What Is App-a-Day?

I've seen some people and some reviewers who I don't believe really grasp what exactly App-a-Day is intended to be. I've read reviews where the games were treated like full productions, and some individuals who don't seem to get why I didn't really add the polish the games deserve. I'd like to try and explain that.

As a video game designer, I come up with a massive amount of game ideas. Some are pretty crappy, some are so massive a team of hundreds would be needed to make it, and some just walk that line of "it just might work!". In the game development industry, for big funded companies, there is a rule when it comes to testing out a new game idea - you get a month. If your team is unable to produce a fun prototype in 30 days, then the game is typically considered too big / too complex of a project to be financially manageable, and you move on to something else. App-a-Day is sort of like this, only I give myself 1 day to do the entire polished-prototype phase rather than 30. It is an incredibly vigorous cycle with a lot of me staring at a blank monitor and asking myself, "What the hell kind of game can I make with a bottle cap??".

App-a-Day was not started for me to make 30 blockbuster, AAA video games that will be remembered for all time. However, it was created for me to stretch my legs a bit as a designer. I don't have project managers breathing down my neck. I don't have a budget I have to manage along with 15 employees who I have to oversee and make sure they get their work done correctly and on time. All I have to worry about is taking an idea - be it fun, questionable or flat out quirky - and turn it into a playable game. Not a finished game, and by no means polished - but a game that shows off my concept, and might even show off a glimmer of something larger.

I have always planned to do something more with App-a-Day when it is finished. Because when I am done, I will have created and published 30 playable, polished, finished prototypes. All 30 of these will be in the hands of people around the world, and I can ask the public, "What did you like? What did you not like? What do you want to see more of?".

Actually, that sounds like a good idea... I should ask the public. In fact, I think there may even be a contest out of this. A contest where you, the people, vote on your favorite App-a-Day game, and the winner gets turned into a very polished, big title, where I place a team of developers on its development, and the game is produced as a full and complete title. And I think whenever you enter to this competition, it will also enter you to win a prize. Maybe an iPhone, maybe an iPod Touch. Maybe an Xbox 360... heck, maybe I'll give away all 3!

So let's hear from you. 7 App-a-Day games are released, and my crazy contract work is slowing down, allowing me to begin to dive back in. What do you, the people want to see?

What would you like to see from a competition?

What prizes do you want?

What themes do you want to see in upcoming App-a-Day games?

I'm a video game designer by trade, and it is what I love. By nature, I am an entertainer, and I wish to entertain you. Tell me how you want to be entertained - and I shall fulfill!

iPhoneRoundup Loves Tumblecaps!

The excellent video reviewers at iPhoneRoundup have included 'Tumblecaps' in iPhoneRoundup #12! Check out what they had to say in the video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ystjrr5gWW4

Tic-Tac-Bacon featured on Krapps.com iPhone Bacon Roundup!

There's nothing like the sizzling sweet smell of meat candy, and Krapps.com agrees! In their iPhone Bacon Roundup, they featured a number of Bacon-centered games and apps from the iPhone App Store - including Tic-Tac-Bacon!

Check it out here: www.Krapps.com

Temporary Hiatus

The past week or so the various contract jobs I am doing have been running me ragged - pretty much wake to sleep hours working those, and as those pay the bills I've had to focus on them to make sure I can do things like pay rent and feed myself. So, I haven't gotten to work on App-a-Day stuff lately - but no worries, I am not ending it! I will continue to produce all 30 apps, with each app made in less than a day. Let me just make sure my contract clients are happy and the work is all in order, first.

Happy 4th - Time for Ultimate Dungeon!

With nothing more than Knitted Bacon Armor and a Sharpened Pencil, you enter the catacombs of the underworld to face the most horrid creatures ever! Using the almost patented Random Enemy Randomization System to make sure you (almost) never fight the same enemy four times, you are (almost) guaranteed to (almost) never have the same experience twice (almost)! This game also uses my almost patented incredibly advanced Ultimate Dungeon Interaction System that's so easy to use, even your cat can play, and what cat doesn't love bacon? So what are you waiting for? It's the 4th of July, and you're bound to need a bathroom break at some point - and what better way to survive the boredom of your big sit than to navigate through the most zany, most insane and most random dungeon ever created?

Now that I've got you all warmed up and ready, make with the clicking on the following link to be directed straight to the Ultimate Dungeon product page so you can pick up your copy today. For only .99 cents it's practically free, which is certainly better than 'not free at all'! So why play Rolando today, when you can be playing Ultimate Dungeon!

Ultimate Dungeon Product Page

Ultimate Dungeon - Only in the Apple App Store

Crazy Dave's Crazy App Giveaway!

The 4th of July is an amazing day.

People make some pretty sweet bar-b-que. We watch stuff explode - and who doesn't love explosions, especially in all kinds of nifty colors? This was also the day we fought off alien invaders who wanted to mine our planet... no, wait... that was a movie. But we can dream!

What else makes the 4th of July special? Everyone is home and looking for sales! Well folks, I won't let you down when it comes to that. For all of Thursday, July 2nd, I will be giving away free codes to App-a-Day games! They're all awesome little coffee-break casual games - something great to play on that ride to Uncle Judy's or Aunt Richard's big cookout. Or maybe you'll just play them while drinking a beer?

So you're probably by now foaming at the mouth and asking yourself, "How do I get a code, Dave??". Well, it's simple - all you have to do is follow me on Twitter (my Twitter name is @BahamutZaero), and watch for the offerings.

Oh, and there's a catch. I may just be giving out codes - but you'll have to convince me to give them to you! All day I will be doing trivia and challenges / dare's, and giving out a few codes for the quickest / best entries of each one. I've already posted the first on Twitter... but I won't make the Twitter followers have the first one easily. I'll post the challenge here as well.

So rev up those Twitter clients, follow @BahamutZaero, and let's roll in the 4th two days early with the craziest give away EVER!

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Dare #1 for Tumblecaps: Post a photo of you and a soda bottle and convince me why you should get a free copy in the photo! Be creative. I'll give away a code to the best 3 photos. Annd....BEGIN! (I may share your photos on my web page - so prepare to be famous!)

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Appgiveaway.com giving away 10 free copies of Tumblecaps!

Haven't slapped down .99 cents yet for a copy of the fast-spreading game Tumblecaps? No worries - Appgiveaway.com is giving away 10 free copies!

How To Enter: Create an account and log in to www.appgiveaway.com to enter the give away. 10 people will be randomly selected to receive free promotional codes to download complementary copies of Tumblecaps. The giveaway ends on July 5th, 2009.

Appgiveaway.com gives away free copies of lots of apps and games. Go, sign up and prosper happily with the free goodness that they provide!

I'll make going to their site very easy! The following sexy image will take you straight to Appgiveaway.com, so click away!