#bikosaur

December 31th, 2017

This month was surprising! In less than 3 weeks, downloads on Android increased from less than 400 to more than 1k.

It happened on mid-November. I guess that's due to recent changes I made on the store page: this redesigned app icon, the application description and some more tags. I now have a conversion rate of 15% while users visit the store page. 33% of them which install the app, uninstall it ~1.5 days later.

Enough words. Graph speaks well:

Thank you all for this. It's encouraging!

Honestly, I don't know yet what may happen in 2018, but I'll continue working on Bikosaur aside my work and in my spare time. I can tell I plan some more updates with: auto-login (oh, yeah!), new environments, new enemies, etc.

If you have any suggestion or ideas you'd like to share, just send me an e-mail at [email protected].

Now, let me share with you what's new on version 1.2.3.

Enhancements

Added a "Skip Tutorial" button on 1st time play, and a "Skip Help" button to close Help screen at any time;

[iOS/Android] I modified IAP process with an in-app purchase confirmation that also allows User to Restore Purchases if he recently purchased "Remove ADS" item. Previous version 1.2.2 (125) were rejected by Apple because of its iOS restriction: any app that features IAP must have a Restore Purchases button. It isn't the same for Android. I didn't know that... My bad!

Added some important debugging information to the in-game developer console. You shouldn't worry about that, it's only to help me debug things.

Bug fixes

[iOS/Android] I fixed a visual bug where "Remove ADS" text was overlaying notification text if you were offline;

[iOS] I removed an infinite event that triggers while User taps on "Remove ADS" text. This was only happening on iOS devices.

Well, that's all for now!

Talk to you soon.

December 2nd, 2017

New App Icon

I was not that satisfied with previous app icon. Mostly its flat yellow background which looks too simple. So, I redesigned it.

I noticed my downloads increased since the new app icon.

This was also an opportunity to try out Aseprite, an animated sprite editor and pixel art tool. I invite everyone of you, pixel art designers, to try it out! I made the switch, and it’s really fair enough to say it’s really made for pixel art. From early prototype to complex layout, and ofcourse, export.

In-app purchase

As this is my first released game, Bikosaur will remain free forever. I’ll keep it available on iOS/Android and on the web as long as possible so that you may enjoy it, as you wish, wherever you’re, and on whatever device you have (laptop, smartphone, tablet, tv, etc).

Bikosaur on iOS/Android is ads supported since maintaining the game online costs me something — I’m talking about ~150€ per year. 99€ for the Apple Developer account, and 50€ for the domain and server/database.

If you want to play it ads-free, you may pay 0,99 € to remove those ads. This is also a good way to show me your support, or that you like this game.

Enhancements, and bug fixes

- Game version number is now visible into the game on HUD screens (Pause, Die, Leaderboard, etc). It’ll be easier to define on which version you are while you report me bugs;

- Enhanced ads rendering. Admob now loads a random ad in the background on Pause/Die screen. If ad is loaded, and User press the Restart button — Game is paused, and Admob renders the previously loaded ad. We expect less lags with this new scenario;

- There was a Touch issue while taping top Nut for Konami Code on mobile;

- I previously used an external CSS file for styling those input fields on the Login form. I now use Construct 3 events to stylise it; 

 - Once the Login box is shown, Browser should auto-focus input text Name. This works only on Android and the web version. For iOS, I’d need to use a Cordova plugin to do it natively — which I don’t want to do since it is an hybrid html5 game.

What’s next

I’m currently busy on implementing Game Center (for iOS) and Google Play (for Android) into the mobile version of the game. This will allow me to add some more fun to the game with achievements, and to auto-login players by using their Game Center/Google Play username for the leaderboard. This way their highscore may be retrieved/saved automatically.

October 14th, 2017

In this new version, you should expect the game to load/play faster on less powerful devices. Ads are now supported. Read more below.

From Construct 2 to Construct 3

I switched game engine — From Construct 2 to its new version: Construct 3. I don't use Intel XDK and PhoneGap anymore for compilation, but Cocoon.io instead. This change gives me way more control on the output files.

For example, one major great enhancement is the use of Webview+ technology. It helps games run faster on not-so powerful devices as well as perfectly on new capable ones. Ofcourse it depends on game needs, but in my case for Bikosaur it was a must! If you want to learn more about Webview+, here is a nice description from Cocoon.io's documentation: Webview Engine: Webview+

Ads supported

One more important change in this version is that the game is now ads supported. You may expect a random ad to auto-play every 2 times you die. Hopefully you can close it right after 5s of play. I know I won't make that much money with this, but that's definetly not my main goal. I don't want to kill Bikosaur because of ads...

I use Google Admob to generate random ads, and a Construct 3 plugin called Ultimate Ads Plugin from Toby R. This plugin is very easy to use. Once you compile your game using cocoon.io, you just have to add following Cocoon plugins to your project: cocoon-plugin-ads-ios-admob, cocoon-plugin-ads-android-admob.

CBHash plugin for Construct 3

If you noticed my previous update I was talking about a CBHash plugin for Construct 2 that allowed me to add one more extra-level of security into my game. With the great help of my friend, Olivier Deboyser, we were able to MD5-hash all Ajax requests.

And the good news is that there is a Construct 3 version of this plugin. Thanks to blackhornet tool: Plugin Converter, I were able to convert Kyatric's plugin. You may download it here.

What's next?

Now that I switched successfully from C2 to C3, and made Admob works — I plan to implement more native features — like auto-login, achievements, etc — to add some more fun to the game.

Oh! If you have just 2 minutes... I'd really appreciate you leave a review on the Apple Store or Google Play:

Apple Store link;

Google Play link;

September 26th, 2017

This is mainly a security update related to the leaderboard.

With the help of a good old friend, @olivierdeboyser, we MD5-hashed POST & GET scores requests using Construct 2 plugin from Kiatric (C2 staff member).

Another important thing to mention is that leaderboard now only shows the best highscore of a player based on his e-mail address as unique id.

This new version is available for:

Any modern browser (as HTML5 game);

iOS - Download on the App Store;

Android - Get it on Google Play;

September 2nd, 2017

2 weeks after Bikosaur release, it’s time for a small update. This one contains 2 major bug fixes, and 2 new features. More details below.

This new version is playable on:

iOS - Download on the App Store;

Android - Get it on Google Play;

Any modern browser (as HTML5 game);

I got very good feedbacks and some suggestions from a few of you. I was amazed to see your scores growing up try after try, and I’m so glad to see people having fun with the game.

Today, I don’t really know what’s next for Bikosaur. My first goal is done - Release my first game. I’ll probably start working on a version 2 that allows me to earn a few euros with it. Like some IAP’s (in-app purchases) that allow you to customize/create your own dinosaur, and some random ads that appear for no more than 10s every 2 games played… Well, something like this. But I really want to keep the game FUN as it is now.

Talk to you soon! For now, beat some highscores! 😋

- - - - - - - - - - -

New features:

Added a Pause song. Thanks, LaffeTheFox! ❤️;

Konami Code solution for Touch devices. Why don’t you tap several times on this Nut at the top middle of the screen? 😉;

Bug fixes:

Android to go offline even when User is connected. It should not happen anymore;

Sometimes invisible cats spawn after more than 10k points. Resolved;

August 18th, 2017

Today is a big day! I'm so excited to announce I released version 1.0.0 of Bikosaur this morning. The very first version of the game. No more alpha or beta.

Bikosaur is playable on:

iOS - Download on the App Store;

Android - Get it on Google Play;

Any moderm browser (as HTML5 game);

You may view top 100 highscores on bikosaur.com.

I finally decided to remove any ad from the game. Its Construct 2 admob plugin is good, but not up-to-date with new versions of iOS and Android. This causes few issues that results in weird behaviors. I will probably add those ads in the version 2 of the game later on.

If you want to read more about what's new in this version, here is a brief list:

New features:

Added a splash screen for mobile version w/ my credits;

Added a wheeling feature when accelerating (press B button or Right arrow key);

While you're wheeling you can kill kitties. Note that Thunder item doesn't make you do a wheeling, it just gives you several speed for 10s;

Improvements:

A & B buttons size increased by 40 pixels for accessibility on small devices;

No more ads. Removed admob object, and related events;

Put back notifications for offline mode, and "is online" events;

Bug fixes:

Jump sound was infinitely playing when taping A button;

August 9th, 2017

Click to play

One another step achieved before the production release.

This update mostly contains few improvements, and bug fixes. For the full list, see below.

One important new feature to notice is that now you win different points depending on the kitty you kill. Less points with easy ones. More points with harder ones. Some of you (beta testers) asked for this, so here it is:

Brown: 25 points;

Light Grey: 25 points;

Yellow: 50 points;

Red: 75 points;

Dark Grey: 100 points;

- - - - - - - - - -

New features:

You earn different points once you kill a kitty;

Added Thunder animation to Hero (while you collect Thunder item, and got acceleration speed for 10s);

Added sound effect while:

Hero loses a 1/2 life;

Hero jumps;

Hero is accelerating (not Thunder power-up);

Improvements:

Reduced db's of all sounds;

Added missing app icon sizes (mostly for new iPhones);

Bug fixes:

No more invisible light grey kitty... S'ry about that!; 😅

When game starts, it sometimes has a big hole and/or an obstacle that suddenly appears. Impossible to avoid it;

Fixed few animation issues;

What's next:

Test & debug;

Deploy to iOS & Android for Production

Celebrate game release with a party?; 😍

August 4th, 2017

Game updated this morning with a lot of changes/improvements! See list below.

Click to play

I'm also glad to announce that from this version, we started beta tests on iOS & Android. Bikosaur version 1 is almost ready! 😎

If you'd like to be part of the beta, please send me your e-mail address at antoineguds[at]gmail.com. Specify if you're iOS or Android (or both, who knows?).

I spent time re-thinking the very first time you play the game. Title screen has kitty animations now. Random cats appear at random time. Once you press anything, game destroys them and game starts (Hero appearing from left). Quick "how to play" tips are shown to help you understand basic movements of the Hero: jump, and accelerate.

This update might change the dynamic of the game once again. Following feedback from testers, Hero speed now increases progressively 2x faster as well as his boost acceleration reload.

Lots of you asked for it, I implemented some animations. Wheels are spinning. Hero is biking, and jumping. You might also notice that I removed this ugly flashy effect when you are invicible (by collecting the Unicorn steak). Hero now turns pink until power-up timer ends.

For the most cheaty one of you, I added a Konami code. For somes reasons, it only works on desktop devices or ones using a keyboard. I don't plan to do it for Touch devices since in my opinion the Konami code isn't aim to be done via Touch screens. Anyway, I'm open to discussion here.

Full list of changes below.

- - - - - - - - - -

New features:

Player may edit his name or e-mail address by taping on his text name or avatar image while on Pause or Die screen;

Added Ride & Jump animations to Hero;

Added quick "how to play" tips on 1st game;

Added a GameCount variable to count how many tries Player does;

Added the Unicorn Steak animation. No more ugly flashy thing; 😉

Konami Code added (web version);

Improvements:

Added an offline notification message to prevent Player he can't save his score in offline mode;

Game now pauses while unfocusing it (web version);

Enhanced StartScreen & first time game:

Added some random background objcts, as leafs and apples;

Added some random kitties (just because it makes me happy);

Once Player "press anything to start", it kills all visible kitties and Hero comes from left of the screen. Game starts;

Once obstacles or ennemies appear for the 1st time, a danger sign appears just before they spawn;

Added some animated arrows to help section, and help for 1st game;

Updated Help section with more explanations (lifes, get a life back, steaks, etc);

Acceleration bar reloads 2x faster;

Hero's acceleration increases 2x faster;

Bug fixes

Player is already connected, he logs out. He still has the same highscore, logs in again with same name and e-mail, then it adds a duplicated row on leaderboard. It doesn't anymore;

While taping on Music icon, main song didn't mute. Now it does;

Fixed a preload song function issue. Game preloads faster now;

Game Over song didn't play while Hero dies. Now, it does;

While you collected the Unicorn Steak, you didn't become invicible. Fixed that. Enjoy cats destruction!; 🙃

What's next:

Add a sound while accelerating;

Implement Thunder animation to Hero;

Deploy & test on iOS & Android;

Export & test a NW.js version of the game — so that game is also playable as a native app on desktop devices (macOS, Windows, and Linux);

Have fun see testers die; 😂

Drink a beer; 🍻