This Christmas KMP Digitata are creating an awesome iPhone application that will be available to download for free from the Apple App Store and online in early December.
The challenge we have set ourselves is to build this application in a week’s worth of time, as mentioned in a previous blog.
The first stage of the project was to decide what our app would be. Below is the process we went through to create the concept for Glacier Racer, our snow themed racing game.
You can follow Glacier Racer on twitter, @Glacierracer, and become a fan on our Facebook Page.
Stage 1: The planning
It all starts with the question;
What are we going to do?
From the start we knew we wanted to create an iPhone app that people can download and use for free. We didn’t yet know was what exactly this app would do or what it would be for.
We wanted an app that people could pick up and use easily and that would also contain a festive theme to it. As this wasn’t going to be tied to any product or brand we decided upon creating a game.
Genre – What type of game will it be?
Meetings were called and ideas banded about. A snow themed platformer perhaps, with elves trying to save Christmas? How about a tilting game whereby spilt gifts are herded up?
However, as the reality of our plans dawned we realized that to create a decent platformer with a level of depth and variety in the time we were allowing ourselves was a little ambitious, and the herding game could quickly lose is replay ability.
For what we wanted to achieve a racing game felt as though it was the best fit for our application. It could:
- Easily be adapted to a Christmas theme
- Take advantage of the iPhone controls. Use the iPhone as a steering wheel and tilt for acceleration and breaking
- Allow leader boards for people to check and attempt to beat for replay value
- It can have well defined levels of difficulty
- It can become a social tool by friends trying to beat each other’s times
- And by completing races we could also award special gifts/trophies
With a one on one style of racing we believe the user would experience greater urgency to beat the character they are racing. There are no awards for second place in this game.
Design – How will the game be styled?
A Christmas/Winter theme can be easily applied to the racing genre, with the game set in the North Pole and an array of possible mode of transport. Husky sledges, skis/snowboards or even just blocks of ice were justa few that came to mind.
For the characters it was decided to keep the list to a minimum, this would both help us stay within our time period and then allow us to introduce additional characters as updates after the game has been launched.
First we compiled a list of animals that would appear in an arctic/snowy area or are associated with festive themes:
- Eskimo/Inuit
- Elves
- Santa
- Polar Bear
- Arctic Fox
- Reindeer
- Walrus
- Penguin
- Arctic Hare
- Wolves
From this list it was decided that the player would be a human leaving an Eskimo or Santa. The Eskimo was chosen because a character could be created rather than using an iconic character such as Santa, who is tied to closely with Christmas, whereas an Eskimo would have an appeal beyond the holiday period.
As for the opponent, a penguin was chosen as a recognisable character that people can associate with speed
What will keep people playing?
The increasing difficulty would provide the initial challenge for the player but rewards are planned to give something back to the user. Awards are given to the user for completing races and beating various levels of difficulty.
Idea for an award is a flashing Mistletoe they can put on the screen of their iPhone.
Automatically updated leader boards will show who has gotten the fastest times providing another challenge to users to get be the best.
And so…..
GLACIER RACER was born!
Sign up to receive information about the launch and competitions at the Glacier Racer website – www.glacierracer.co.uk
Follow Glacier Racer on twitter, @Glacierracer, and become a fan on our Facebook Page.
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