Contents and timings

The Animal Trackers gameplay guide is now finished and has a hyperlinkable contents page to speed up access to the relevant sections. It is this page that is opened when you press the button at the bottom right of the screen…

 

So, now all that’s left to do is to revisit all the levels in ‘Easy’ mode and give them more generous time limits. This will allow a few wrong turns to be taken, yet still leave enough time to finish the levels.

I’ll also be making a few changes to the layout of some of the ‘Easy’ mode levels, where I feel that even with extra time, novice players may still struggle.

 

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Trail guide

I’ve a feeling that by the time I’ve finished, Animal Trackers will probably have the most comprehensive help of any game in the App Store… It’s currently at 33 pages and counting, which is why I’ve needed to add a ‘contents’ page and button! lol

In the game, it’s important to know which way the tracks lead…

… but if you’re not too hot on your animal tracks, don’t worry, the gameplay guide is there to help…

…

 

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In-game help

I’ve now implemented a simple interactive in-game help indicator for level 1 when the default control method (finger point) is being used.

This consists of an animated circle with attached text box that will guide the player around the level.

I’m hoping that this will encourage novice players to keep Foxy moving and avoid the start-stop-start-stop motion that will ultimately result in time running out in levels where the time limits are tighter.

Firstly, though, I’ve tweaked the loading screen for level 1 yet again, to reinforce the message of the in-game help…

 

… and now the in-game screenshots…

 

 

… and nearing the end of the level, the indicator and text box fade out leaving the player to continue on their own.

 

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Control instructions

As you may know, there are three control methods in Animal Trackers: finger point, d-pad, and accelerometer tilt, with finger point being the default method unless you change it in the options.

Well, I recently had some feedback about the controls, where the player had said,

 

“I found it hard at first until I realised I have to flick the screen rather than tap it.”

 
I found this surpising, as with the finger point method, you have to neither flick it nor tap it. You just have to touch the screen where you want the tracker to head towards and then without lifting your finger, move it around the screen so that the tracker follows it.

So, once I’ve finished the pageable help / loading screens, I’ll be adding some instructions during level 1 gameplay to make the use of each control method clearer.

Edit: After some thought, I decided to add the instructions for just the default control method (finger-point), as I figured that anyone who knows how to (and wants to) change the controls to d-pad or tilt won’t need me to tell them how they work.

 

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Kaizen

The Japanese have a word ‘kaizen’ which refers to the concept of ‘continual improvement’ and it’s one that resonates with me in the quest for quality.

As a result, I often work and rework my creations, rather like a sculptor chips away at a stone block, with each stroke bringing the piece closer to the desired end result.

Well, the other day, I posted an image of one of the loading screens that I’ve been implementing into v1.1 of Animal Trackers. At the time I was happy with it, as it performed its function and looked reasonably pleasing.

But, on later inspection, the text looked a little weak and I also had the problem that I needed to reuse each screen in the pageable help section that I’m creating.

So, I went back and reworked the layout and came up with this:

As you can see, I created a text box to help make the text stand out and added a couple of adornments to the right-hand side of the console which can house various objects.

Whilst loading, the progress bar now fills vertically on the console and is replaced with a flashing play button once the level is loaded.

And as a bonus, the screen can now also be used in the help section, accompanied by some navigation buttons:

 

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Loading screen help

I’m currently working on improving the loading screens for v1.1 so that the help is more noticeable.

V1.0.1 already has help on the loading screens, but on newer devices which can load levels very quickly, the help may come and go before you know it.

There is also help available for the current level if you pause the game and press the ‘?’ button on the slide out console, but it would be better if the loading screen stayed up long enough for players to study it.

So, I’ve now added a ‘Tap to continue’ message to the loading screen once a level has loaded, together with some text to help explain the image.

Below are a couple of examples:

 

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Version 1.1 progress update

Animal Trackers has three difficulty modes, ‘Easy’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Hard’.

‘Medium’ mode gives you enough time to follow the most efficient route to the quarry without taking any shortcuts, plus a few seconds leeway to give you a little breathing space.

However, ‘Hard’ mode isn’t called hard for nothing… lol

It gives you a time equal to that same most efficent ‘non-shortcut’ time, minus a couple of seconds or so, so you’ll need to find at least a couple of shortcuts to find the quarry in time.

And in version 1.0.1, apart from the first few levels, the time for ‘Easy’ mode is usually the time for ‘Medium’ mode plus an extra 20%.

However, this may still not be enough time for some players, so in version 1.1, I’ll be going over all 50 levels manually and allowing the player to follow some false trails and still have time left to find the quarry.

I’m pleased to anounce that there will now also be an ‘Explore!’ mode which will be implemented in version 1.1 with a count-up timer. Times will be displayable on both the stats page and on the individual level ‘eggs’ on the map page.

In each case, you’ll see a new button that will toggle between the original ‘count-down’ mode and the new ‘count-up’ (Explore!) mode.

 

Map in the original ‘count-down’ mode

 

Map in the new ‘count-up’ (Explore!) mode

 

You will also be awarded a blue star for your efforts, but no points, since I think it’s important to keep the challenge aspect of the game in tact.

‘Explore!’ mode for each level will become available after either the player has passed the level normally, or failed several times on easy mode. (In the screenshot above, level 3 has yet to have ‘Explore!’ mode unlocked.)

However, to allow toddlers to play immediately, I’ve included an override in the options that will make ‘Explore!’ mode available for any level that’s unlocked, without the need for several failures.

Finally, completing a level in ‘Explore!’ mode will unlock the next one, so there should be no excuses for everyone not reaching level 50 sooner or later. 🙂

I’ve also modified the unlocking algorithm, so that passing a level in ‘Easy’ mode, for instance, will not only unlock the next level in ‘Easy’ mode, but also in ‘Medium’ mode. Ditto for ‘Medium’ / ‘Hard’ modes.

This will allow you to come down a level of difficulty, say medium to easy, in order to pass the level, and then immediately move back up to medium for the next level.

 

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A couple of tips

Here are a couple of tips that can help shave valuable seconds off your times.

 

Tip #1

If you move close enough to the trail so that it appears on screen, it takes a finite amount of time for the tracks to fade in, so by the time they’re fully visible, maybe a second will have passed.

So, rather than wait for them to fully appear, if you are sure that you have moved within range, you can move on along the trail before the first tracks have become fully visible.

You can try this out in level 2, at the bottom right of the level. You should be able to head north very soon after emerging from the tree if you judge it just right.

 

Tip #2

This is effectively taking the previous tip to the extreme.

The tracker doesn’t even need to see the tracks, he/she only needs to smell them. The smelling range is just beyond the edge of the screen, so if you can straighten out or cut corners, or take a parallel path so that the tracks are just off the screen, the tracker should still be able pick up the trail.

This effect can be seen in level 3 when you turn left after the start and run along the top edge of the hedge. You can’t see the tracks to the south, but you can still smell them.

This tactic can be risky, though, because if you don’t quite run close enough to the trail, you’ll lose it and will have to go back to pick it up.

 

Happy tracking! 🙂

 

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Coming up in version 1.1

Being a timed puzzle game, Animal Trackers can be quite challenging, as has been mentioned in a number of reviews.

Of course, different people like differing levels of challenge, so trying to cater for such a wide spectrum of skills and abilities whilst still providing a rewarding experience can be tricky.

Since Animal Trackers was released, I’ve been monitoring the Game Center leaderboards and have noticed that some people may be finding it a little more difficult than I had envisaged.

So, in order to address this, I am working on version 1.1 which will not only include more generous time limits for easy mode, but will also include a new ‘Explore!’ mode which will become available should the player fail the same level several times.

Once ‘Explore!’ mode has been made available for a particular level, you’ll be able to choose to play that level without a time limit, and in addition, the next level will automatically be unlocked. This will effectively become a ‘skip level’ feature.

I’ve spent a long time creating the 50 levels that make up Animal Trackers, so it would be a shame if everyone didn’t have the chance to play them all. The later levels tend to involve more strategy and forethought, but in ‘Explore!’ mode, you’ll be able to play them at your leisure.

More skilled players can still differentiate themselves, of course, by playing through the levels in ‘medium’ and ‘hard’ modes. These require you to track more efficiently, but as a reward, you’ll earn more points per completed level – significantly more in ‘hard’ mode.

Well, if anyone is finding any particular level too hard or too easy, or has any comments, questions or feature requests, please feel free to either post them here or contact me on any of the usual channels. I want to make Animal Trackers the best that it can be, so your feedback is vitally important.

 

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First Reviews

Here are a few reviews of Animal Trackers:

 

UK App Store

Great fun ★★★★★
by Mazza1322 – Version 1.0.1 – May 3, 2012

This is a great little game – quiet a challenge and good fun – lovely animation – lovable characters – all round thimbs up!

Addictive & Simple Tracking puzzles ★★★★★
by Great Apps Award – Version 1.0.1 – May 3, 2012

Simple visuals but fun “keep you on your toes” trying to out, out-fox that chicken quarry! Found the floating dpad easier than touch controls to see ahead worth mentioning, but hooked on some backtracking, double-trails already. An app worth a shot.

US App Store

Don’t let the cuteness fool you ★★★★★
by _burn – Version 1.0.1 – May 3, 2012

This is the perfect kind of game. It’s extremely cute and the different animals have a lot of character. It’s also very challenging so if you’re the kind of person that has to get 3 stars on every level you’ll be playing these levels quite a few times.

When you first start out, you start with the fox. If you let him sit still for long enough he’ll look up at you with those big eyes as if saying “C’mon, let’s go find that chicken PLEASE!!!”. That in itself makes you want to play each level over and over until you finally catch the animal you’re chasing. It’s also what gives the game so much character.

The levels are very well designed and they’re laid out so that if you want to get 3 stars you had better find every shortcut you can. You can’t just walk around, either, you’ve got to hustle!

Another thing for you 3-star people … the game supports GameCenter so you’re going to have to bring your A game in order to make it to the top.

This game is an easy recommendation. It’s cute, tons of fun to play, and can get very challenging. Highly recommended.

 

iPhoneGamer UK gives Animal Trackers (4/5) and sums up by saying:

“Recommended for those that love a challenge and also for those that love cute,colourful animal games with a difference.

That will if you persist with it ultimately give you a rewarding experience.”

iPhoneGamerUK review
 

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