Comments on: 'StarSmasher' 3D Space Shooter for iPhone

By: First Look Video at ‘Venger’ - a 3D Space Shooter | Smartphone User Guide

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:12:07 +0000

[...] on our reader responses to StarSmasher and SolarBlaster, it seems clear there's an untapped iPhone market for 3D first person space [...]

By: Fox McCloud

Fox McCloud — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:57:55 +0000

Include the ability to do a barrel roll in the next update

Also hire some level designers for some level packs, not just in space but probably against a space armada and on some planets

By: John Bowers

John Bowers — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:13:14 +0000

@Noah

The inverted controls should now be available on the App Store via an update. I've got the 1.0.3 out for review now with the following updates:

-A new class of grey asteroid that is virtually indestructible (with normal weapons).
-More feedback when you are hit and/or you hit the minelayer.
-New "pretty" menus which really help make the game look polished.

I'm working on the 1.0.4 update which will have a level based game mode. I still haven't quite figured out how to add a "story" but I'm working on it. I imagine the 1.0.3 update will be available on Thursday (hopefully) so I'm shooting for having some basic levels by then (its going to take a slight redesign of the game engine, I had really imagined a single level game when I designed it). I'm thinking about splitting it into a level-based mode and a "free fly" mode which will basically be the same as the 1.0.3 update.

By: Noah

Noah — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:24:33 +0000

Inverted Controls as an option = awesome.
Story Mode = even better.

By: denverpodder

denverpodder — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:31:02 +0000

Off to a great start indeed. I see a lot of potential here. Love the graphics and sound. But, this may as well be a demo game. The controls are ridiculously impossible at this point, the asteroid field repetitive, and the point of the game hard to figure out. Try inserting a plot, inverting and calibrating the controls, and working on some variety. You've already constructed the basic physics and game concept. Finish it and you will have a $9.99 title.

By: Daniel Glover

Daniel Glover — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:58:49 +0000

You don't have to tap the screen to fire. You touch and hold to automatically rapid fire.

By: Constable Odo

Constable Odo — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:50:00 +0000

Probably a stupid question, but would a game like this put a lot of wear and tear on the iPhone or iPod Touch display to the point of damaging the sensitivity of the display. Firing requires a heck of a lot of tapping.

How does one's finger feel after playing this game for a half hour. Most game players have buttons that give and flex, but this just as a hard solid surface. I guess the tip of the finger would get a bit numb, right?

Other than those questions, this looks like a fairly nice game that should be fun to play.

By: mavis

mavis — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:17:04 +0000

Hey John – I just wanted to thank you for the email you sent me – I appreciate your efforts to not only address the control 'issues' but also to keep us up to date with your progress! Hopefully Apple won't drag their feet too long on the update …

Anyway I'm really looking forward to playing the game once the update arrives. And I hope to see more work from you in the future – given the response here and in the App Store to this game, I'm assuming (and hoping!) that you're going to see enough income from this app to warrant devoting more time to this and future projects.

Also, I would like to mention again (in case any other developers see this!) that your price point is PERFECT – so many developers are trying to extract every last penny from their customers and in doing so are really limiting their sales, IMO. It's great to see a game like this priced so reasonably – very refreshing! Keep up the good work!

By: FingerGaming - Gaming on the iPhone and iPod Touch » » Review Roundup

FingerGaming - Gaming on the iPhone and iPod Touch » » Review Roundup — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:00:50 +0000

[...] Starsmasher (Space Shooter) – TouchArcade [...]

By: John Bowers

John Bowers — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:08:19 +0000

Ok. Shipped a 1.0.2 update to apple with the following improvements (hopefully we'll see it in a few days).

Inverted control option.
Game difficulty settings.
Way vamped up control acceleration (50%).

It will probably take a little more getting used to with the new acceleration b/c it will require a bit more finesse, I think. I'm going to start a thread in the forum to discuss the controls b/c I would really like to talk this out with everyone and come to some consensus on the best way to move forward.