That's really helpful. It did take a lot of time just trying to see blue cards and having to deselect every other deck. Btw, are the starting portraits the only portraits you can use for your character? Do more unlock later? I ask because I saw a lot of in-game enemy portraits that were not on the select character screen. If not they would be cool as unlocks after you beat the game / enemy so there's more to choose from.
The starting portraits are the only ones you can select from. I've considered doing what you suggest, but it hasn't been the highest priority. It would be a nice thing to unlock, I agree. I've also considered things like unlocking alternate card backs. I don't know if I will get to these ideas, but they are on the list. Based on current sales to date, I am going to have to shift my attention at some point to a new game that will hopefully be profitable. I'd love to keep working on expansions and enhancements like this for Lost Portal, but I'm effectively doing it for the fun of it at this point, as the sales just aren't there.
Hopefully you build on the concept and come out with a streamlined product out of the gate. It would be interesting to see PVP and deck balancing with that in mind, more rare cards, and maybe a different way to progress than moving an avatar card through a dungeon made of card-shaped spaces. A story would be cool too, like something that explains LP while laying the groundwork for what's next.
The double press helps but it's not ideal. I think you're right when you explain that the main difference with other games is that they show all cards when filters are not selected and that the default is filters off. That behavior would make it more intuitive. You didn't answer if the ordering by casting cost was coming in the next update. Also, if you're still open to wish list requests, I would like to see the option to rename decks when building custom ones as well as touch name and select from a list. The whole touch action to go to the next deck is a slow process, having to cycle between them all instead of just jumping to the desired deck build. Not sure if I'm making sense? It's just a low priority idea though.
Experimenting with switching to this behavior and it has a good chance of making into the next update. I have not looked at this and it is a bigger change, so I wouldn't expect it in the next update. Yes, naming decks was already on the list, but I'll note your idea about having a list pop up to speed up switching decks.
Testing complete. Looks good. This change will be in the next update. A few more tasks to go for the next update and more testing...
There's a bug with the gold card Mindshade. It doesn't replicate enemy units. I've only seen it do it once. Right now it's a waste of it's cost since it looks like it activates replicate, shows it in the log, but no enemy creature is added to your side of the field.
Ahh okay thanks. That makes more sense. Maybe you should make it so the card doesn't activate replicate at all unless there is an enemy in front then? Because the card makes a special effect like it's activating and then it shows up in the log even with nothing is in front of it.
LF, any movements on whether you could do some sort of draft mode? I wonder if you have enough cards currently? Though even then, that's not a problem, just add in duplicates, which could actually maybe make the decks more cohesive and worthwhile playing with. Below is a thread I made 2 years ago reaching out for what other card games on the AppStore have draft, and the two majors were hearthstone (dah!) and orions 2. There were no others! (I don't count solforge). http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=215075 Lately I've had a real hunger for some draft but there's just none, at least very very few on the AppStore, and the one that I would put time into, hearthstone, costs credits, and you are reliant on Pvp online. There's a real void of premium draft ccg out there. I know that you take inspiration from the great old mtg game shandalar, and I think that game had a draft tournament style mode. Would be so amazing if you could implement something like that. Anyway. Love the game.
Other modes are still on the wish list and I'd personally love to do a draft mode. However, sales are such that I have to consider whether to continue to add features to this app or at some point put that time/effort into a new one that could perhaps do better. Once I get this next update out, I'll take stock of the situation and figure out what's next. Anyone who hasn't done so, please take a moment to leave a review on the App Store. Fresh reviews seem to push an app up the charts a bit, so they can help with sales. I didn't want to annoy folks with a popup in game, but I did add a "review" link to the title screen that takes you to the app in iTunes. Glad you are still enjoying the game!
What would you do next ? I'm excited for the next update even if it's the last one as its starting to sound that way. Can't blame you though.
Great question! I have thought about it some, but have not decided. Possibly another CCG that is not a direct sequel to Lost Portal. Something that perhaps allows you to control a party of characters with even more RPG elements (i.e., multiple classes and races to choose from). I will have to experiment to see what can be done. I'm pushing to wrap that update up as soon as I can. I have no intention of abandoning the game after that, but I would like to make money at some point. The last few updates really didn't generate many additional sales for the amount of effort on my part. The only thing that has generated sales recently is dropping the price to $.99, and that only lasted a few days. I do have one idea that I'd like to get into the game at some point, which is a dungeon where you'd get to play against other player's decks, but controlled by the AI. That might provide a challenge. In fact, I'll just open it up right now - anyone who wants their player+deck included in a future update, send me an email with your details at [email protected]. You should have completed the main campaign, of course, but you are welcome to send more than one. You can either send me screenshots of your player's card and pages of the deck editor, or you can type them into the email if you prefer.
Have you considered a more traditional dungeon crawler without cards? An original take on the genre. Mixing elements of RPG and roguelike with different classes/races and some crafting system. Somehow I think you would have the ability to make a great game like that and they often sell better as premium than CCGs that sadly often fall into F2P. Don't give up on it though. The product you developed definitely deserves more sales. Bring the price up to a more fair value and then occasionally pull sales to generate some buzz and attention. Lost Portal is without a doubt worth more than .99.
Oh that's a really great idea. I haven't beaten the main campaign yet though hopefully I can get my deck in there one day. This game is definitely worth the money and is a steal at 99 cents. In the future this will probably be one of those hidden gem games that everyone should've bought.
I think a sequel would be a smart move from a marketing perspective. It's a new product that ties in with this one, into which you've already invested a lot of time, energy, and money. If you play your cards right (pun intended) you could score a two-for-one and have two products selling at the same time. I'm in marketing and public relations, so that's actually my professional advice to you, although if the second one flops, this strategy might not pay off for you. But it could fail to connect with the public regardless of it being an original IP. I think the comments about changing up the formula a bit are spot on. The structure of being a card on a map of card-shaped spaces is kind of clunky. Maybe find a way to abstract certain aspects of your game (movement, combat, etc) in a different way and come out of the gate with a product that is streamlined from day one. Shoot me a PM if any of this interests you and I'd be happy to provide you with my time for you to bounce ideas off of me or you to pick my brain. Edit: Also, you should have some sort of a plot in subsequent games. You're just kind of a wizard unlocking portals to progress to the next area in LP and the only real plot to speak of are quests that essentially amount to "clear our rat cave" or "kill big baddie in haunted forest."
