Dead Panic - a casual zombie shooter - is released! (Smasher's game)

[smasher]

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Now updated: Latest Info
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Hi, this is Sean / Smasher, long time poster. My Zombie shooter game, "Dead Panic" , has been approved by Apple and is available now!

I have some exclusive screen shots, not displayed on the Dead Panic web site:



Dead Panic has a 13-level campaign with a sci-fi storyline, instant loading/saving for quick games, ipod integration, and a full soundtrack. If you like the atmosphere of Half-Life 2 and STALKER, you'll enjoy this game. If you like popping zombies in the head with a sniper rifle, you'll like this game. I hope you enjoy it!

I'm also available for podcast / blog / print interviews - I'm a full-time Independent developer with lots to say about the state of the app store, the future of the iPhone platform, and other Apple and Indie issues.

[knichols]

Congrats on being approved to the App Store, awesome game and can't wait to see it succeed! Really enjoyed the gameplay and look forward to future levels being released. For those of you that do not have this game, it's a must have! You will want to continue playing for many hours!

[Kalimba]

Congratulations. I spoke with Chris Stewart and we both agree that this thread should be "stickied" as a token of appreciation from the forum for all of the help you've provided to other members here (especially considering that you've obviously been helping out while working on your own project).

Again, congratulations, and the best of luck in the App Store.

[charlie]

I am downloading it now! I will write a review after I play it for a bit.

[scotopia]

Yes, excellent work Smasher, and Kalimba great idea about the sticky; Smasher has indeed been an invaluable aid to many of us for a long time.

I gave Dead Panic some well deserved ups on Touch Arcade as well, I suggest others do the same if they enjoy it!

[knichols]

Full review is posted up on the blog now! Below is the permalink:

App Review – Dead Panic Nichols Solutions Blog

[smasher]

Thanks everyone - I've been getting some positive attention on the Touch Arcade forums, and a good review from appVeristy.com:
Dead Panic Review

I've also posted a gameplay video on youtube, in case you are still on the fence about trying the game:
Dead Panic Trailer and Gameplay Video

[knichols]

Smasher, just wanted to see how the game was doing. Hope all is well!

[smasher]

Originally Posted by knichols

Smasher, just wanted to see how the game was doing. Hope all is well!

Glad you asked!

"Dead Panic" has been featured on the front page of the European app store in the "New and Noteworthy" section.

To celebrate this achievement, I'm putting "Dead Panic" on sale for 99 cents!

The price will return to $1.99 as soon as the feature is over, so act fast!

[knichols]

That is awesome man! Congratulations and hope that it continues to do well! Thanks for the quick update.

[lukeca]

I downloaded this game to check out the iPod integration because I'm trying to do the same thing in my app, and I'm trying to get ideas about how it's done. The game is actually really fun, good job! I can't find the iPod integration though, am I missing something? Are you just saying I can disable the in game sound so that I can play my own music prior to launching the app?

[Kalimba]

Originally Posted by lukeca

I downloaded this game to check out the iPod integration because I'm trying to do the same thing in my app, and I'm trying to get ideas about how it's done. The game is actually really fun, good job! I can't find the iPod integration though, am I missing something? Are you just saying I can disable the in game sound so that I can play my own music prior to launching the app?

I believe the accepted technique for doing this is to detect if iPod is playing when your app starts up and, if so, refrain from playing your own music. I've also purchased Dead Panic and can verify that it does indeed take this approach.

[lukeca]

Thanks Kalimba, I'm not saying anything bad about Smasher's game, I really like it.

I'm just trying to approach the iPod integration in a different way. I want to actually be able to control the iPod from within my app using the new api's in 3.0. I don't have any in game sounds and I thought it would be a nice way to add background music to my game. I'm just trying to get ideas about how to do the interface, I want something like TuneWiki. Anyway I don't want to pull this thread off topic, so if I come up with more questions I'l start a new thread.

[smasher]

Originally Posted by lukeca

Thanks Kalimba, I'm not saying anything bad about Smasher's game, I really like it.

I'm just trying to approach the iPod integration in a different way. I want to actually be able to control the iPod from within my app using the new api's in 3.0. I don't have any in game sounds and I thought it would be a nice way to add background music to my game. I'm just trying to get ideas about how to do the interface, I want something like TuneWiki. Anyway I don't want to pull this thread off topic, so if I come up with more questions I'l start a new thread.

Correct, Dead Panic does not use the 3.0 API's that allow you to choose from your iTunes library from within the app - it's built for 2.2 with no 3.0 APIs.

You can start your music before you launch Dead Panic though, and change songs using the headphone button or double-tapping the home button. The game's music is automatically disabled if your music is playing, and Kalimba said.

I know that hardly sounds like a feature, but you'd be surprised how many games ignore the user's choice of music.

[Fool]

Great work Smasher! Love the game. I've posted review.

I was looking through the credits and couldn't work out why your name wasn't listed and was wondering who this Sean guy was. Haha!

[bluemonkey]

Good work smasher, I have just purchased it as well from the UK app store and will have a play, and write a review later.

Also looking forward to reading your blog post.

Aaron

[smasher]

Thanks guys. I'm hard at work on an update with lots of new features.

I've fallen off the charts, though, so I'll be raising the price soon - if anyone wants the game for 99 cents you need to act fast!

[DeltaP]

Originally Posted by smasher

Thanks guys. I'm hard at work on an update with lots of new features.

I've fallen off the charts, though, so I'll be raising the price soon - if anyone wants the game for 99 cents you need to act fast!

Picked up your game, Smasher. It's really well done. Congrats! How have sales been? Seems like an app like this deserves to stay on the charts for longer than it has!

[smasher]

Originally Posted by DeltaP

Picked up your game, Smasher. It's really well done. Congrats! How have sales been? Seems like an app like this deserves to stay on the charts for longer than it has!

When I was featured on the European stores my best day was 180 sales. Most days were far less though, 10-30 sales a day. I fell off the US charts within a week after release. It hasn't been an instant success.

There were 300 games released last week, so just being good is not enough. I've cooled off my promotion efforts for now - I'll pick it up again when the next update is released.

[bluemonkey]

Hi Smasher,

I played this the other day and its pretty neat, however after a few levels I did feel like the levels took a long time and were slow paced. How long does each level last?

A couple of things I noticed during playing: (which might have just been my not understanding the game)

1) sometimes one of the soldiers would not fire until the zombies came close in range. I did get a screen shot which is here:

Skitch.com > aaronwardle > iPhoto

2) the level complete % in the corner appeared to stick at say 9% for a long while then suddenly increase.

Apart from that pretty good game I think with a few tweaks and a lite version you could do pretty well.

Aaron

[Kalimba]

Originally Posted by bluemonkey

Hi Smasher,

I played this the other day and its pretty neat, however after a few levels I did feel like the levels took a long time and were slow paced. How long does each level last?

A couple of things I noticed during playing: (which might have just been my not understanding the game)

1) sometimes one of the soldiers would not fire until the zombies came close in range. I did get a screen shot which is here:

Skitch.com > aaronwardle > iPhoto

2) the level complete % in the corner appeared to stick at say 9% for a long while then suddenly increase.

Apart from that pretty good game I think with a few tweaks and a lite version you could do pretty well.

Aaron

Looking at that screencap, I believe the soldier isn't firing because his line-of-sight to the zombies is blocked by the tree. Based on my experience playing the game, the obstacles not only block the zombie's pathing, they also block line-of-sight. AMIRITE smasher?

[smasher]

Originally Posted by bluemonkey

Hi Smasher,

I played this the other day and its pretty neat, however after a few levels I did feel like the levels took a long time and were slow paced. How long does each level last?

Roughly five minutes, but some are longer.

The soldier in your screen shot is blocked by a tree, so he's not going to shoot until he has a clear line of sight. Ditto with any obstruction - gas pumps, barricades - he won't shoot.

The sticky % is fixed in the next update; I was calculating it in a sloppy way. I have lots of little fixes like that, in addition to the "big news."

Thanks for the suggestions!

EDIT: Kalimba got it. I should "cut short" the FOV cones to show areas that are blocked, but that's a bigger change than it sounds. I want to rewrite the whole renderer now that I'm smarter, but that's sequel material.

[mr-sk]

Smasher - solid game man. Picked it up a while ago - enjoying it.

[smasher]

The next version of "Dead Panic" is now available!

"Dead Panic: Survival" adds:
* An infinite "survival" mode
* Four new maps
* Two new weapon types
* A money/upgrade system
* Multi-touch-controls
* OpenFeint challenges and achievements
* High scores
* Upgraded sound and graphics
* Force feedback!

If you liked the original game, there is now more to love! If the original campaign was too slow, you will thoroughly enjoy the new survival mode.



"Dead Panic:Survival" is available now.

[scotopia]

Awesome update Smasher; nice work! I'll give the newbs some time to rack up scores on survival mode before I come in for the big smack down