ hours of gameplay i have had from it so far. I urge you all go buy it now

[tonyk100]

love this game but can't make enough money to buy development kits above the playstatus, grinding the contracts doesn't help is fun though.

[The Mole]

Very much in the same boat, however i am spending time and money getting my staff trained so i do not have to get staff outside my team.

Can anybody tell me what is so good about the masked guy, i got a tip to hire him and i did but he does not seem to be any better than any of my staff and is a lot worse than some.

[rmoxon]

I didnt really understand what the point in the masked guy was, his stats are really low and he doesnt seem to unlock anything.

I never had trouble getting money for development kits, but you need to make sure you make good games with a good combination of features that seel well though, otherwise you are buggered.

[EvilBoris]

Just keep making games, certain combinations of things work together better than others and obviously you will have more success if the genre you are making is popular