Industry veteran Derek Bronston has over 12 years experience in web and software development, acting as lead developer and technical project manager for a vast array of clients include Pfizer and NFO Worldwide, in 2002 he went on to develop the now successful internet language company Yabla INC and the development firm Cadoa Arts & Sciences, which focuses largely on social media applications. He is currently the senior instructor at S.A.E New York,’s new iPhone 360 Development course. Along with his iOS work he is Technology Partner and Senior Director of Technology & Development at theConspiracy.
When asked about giving a game a longer time to shine and be in the spotlight Derek said that it , "falls largely on the continued interest of the user in that application. DLC, exclusive content, added functionality are all good ways to do this. Apple’s Store Kit allows developers to unlock functionality via quick 1 click purchasing making potential profits simple and easy to incorporate into an app."
Apple seems to understand this much more than many other gaming platforms like XBLA or Playstation Network which require the user to pretty much back all the way out of a game in order to obtain new content. While not always the case, it is the majority of the time.
But what those platforms do quite well is something that iOS game developers can also benefit from. Online leaderboards, competitiveness and invitations to games are all part and parcel of those services. When asked about the leading ways of discovering new games Derek cited Social Media as being one of the major ways.
Sharing scores and play details via Twitter, Facebook wall and or community forums. Peer-to-peer (online) playing which can allow multiple users to engage in a shared game and or invite users into a game they may or may not otherwise be involved in.
But getting people hooked up with the game
is one thing, getting them hooked into the game so that they invest time in it and want to keep playing requires a bit more. The tried and true method, according to Derek, is the moving through levels of a game. Offering the player more bells and whistles as they unlock each level therefore keeping them wanting more.
This is vitally important in iPhone game development and is one of the major differences between it and other platforms and that is time and location where people will be playing.
Application development on the iPhone revolves around short-burst usage. It’s not a platform intended to engage the user for hours at a time, but more minutes at the bus stop etc... That said, a game like Angry Birds is well suited to the platform as it’s simple and completing a level can happen on a break at work or on the subway. This is much different to a more complex game aimed at the hardcore gamer that can take up hours or even days of time.
So if you are looking at developing a game for the iOS platforms short, quick levels are ideal as they give the user a sense of progress and satisfaction even in a short amount of time. Angry Birds is a great example (I have played some 200 levels in it and A.B. Rio already), each level can be played in a matter of minutes which means while waiting to commute or actually commuting via public transportation you can burn through a couple levels and feel good.
Likewise, if you have some spare time on your break from work you can also fire up the game and whip through a level or two. Some other games I have played on the iPhone take the more hardcore gamer approach and expect that you will invest a minimum of 15 minutes or more in a single gaming session. Those are the games I don’t get back to often because of where I use the iPhone for gaming which is generally away from home when time is limited.
Our thanks go out to Derek for taking the time to speak with us and we hope to have more developer tips for you in the future.
