Kevin Calderone's Trace Finally Hits the App Store
posted by arn on October 8th, 2008 12:11 PM EDT in Free, Platform, Uncategorized, iPhone games, iPod touch gamesKevin Calderone's Trace game [App Store] has been released to the App Store. The game had been announced in early September on our forums. Trace offers similar mechanics as Line Rider by letting the player add to the level by drawing on the screen. The developer describes the gameplay:
Trace is a casual platformer where you draw your own path through the levels. Use the touch screen to draw platforms and navigate past obstacles to reach to goal at the end of each level. The game is easy pick up and play anytime, and high scores add another level of challenge.
The free game features 6 unique worlds, 120 levels, and an original soundtrack.
This teaser video demos the game:
App Store Link: Trace
Hrm. Interesting.
I think it would be more fun if it played like Lemmings. Your guy just starts walking and you have to make sure he gets to the end… of course, you'd have to have a way to remove lines you've drawn, but what do I know. I'm just one guy.
raps would be so proud
i'm with noah…
it would be great if it had AT LEAST a way to erase lines without having to start over…
some collisions need to be corrected as well… fun game though
Hmmm…
yeah… I think having a lemmings style auto-walk would be good. It would make it more challenging.
… to make them jump, you can shake the iPod Touch.
I agree about an erase option. I think we should have a button at the bottom which toggles pen/rubber, in case you draw your platform too long/steep for example.
Or maybe a "shake" option the erases the last line drawn?
Agree with everything above, it has potential, there's a significant bug though.
If you sleep the phone with the app running, it continues to play music.
Please forget the gimmicky control to 'shake' or 'tilt' unless we can turn it off. Those things make it unplayable when laying on bed. I love the control the way it is, maybe just add a button to erase, that's all.
Put me down as a "no" for the erase option. It's just fine as it is.
You have to think about what lines you need to draw before you start to draw.
If you screw things up, then start again.
No problem.
This game is designed to be simple and it works as it is with a few simple buttons and controls. Adding more to the mix will detract from that.
"Put me down as a “no” for the erase option. It’s just fine as it is.
You have to think about what lines you need to draw before you start to draw.
If you screw things up, then start again.
No problem."
But it is a problem when, due to the size of the screen, and due to the size of some peoples fingers, the player accidentally draws the platform too far and can't complete the stage because of their mistake. It can get a little frustrating having to start all over again because of a little mistake.
The developer has already said they will incorporate an erase option.
A few stages in I am finding some of the later ones already frustrating to play even without this issue.
I think this game is a missed opportunity.
Not the game itself. The fact that it's FREE. I've paid good money for way crappier and under-developed games for the iPod Touch so far, and this one has a very large amount of level, good premise, interesting art style…
It's at least a $3 game, the guy would have made a killing at that price.
yeah…it's a great game! i would pay for it too.
I think if it WAS a 3$ game, then people might be building up on these bugs and demanding for an update. I think this is absolutely fantastic- it's free. Maybe if he changes it to a paid app now, people might complain.
Just my 2 cents.
Trace is always going to be free, however I plan to make a sequel that will be a paid app.
@Marcus: I am working hard on version 1.1. I plan to submit the update on Wednesday, then it will probably take another week for apple to approve it. Sorry if you feel it is taking too long.
Kevin,
My kids absolutely loved your game. Great work.
Hey great game. Can't wait for your update. Frustration like 5 areas. Any hints anywhere. I'm going nuts trying to figure out those 5. I'm addicted and need therapy.
Dan
thanks for the game.
Play evenings ..