INDEX
AAck mnemonic, 141
action games subcategory, 74–75
actionables, feedback and, 247–250
“Actraiser,” 66
Add This, 273
AdMarvel, 165
AdMeld, 165
AdMob, 36, 128, 166, 211, 270, 271
Adobe Flash Professional CS5, 222, 254, 268
placement, 160
unpredictable, 155
Madventure games subcategory, 75–76
agile software development, 101–104
Agile Software Development with Scrum (Keith), 101, 257
aisles metaphor, 137
All Things D, 270
alpha test stage, 118
Anderson, Chris, 150
“Angry Birds”
ad placement, 165
“Archetype” v., 107
Hero Inventor Syndrome, 14
physical forces, 143
physical metaphors, 136
physics engine, 19, 43, 60, 74, 81, 83, 143
reward system, 162
top game, 36
user engagement, 158
Apalon, 272
apps. See also specific apps
feature/concept document, 19
news and review sites, 269–270
support options, 251
trend, downloaded v. available, 5
app analytics, 262
app development. See development
App Gamer, 270
App of the Week, 6, 30, 125–126, 271
business-motivated reasons, 150–155, 178–183
risk/rewards, 124–127, 155–157, 183–184
app revenue rollercoaster, 126–127
App Store
search bar, 44
App Storm, 270
App2Market, 272
AppAdvice, 270
AppAnnie, 46, 47, 57, 58, 74, 76, 261
AppData, 221
Appency, 272
AppFigures, 261
Design Awards, 271
review process, 119
user experience (UX) and, 197–199
Appolicious, 270
Appscout, 270
AppsFire Awards, 271
app-to-person gifting, 226
Appular, 272
Appy Awards, 271
arcade games, 76
achievements/rewards, 218
App of the Week, 125
complaints, 59
computer generated imagery (CGI) intro story, 27
core features, 52
costs, 25
death-match action, 30
downloadable content (DLC), paid/free, 193
example UI, 16
feature creep, 111
get good press, 126
GoPlan, 112
gyroscope controls, 134, 186–187
in-house help, 14
main launch feedback, 245
music/sound, 18
pricing, 154
quality assurance (QA), 97
risk analysis, 110
Rocket Launcher, 16
smooth five-versus-five team-based
gameplay, 30
story/art concept relationship, 40
stress test, 29
ARPPU, 222
ARPU, 222
Ars Technica, 270
art
costs, 26
recommended books, 258
artificial intelligence, 77, 143, 228
artist role, 96
asking for rating, 160
“Asteroids,” 54
audio
outsourcing, 18
royalty-free, 269
audio engineer role, 97
Audio Jungle, 269
average lifetime per user, 222
average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), 222
average revenue per user (ARPU), 222
average session length, 222
award sites, 271
B
Backflip Studios, 184, 188, 191, 192
BackTweets, 273
Balancing Agility and Discipline: A Guide for the Perplexed (Boehm & Turner), 101
Balsamiq Mockups, 267
Basecamp, 21, 40, 112, 263, 264
Beeline, 172
Belsky, Scott, 115
Best App Ever, 271
beta test stage, 118
Boehm, Bary, 101
borrowing style/functionality, 59–60
brain, multitasking and, 133
“Brain Trainer,” 78
brainstorming, 139–140, 267–268
Brooks, Frederick P., Jr., 94, 105, 258
Brooks' Law, 105
Bugzilla, 264
building, for other platforms, 254
business apps category, 71
business-motivated reasons. See app revenue models
C
“Café World,” 53
“Calculator for iPad Free,” 152–153, 158
Campaign Monitor, 272
“Carcassonne,” 131
“Card Ace: Casino,” 77
card games, 77
categories. See also specific categories
gameplay/feature expectations, 69–91
CGI (computer generated imagery), 18, 21, 26, 27, 56, 69
chat resources, 265
Chillingo, 33
Chomp, 33
“Cityville,” 53
CNET, 269
Coca-Cola Fan Page, 236
cocos2D, 266
communication
outsourced talent, 22
outsourcing, coordination with, 112
Skype, 15, 20, 54, 89, 103, 112, 265
community, sense of, 227
compelling icon, 160
competition, users and, 228–232
competitive feedback research, 91
competitive gifting, 225
complaints, learning from, 58–59
complete, create v., 14
computer generated imagery (CGI), 18, 21, 26, 27, 56, 69
concept/feature document, 19, 40, 115–116
Constant Contact, 272
constructive criticism, 246
Consumer Reports, 203
core features, 52
customer acquisition, 221
overruns, 32
crashes, 28, 29, 109, 118, 120, 185, 243, 245, 247
create/creativity
complete v., 14
for multitasking world, 132–133
recommended books, 259
Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life (Tharp), 94, 259
cross-platform development, 268–269
customer acquisition cost, 221
customer service, Apple, 203–204
customer support
resources, 274
D
death-match action, 30, 193, 229
decision making, research and, 36–41
definition statement, 100, 202
depicting physical world, 136–144
design
Jobs on, 195
recommended books, 258
Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist (Brooks), 94, 258
Design of Everyday Things (Norman), 94, 258
designer role, 96
development. See also agile software development
“Diablo,” 228
dice games, 78
DICE Summit, 220
Digital Juice, 269
DLC . See downloadable content
documentation, 4, 20, 22, 102, 268
documentation resources, 268
doing it yourself, 14
“Doodle Jump,” 17, 26, 48, 52, 59, 74
downloadable content (DLC), 129, 146–148, 170–171, 193
E
eCPM (effective cost per thousand), 166
education apps category, 71–72
educational games subcategory, 78–79
education/entertainment, 179
effective cost per thousand (eCPM), 166
Elance, 22, 24, 28, 97, 113, 114, 263
e-mail, 20, 112, 252–253, 265, 272
emergent gameplay, 143
emotion-based gifting, 226
engagement metrics resources, 262
entertainment apps category, 72
entertainment/practicality, 179
“Eternal Legacy,” 75
Eurogamer, 270
exchange ad solutions, 166–167
extras, features v., 228
F
F2P. See free-to-play
Facebook, 216
conventions, ignoring, 222–224
page creation, 272
vanity URL, 273
viral marketing, 212
family games subcategory, 79
“Farmville,” 52, 53, 146, 170, 220, 223, 226
“Fashion Story,” 75
fast tracking, 109
features
concept/feature document, 19, 40, 115–116
core, 52
extras v., 228
feature creep, 5, 32, 96, 111, 197
gameplay/feature expectations, 69–81
pruning, 60
social interaction as, 227–232
feedback
competitive feedback research, 91
converting to actionables, 247–250
soft launch preparation, 244–245
Fenn, Donna, 257
first-person shooter. See FPS fitness/healthcare apps category, 84–85
Fitt's Law, 134
$5.99 to $9.99 apps, 131
Flash Professional CS5, 222, 254, 268
“Flight Control,” 66
Flurry, 168, 178, 221, 253, 262
focus, Apple, 202
foreign markets, localization for, 27–28
Forrester Research, 203
FPS (first-person shooter), 7, 17–18, 74, 75, 107, 229. See also “Archetype”
fraction of content/high value, 162–163
free apps, 123, 127–129, 145, 157–168.
See also lite apps
business-motivated reasons, 150–151
compelling icon, 160
defined,148
freemium v., 148
risks/rewards, 124, 125, 155–156
Freemind, 267
freemium apps, 123, 129, 168–176
business-motivated reasons, 151–153
defined, 148
virtual currency system, 172–176
free-to-play (F2P), 74, 127, 129, 148, 149, 178, 183, 215
friend spam, 223
“Fruit Ninja HD,” 75, 128, 136, 144, 164, 219, 230, 231, 232
Full Motion Video, 106
full-featured marketing solutions, 272
functional specification, 116
functionality, borrowing, 59–60
G
Game Center, 10, 11, 50, 73, 77, 80, 82, 83, 84, 159, 212–215
“Game Finder,” 158
Game Producer's Handbook (Irish), 108, 111, 258
Gameloft, 52
games. See also specific games
emergent gameplay, 143
gameplay/feature expectations, 68–91
GameSpot, 269
Gamezebo, 270
general opinion category, 246
Genius Bar, 203
“Geometry Wars,” 54
Get Apps Done, 263
Get Satisfaction, 274
GigaOM, 270
Google Analytics, 262
Google Keyword Tool, 38, 44, 238, 262
GoPlan, 112
GPS apps, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 147, 148, 168
graphical expectations, 69
gravity, weather, objects, 143
gyroscope, 8, 19, 53, 66, 73, 81, 120, 134, 168, 186–187
H
hand-drawn style, 17, 26, 48, 59
“Hanging with Friends,” 54
hard-core, casual v., 66
head-to-head, 228, 229, 230, 231
healthcare/fitness apps category, 84–85
high contrast branding, 206–207
high value/fraction of content, 162–163
Hockenberry, Craig, 23
I
iAd, 128, 165, 166, 167, 168, 190, 191, 270
icon, compelling, 160
“iFart Mobile,” 50
IGN, 269
iLounge, 270
in-app networks, 212, 234–235. See also
Facebook; Game Center; OpenFeint; Plus+
in-app purchase, 124, 127, 149, 192
incentives, 124
indie game development, 17, 18, 23, 33, 60, 126, 170, 228
IndustryGamers, 220
in-house, 14, 15. See also outsourcing innovation, 8–9, 38
inspiration, recommended books, 259
instant communication, 132, 265.
See also Skype
intellectual property, 154, 219
IntoMobile, 270
intro story, “Archetype,” 27
inventory app example, 140–141
investor, pretend, 41
iOS
development resources, 265–266
iOS Human Interface Guidelines, 198, 200, 202, 205
programming books, 258
iPad, apps adapted to, 204–206
iPhone
Application List, 270
blog, 270
limited memory, 135
multitasking tool, 133
World, 270
iPhoneclub, 270
iSmashPhone, 270
iTunes Affiliate Program, 271
J
JIRA, 264
Jobs, Steve, 2, 3, 107, 116, 195, 197, 204
K
KAYAK,90
keep it simple, stupid (KISS), 66
“K ingdoms at War,” 82
KISS (keep it simple, stupid), 66
L
Lai, Albert, 221
launch/release candidates, 118–120
leaderboards, 83, 84, 218, 229, 234, 244
learning, complaints/mistakes, 57–59
leisure, productivity v., 65
lifestyle apps category, 85
lightweight software development, 101.
See also agile software development
limited memory, 135
lite apps, 127–129. See also free apps
business-motivated reasons, 153–155
defined,149
“Mahjong Towers Touch HD,” 160–165
paid apps integration with, 187–191
localization, 27–28, 29, 97, 113–115, 244.
See also translation
long tail strategy, 150, 169–170
The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less for More (Anderson), 150
Lopp, Michael, 196
Luhn, Matthew, 98
Luminosity, 78
M
Maclife, 270
MacRumors, 269
“Mafia Wars,” 220
“Mahjong Towers Touch HD,” 149, 160–165, 188
MailChimp, 272
Making Ideas Happen: Mastering Project Management (Berkun), 115
“Managing the Development of a Large Software System” (Royce), 101
ManiacDev, 269
marketing
development team, 98
marketing requirements document (MRD), 115–116
mashable.com article, 165
massively multiplayer online (MMO), 56
Maya, 16
mediation ad solutions, 166–167
medical apps category, 85
meeting customer expectations, 68–91
memory, iPhone, 135
metaphors. See physical metaphors
Microsoft
improvements, 198
Project, 21
Visio, 40
microtransactions, 129, 146, 147, 169–170, 171–172. See also freemium apps
Mikogo, 265
milestones, 109
Millward Brown, 195
MindMeister, 267
minimizing risks, 157
mistakes, learning from, 57–58
MMO (massively multiplayer online), 56
mobile social game solutions, 266–267.
See also Game Center; OpenFeint; Plus+
mockups, 40, 115, 117, 196, 267
Mockups To Go, 267
“Moron Test,” 48, 50, 57, 58, 72
MotionX, 148
MRD (marketing requirements document), 115–116
multiplayer, social connection and, 229–230
music
apps category, 86
“Archetype,” 18
games subcategory, 80
The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering (Brooks), 105
N
N4G, 270
navigation apps category, 86–87
negotiating rate, outsourced talent, 22–23
news apps category, 87
Nexage, 165
99-cent apps, 64, 123, 124, 125
.99 to $2.99 apps, 130
“Ninjump HD,” 158, 184, 187–192
Non Stop Music, 269
non-disclosure agreement, 23
non-premium apps, 178–181, 183–184
non-premium mentality, 185–187
nothing useful category, 247
O
objects, gravity, weather, 143
offer wall, 167
148Apps.biz, 31, 33, 34, 36, 64, 70, 131, 181, 183, 261, 270, 271
one-day retention, 222
one-week retention, 222
online collaboration, 20, 33, 40, 112, 265, 268
Open Office, 268
OpenFeint, 10, 50, 73, 77, 78, 80, 83, 84, 212,213,214, 215–216
opportunity
physical metaphors, 141
communication, coordinating with, 112
Elance, 22, 24, 28, 97, 113, 114, 263
Get Apps Done, 263
QA, 28
resources, 263
overruns, cost, 32
P
paid apps, 123, 184–193. See also premium apps
lite apps integration with, 187–191
WYSIWYG, 124
paper prototyping, 267
paying users, percentage, 222
percentage of paying users, 222
photography apps category, 87–88
Photoshop, 50
physical forces, 143
physics engine, 19, 43, 60, 74, 81, 83, 143
Piper Jaffray, 177
Pixar, 98
pixel-perfect mockups, 196
“Plants vs. Zombies,” 83
Plus+, 10, 212, 213, 215–216, 218, 228, 267
Pocket Gamer, 270
“Pocket God,” 49, 52, 72, 74, 136
portfolio, outsourced talent, 22
PR Leap, 271
practicality/entertainment, 179
premium apps
freemium v., 152
risks/rewards, 184
premium mentality, 187
press release submission, 271–272
pretend investor, 41
price expectations, paid apps, 129–132
prioritizing for updates, 249–250
proactive, 157
production, 93–119. See also development
profitability, niches and, 41
programmer role, 96
programming
iOS, books, 258
outsourcing, 19
project management, 257–258, 263–265
prototyping, 24, 40, 96, 106, 109, 111, 115, 116, 267–268
PRWeb, 271
puzzle games subcategory, 80–81
Q
quality assurance (QA), 28–29, 97
R
racing games subcategory, 81
rate negotiation, outsourced talent, 22–23
rating, asking for, 160
reference apps category, 88–89
releasing new content, 253–254
reports category, 247
competitive feedback, 91
retention, 56, 136, 144, 150, 185, 186, 204
revenue models. See app revenue models revenue share, 14
reviews. See also feedback
Apple's review process, 119
get good press, 126
rewards
achievements/medals/badges, 218–219
app revenue models, 124–127, 155–157, 183–184
Reynolds, Brian, 220
risks
app revenue models, 124–127, 155–157,
minimizing, 157
Rocket Launcher, 16
role-playing games, 16, 25, 28, 73, 75, 80, 81–82, 146
rollercoaster, app revenue, 126–127
rough budget, opportunity v., 40–41
rough planning, 40
royalty-free audio, 269
rule of thirds, 108
Runic Games, 228
S
Sample Swap, 269
screen sharing resources, 54, 265
Scrum, 101, 257. See also agile software development
SDKs (Software Development Kits), 15, 254, 266, 268
search bar, App Store, 44
search engine optimization (SEO), 38, 41, 44, 45, 255, 262
search engine terms, useful, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274
sense of community, 227
SEO (search engine optimization), 38, 41, 44, 45, 255, 262
sessions per user, 222
“Settlers of Catan,” 67
ShareThis, 273
simulation games subcategory, 82
single ad network solutions, 166
Skype, 15, 20, 54, 89, 103, 112, 265
smashapp.com blog article, 152
smooth five-versus-five team-based gameplay, 30
“Smurf's Village,” 28, 29, 68, 79, 82, 129, 146, 147, 170, 172–176, 179, 183, 223, 225
social features, 228
social game solutions, 266–267. See also
Game Center; OpenFeint; Plus+ social integration, 50
social interaction, as features, 227–232
See also Facebook; Twitter
apps category, 89
soft launch preparation feedback, 244–245
Software Development Kits. See SDKs
special effects costs, 27
spreadsheet, feedback and, 247–249
Stack Overflow, 23
standard conventions, “Tweetbot,” 208–209
Steam, 170
Stock Music, 269
strategy games subcategory, 83
stress test, 29
Subatomic Studios, 50
subscription reasons, 171
suggested fixes category, 247
“Super Mario Bros.”, 68
T
T3, 270
TapMetrics, 262
targeted gifting, 225
targeted opinion category, 246
teleconferencing, 265
10 to 3 to 1, 196
Tenderapp, 274
“Texas Poker,” 77
$3.99 to $4.99 apps, 130
3D Studio Max, 16
Timely, 273
Top 100, 13, 24, 37, 45, 51, 125, 126, 130, 165, 168, 170, 182, 187
Top App Charts, 261
“Torchlight,” 228
touch devices, physical metaphors, 138–139
touch screens, user tendencies, 134
traditional
transitions, “Tweetbot,” 208
translation, 27, 28, 88, 97, 112, 114, 147.
See also localization
travel apps category, 90
trivia games subcategory, 83–84
TUAW, 270
Turner, Richard, 101
viral marketing, 212
U
UI (user interface)
“Archetype,” 16
game/app design costs, 25
underdog, 126
unlockables, 161, 162, 204, 237
Upstarts! How GenY Entrepreneurs are Rocking the World of Business (Fenn), 257
useful search engine terms, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274
users. See also app usage
actions, physical metaphors, 141–142
engagement, free apps, 157–158
sense of community, 227
tendencies, touch screens, 134
user experience (UX)
game/app design costs, 25
user interface. See UI
UX. See user experience
V
Valadares, Jeferson, 168
value-added benefits, Apple, 202–203
vanity URL, 273
video conferencing resources, 265
video marketing, 274
Villain team, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 29, 30, 120–121, 127, 247
viral marketing, 212, 240. See also social
networking virtual currency system, 172–176
virtual object gifting, 224–227
vision statement, 98
visual expectations, 69
W
walkthrough, niche choosing, 60–61
waterfall development method, 100–101
weapon, “Archetype,” 16
weather, gravity, objects, 143
weather apps category, 91
website metrics resources, 262
Wii, 6
Wired magazine, 150
word games subcategory, 84
WP Social, 273
WYSIWYG, paid apps, 124
X
Y
YouTube, 30, 46, 211, 212, 235, 239, 241, 246, 247, 255, 274
Z