An astounding number of games by Indie Developers from China are participatng in Casual Connect‘s Indie Prize in Asia 2018. There are so many that we split the games into two articles. This will be part 2. You can view part 1 here. In these games, you have the chance to journey into the underworld, voyage the oceans, explore a juicy realm, and many others, Do not be fooled by the fact that these games all come from the same country. They are full of adventure and intrigue. There is something here for everyone to enjoy!
Game Title:Annie Developer: PixelRice Platform: Desktop Win, Console PlayStation 4, Console Xbox One
Website: Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2yOKvU2
Annie is a third person shooter game in an eschatological genre. Annie lost her lover to save his lover during a corpse crisis caused by a biochemical disaster. Annie has no survival skills. How will she deal with this disaster that will test the environment and human nature? What is the conspiracy behind it? Follow Annie on her journey to the end of the world.
The game Annie features a unique art style, destructive gameplay, diverse weapons options, exquisite game design and battles full of fun and challenge. And it has the most moving story you will find in a shooting game.
An astounding number of games by Indie Developers from China are participatng in Casual Connect‘s Indie Prize in Asia 2018. There are so many that we split the games into two articles. This will be part 1. Here is part 2. In these games, you have the chance to journey into the underworld, voyage the oceans, explore a juicy realm, and many others, Do not be fooled by the fact that these games all come from the same country. They are full of adventure and intrigue. There is something here for everyone to enjoy!
Game Title:Wonder Blade Developer: PuppetDepotGames Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win, Console Nintendo Switch Country: China
Wonder Blade takes you to a world of thrills, mystery and surprises. Will you be able to rescue the princess from a maniac and his enormous pet golem? You have killer moves and devastating magic abilities. Your costume makes you a one-of-a-kind adventurer. Will you choose to be a sneaky ninja or perhaps a raccoon with a light saber? You may encounter zombie hordes, high-tech soldiers, a fishing competition in the ocean or even a high speed cart chase through the forest. You might ride a pig, or a battlebot, or a fire-breathing dragon. As you level up, you unlock and upgrade your skills.
Wonder Blade was in the US Appstore paid games Top 20. It reached Top 10 in a variety of countries, including France, Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was also TouchArcade game of the week.
Game Title:Behind the Screen Developer: 18Light Game Ltd. Platform: iOS, Desktop Win, Desktop Mac, Console Nintendo Switch Country: China
Behind the Screen is a thoughtful game inspired by actual events in Taiwan. Its element include puzzles, stealth modes and fighting. The player investigates deeply into a murderer’s life to find the truth. They will experience how social media bullying can destroy a person’s life.
Behind the Screen received top ratings in the iOS App Store Paid-Apps in Taiwan and Macau. It reached more than 200 million page views the App Store in two weeks. It received Best Indie Game at the Taiwan Original X Award.
Game Title:Pirate Code Developer: Codex7 Games Platform: iOS, Android Country: China
Pirate Code is an exciting and innovative game that take multiplayer mobile to the oceans. The player chooses a boat, finds a captain, and launches immediately into 5 v 5 naval battles. Be ready to capture and escort.
Pirate Code won Pocket Gamer Big Indie Pitch in Shanghai. In November, Pirate Code will join G-Star Korean for the world wide indie game competition.
Game Title:Untouchable 2 Developer: Anhui Dongxiang Network Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win, Desktop Mac, Console PlayStation 4, Console Nintendo Switch Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2Rtk2lG
In Untouchable 2, a doll with a soul is separated from the master by the separation of the magical world from the technological world. The owner connects with the doll through the mobile phone to give it a chance in a beautiful but dangerous world. This is a platform-like action game that features a large number of agencies, seven world maps, touching plots, exploration elements, achievement systems and leaderboard systems. Players will enjoy this game filled with fun.
Game Title:The Last Messages Developer: HEZBOX GAMES Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2RpKm02
The Last Messages is a minimalist mobile phone project with a central subject of life and death. The player enters new chapters of the game through difficult scenes. Each will have a different experience and feeling while playing.
In the world of The Last Messages, there is no heaven and no hell. But the dead soul comes here to find its final destination. Each soul has the opportunity to leave a final message to the world, but the letter must be delivered in person through a series of tests. Only after the message is delivered does the soul have the right to die and become a speechless star. Or it will continue to wallow in the endless cycles.
Game Title:Dash Crashers Developer: Lezard Han Platform: iOS Country: China
Dash Crashers is an auto runner game. Its unique gameplay is enhanced with smooth controls and cute heroes. Completing each levels requires the player to dash and fly with just the right timing. As players complete missions they unlock new heroes. And as they collect coins they get different costumes.
Dash Crashers was nominated for the 14th IMGA Global.
Game Title:Underworld Developer: Hakunata Platform: iOS, Android Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2yLa3kW
Underworld is a role playing game that incorporates musical rhythms and strategy and is filled with magic color. Players click on the screen button to the rhythm of the music to use different commands such as forward, retreat, attack, defend as they direct roles and achieve goals in their battles. But they will still have to overcome a variety of obstacles.
Players can win battles faster and more effectively by improving the strength of their heroes. They should also carefully match the right lineup with the right operational instructions. Break the darkness of the world and create a bright future!
Game Title:We Happy Restaurant Developer: ChillyRoom Platform: iOS, Android Country: China
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to run a sketchy restaurant? In We Happy Restaurant you can find out. This restaurant simulator game allows you to run a restaurant with no moral standards; make abominable food yet still attract many customers; then watch your customers develop new bodily features; and expand your unsavory business practices.
At the We Happy Restaurant Mega Group Inc. you have the chance to run your own restaurant while becoming a profitable member of the corporate family. The Mega Group has a killer product, green essence, that keeps the customers always hungry and wanting more. With this incredible weapon, there is no need to bother improving the food – instead, focus on the difficult task of doing nothing.
Game Title:Beat Dash 2 Developer: Can Games Platform: iOS Country: China
Beat Dash 2 is made by the same team who made the original Beat Dash, a rhythm action game. Beat Dash 2 brings an entirely new evolution of adventure and beats combined. Be the monster; put on your headphones and get ready to start your beat adventure.
This game is easy to learn and exciting to play with original music, fabulous beats and interesting level design. There are plenty of cute suits to dress your exquisite pixel style character. Then find all the Easter eggs and post your record. For more challenge and more rewards, compete with your friends. This game is just waiting for you to explore.
Game Title:WOVE Developer: Makebestgame Platform: iOS Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2PCU6GM
WOVE is a music-based puzzle game that has the player solving a logical puzzle in an artistic scene. To solve the puzzle, the player must listen to the music the level provides. They feel the rhythm and melody, and watch the sequence the white dots (notes) provide. When the player taps the screen, an expanding wave, called WOVE, is generated from the tap. When the WOVE touches a note, it triggers a sound. The player must figure out where to tap so the notes will reproduce the music from the beginning of the game.
WOVE is a sequel to Soundwave which was a participant in Global Game Jam 2017. The aim of the game is to give players a relaxing experiment within a simple art style.
Game Title:VPER Developer: Koonart&Qibaozi Platform: iOS Country: China
If you are a pixel art enthusiast, you will love VPER. In this game you express your creativity by painting pixels on a real world map. The global canvas is enormous with 17 trillion available pixel spaces for anyone to paint and own as part of rebuilding the world with pixels. Based on your current location, a boundary area is given to you for you to paint. When you move or travel to a new location, a new boundary is set and you have more empty space to express your artistry. Movement creates energy.
VPER was featured by Mapbox as the “most creative map interaction game”.
Game Title:Space Colonizers Idle Clicker Developer: CapPlay Platform: iOS Country: China
Space Colonizers is an incremental idle clicker that also incorporates simulation and strategy. While traveling through the universe in this game, you can also upgrade your spaceship, cast powerful spells, explore beautiful planets, meet all kinds of aliens and build space buildings. You can also create guilds and play with friends and upgrade your space station with friends.
Space Colonizers Idle Clicker has received a 4.9 on the App Store.
Game Title:Frog Run-rush Jump On Helix Developer: Xiamen Yidian Platform: iOS Country: China
Frog Run-rush Jump On Helix is a fast-running, fun and interesting game. It is much different from a game that does not move. The game is divided into endless mode and level mode, with each level a different experience. Slabs may move, obstacles may block the path and the frog must still eat as many insects as possible. Although it may first seem like a simple game, it requires players to use their hands and mind to make fast, accurate decisions. It offers a fun, stimulating way to train your brain and hands.
This developer is dedicated to innovation and changing old gameplay methods. They also want to bring a beautiful aesthetic to their games. In Frog Run-rush Jump, they use a simple and beautiful pixel block 3D mode.
Game Title:Salary Man Escape Developer: Red Accent Studios Platform: Desktop Win, VR desktop/ console, Console PlayStation 4 Country: China
Salary Man Escape is a physics puzzle game in which the player helps the disgruntled Salary Man escape. To solve the puzzles in this game players must leverage physics properties such as weight, balance and force, and each play-through is unique. Each chapter of the game adds a new puzzle mechanic into the mix, so progression becomes increasingly complex and challenging.
The game has a minimalistic, monochromatic visual style and a classic, Japanese 80s inspired soundtrack. Together they make a soothing background to the increasingly intense gameplay.
Game Title: City of God: Prison Empire Developer: PIXEL GANGSTA STUDIO
Platform: Desktop Win, Console PlayStation 4 Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2Rtm7Ow
City of God: Prison Empire lets you build your own gang. First, you must build your prison. Then make the prisoners work for you and enrich you by robbing banks. Now you are ready to take your gang to fight rival gangs and take over the block.
This game was awarded Best Indie Game of the Year and Most Popular Indie Game of the Year by Tencent 2017. It also received Best Sim Game from FHYX.
Game Title:The Con Simulator Developer: DGSpitzer Platform: Desktop Win, Desktop Mac Country: China
If you love comic con, you will also love The Con Simulator. This game allows you to simulate organizing your own comic con. Your role is the convention company owner; the different characters have different abilities. The ultimate goal is to save the Metropolitan by defeating your competitors to become king of the comic con.
The Con Simulators support for MODs allows you to design your own booths and characters. Your creations can be imported into the game or shared in SteamWorkshop.
Game Title:Three Kingdoms: The Last Warlord Developer: LongYou Game Studio Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win Country: China
Three Kingdoms: The Last Warlord is a turn-based strategy game. The game world is set in the period of the three kingdoms and is very detailed with its representation of the various cities as well as the abilities and features of the military officers. The battle system includes factors such as weather, land forms and many others that all influence the outcome of the battle. The game is based on the Chinese historical novel by Luo Guanzhong (about A.D. 1330 – 1400).
Three Kingdoms: The Last Warlord was the number 1 Paid App in the App Store in Taiwan; it reached # 17 Paid App in the App Store in Hong Kong, and # 54 Paid App in the App Store in China. It was nominated for Best Game at the Indie Pitch Arena GMGC in 2017.
Game Title:Prank Bros Developer: Rocky Games Platform: Desktop Win Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2P4lSg5
Prank Bros is a funny multiplayer party game that can be played by up to eight players. It can be played individually or in teams. Players can use up to thirty different kinds of weapons and skills as they try to capture the flag. You might turn down your opponent with an electric wand or a stinky fart. You could use the lift or teleport to get the opposition off the field. Or you could capture the flag and use acceleration to run away with it. And the player or team with the highest score wins.
But winning is not the only enjoyable aspect of the game. You might enjoy throwing your opponent into the sky or the thrill of playing skill combo with your teammates. Or it could be the excitement of winning when you had almost lost. Whatever it is, you will enjoy the party game, Prank Bros.
Game Title: BlockQuest Maker Developer: Gamera Game Platform: iOS, Desktop Win, Desktop Mac Country: China Video: https://www.bilibili.com/video/av24412896
With BlockQuest Maker you can create and play your own dungeon in an instant death role-playing game. And you can share your dungeon with the world! BlockQuest Maker is a simple game maker that gives you a chance to play dungeons designed by others and create your own.
Although the game maker is simple and the controls may be easy, the dungeon you create can be as difficult, complex and deadly as you can imagine. But if you are not interested in creating your own, you can focus on playing with the dungeons of other users. It all depends on you!
BlockQuest Maker was in the Top Ten at the Google Indie Games Festival 2018. It was featured in the Apple App Store.
Game Title:The White Laboratory Developer: Gamera Game Platform: Desktop Win, Desktop Mac Country: China Video: https://bit.ly/2zw5wST
The White Laboratory is a physics-based tower defense and RTS game. When you play it, you modularly build and command robotic structures. You are operating in a facility in the atmosphere of a remote gas plant. You must build ground defenses, send out propeller probes, attract scrap resources and do anything physics allows. Experiment mode explores a wide range of gameplay with robotic component combinations. Survival mode is tower defense.
Game Title:Energy Shock Developer: Meowtoy
Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win Country: China
Energy Shock is a puzzle card game. When you play this game, you and your enemies are all standing on a horizontal chess board together. Each round you will randomly draw four cards from the pile of cards to fight. Each time you use an attacking card you get closer to your enemy’s target, but approaching consumes your attack strength. You have to strategically choose your card to defeat an opponent that has a known order of play and to enter the next dungeon and eventually fight the boss.
PC Gamer says about this game, “The makings of an inventive, pretty roguey card-based puzzler in Energy Shock.”
To view all of the Indie Prize finalists for Casual Connect Asia 2018, visit indieprize.org.
Are you a game developer thinking about live operation in Asian markets? But you know Asian markets differ from each other. So what is the difference in game operation strategy between the different markets in China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia? These are crucial things to know, but it can be confusing especially if you are a western developer.
You could certainly benefit from the experience of Yuli Zhao, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at YOOZOO INTERACTIVE. Yuli is in charge of game and IP licensing, global merger and acquisition deal sourcing and strategy cooperation, and lead game operation for the China and Japan market. At Casual Connect Europe 2018, Yuli presented the session How Operation Influences Game Performance the Asian Markets and What Western Developers Can Learn From It.
In this session Yuli discussed whether live operation is a strategy or a tactic as well as the differences between the various Asian markets in game operation strategy. She also described how the live operation philosophy is influencing western markets and what western developers need to learn from it. To understand more about live operation, be sure to watch this video of Yuli’s session.
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For Yuli’s session from Casual Connect Europe 2017 and more insights and career information, see this exclusive article.
There are two entries for Indie Prize at Casual Connect Eastern Europe 2018, both from Brazil. One is a turn-based RPG, using imagination to explore the galaxy. The other is a side-scrolling platformer based on the medieval world.
Game Title:Galaxy of Pen & Paper Developer: Behold Studios Platform: iOS, Android, Desktop Win, Desktop Mac Country: Brazil
Galaxy of Pen & Paper is a turn-based role playing game. It takes place in 1999 with a group of players rolling dice as the take their turns. You create your own RPG party and Game Master as players use their imaginations to explore distant aliens, fight aliens and save the galaxy, in the era of dial-up internet and floppy disks.
Indie Prize London 2018 featured many exciting games that we will enjoy playing. The judging is now complete and Casual Connect Europe is happy to announce the winners and nominees in each category.
Best Game Audio award was given to Zebrainy ABCs, created by Zebrainy Limited
The winner of Best Game Audio is Zebrainy ABCs, created by Zebrainy Limited from Ukraine. This is an alphabet learning game for young children that takes them on a journey where they learn to construct each letter and then to know animals, objects and characters that begin with that letter.
Nominees for Best Game Audio were: LUNA the Shadow Dust, developed by Lantern Studio from the United Kingdom, a point-and-click puzzle adventure set in a fantasy world; Nishan Shaman by Next Studio from China, inspired by ancient Chinese Manchu mythology; and Hyperforma by Nord Unit of Russia, an arcade puzzle in a steampunk setting.
The winner of Best Game Design was EnigmBox by Benoit Freslom from France. EnigmBox is a puzzle game that requires you to use all the functionalities of your smartphone to solve the puzzles, including things like the location service, plug-in accessories and much more.
Every developer knows how critical user acquisition is to the success of a game. But the mobile app landscape evolves at lightning speed and new challenges constantly arise. So how do you keep up? Fortunately, new solutions are also coming to deal with the latest problems.
Martin Price, Vice President of Product at Vungle, is one of the best people you could ask about user acquisition challenges. Martin runs Vungle’s product team and, as well, is responsible for roadmap planning, research and development, user experience and product design. With over fifteen years experience leading product teams, Martin also has had executive roles at Yahoo!, Vdopia and OpenX and strategy roles at Vodafone and Nokia.
At Casual Connect USA 2018, Martin presented the session Tricks of the User Acquisition Trade: How Advertiser Tools are Changing and What You Need to Know to Drive More Revenue. They discussed what today’s user acquisition challenges are and how creative optimization plus data give the opportunity to transform the way audiences are grown. And they described the ways creative optimization and self-serve advertising tools help to empower a new kind of mobile advertiser. Be sure to watch the video of this presentation to learn more.
My goal is to bring really big volume of users and revenue to our partner developers. - Joyce XuClick To Tweet
Playable ads are pretty effective in delivering cost-effective new users and also provide better post-install performance. Learn what the limitation are and how they are being addressed with Joyce Xu, Vice President at ZPLAY, at Casual Connect USA. Find out the current state of playables in the market along with future innovations such as playable ads for 3D and Action games. She observed, “We needed to help Western developers to improve their in-game purchase structure.”
Meet the best and the brightest from Paraguay, China, Brazil, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Colombia and USA. Indie Prize, an international scholarship program created by Computer Games Association for independent game developers, announced the winners of the 19th Indie Prize Awards during Indie Prize Seattle at Casual Connect USA 2017 – representing the best of the best in independent game design and innovation:
It’s about working with creative people and using heart to discover players’ needs daily. - Yuli ZhaoClick To Tweet
It can be really tough to break into the Asian market, maybe even mysterious. Although there is a large difference in user behavior between Western and Asian players, Youzu Interactive has been very successful in localizing games. They have even been able to make it into the Top 10 in more than 60 countries overseas. In a lecture at Casual Connect Europe entitled Going Global – Local Operation Experience for Over 100 Countries, Yuli Zhao focused on what developers should do rather than what they shouldn’t do. Here is a key finding that Yuli described: “Because there are a small group of deep pocket players, whale players, in Asian games, when we bring the game to Western markets we don’t want to make the non-paying users feel bad about it so there are some items which is to price extremely high in our previous version in Asian market. Actually, we divided these items into smaller packages so that when the players pay for the virtual items, they will view the pricing as not that high but in reality, they need to buy the whole group of virtual items to get the final ones.”
Three of the top world markets comes from Asia are China, North America and Japan. Here are three findings which Yuli highlighted:
Style is not fine Art: Glowing effect and outstanding outfit affected why they got features by Apple.
Compatibility: Fast frame speed on lower end mobile phone at 20+ a must.
Localization: extend the life cycle of the game by changing rewards, difficulty by country and the number of incoming game events.
For more useful tips on how to break through the cross-cultural barrier, see the full lecture below.
Developers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and India will showcase their games at the international Indie Prize showcase during the 40th edition of Casual Connect Asia in Singapore.
Game Title:Pixel Gear Developer: Oasis Games Ltd. Platform: Console, VR desktop/ console Website: http://en.console.oasgames.com/ Country: China
Pixel Gear is a colorful 3D pixel shoot-em-up with a variety of humorous cartoon monsters, zombies and ghosts as enemies to defeat. The game includes six levels that are filled with a variety of interactive objects that exhibit entertaining reactions when hit, and a host of upgradeable weapons as well as defensive objects.
Game Title: Wonder Blade
Game Title: Behind the Screen
Game Title: Pirate Code
Game Title: Dash Crashers
Game Title: We Happy Restaurant
Game Title: Beat Dash 2
Game Title: VPER
Game Title: Space Colonizers Idle Clicker
Game Title: Frog Run-rush Jump On Helix
Game Title: Salary Man Escape
Game Title: The Con Simulator
Game Title: Three Kingdoms: The Last Warlord
You could certainly benefit from the experience of Yuli Zhao, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at YOOZOO INTERACTIVE. Yuli is in charge of game and IP licensing, global merger and acquisition deal sourcing and strategy cooperation, and lead game operation for the China and Japan market. At Casual Connect Europe 2018, Yuli presented the session How Operation Influences Game Performance the Asian Markets and What Western Developers Can Learn From It.
Game Title: Galaxy of Pen & Paper
Martin Price, Vice President of Product at Vungle, is one of the best people you could ask about user acquisition challenges. Martin runs Vungle’s product team and, as well, is responsible for roadmap planning, research and development, user experience and product design. With over fifteen years experience leading product teams, Martin also has had executive roles at Yahoo!, Vdopia and OpenX and strategy roles at Vodafone and Nokia.
Game Title: Pixel Gear
