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# Alpha testers needed!
I've written a new iOS game, and I need alpha testers.
The game is named "Spring World" (but I'm very open to better names).
Like my previous game <a href="http://www.ballpitgame.com">Ball
Pit</a>, this is an immersive 3D game. But it's not an arcade game,
it's a physics-based puzzle game -- you know, with levels and things.
And this one can be played sitting down.
It also comes with a complete level editor, the same editor used to
build all the included levels. Build your own and send them in! (The
level editor requires a computer on the same Wifi network as your iOS
device.)
## How to join up
If you'd like to help me alpha-test Spring World, here's what you need to do:
* On your iOS device, <a href="http://tflig.ht/1tGQXzL">visit this page</a>.
It will hopefully have you sign up with Test Flight, and send me email with
your UDID. I can then build a new image that will allow your device.
* If you don't receive email from me within 24 hours, then do it the
old-fashioned way: Find out the UDID on your iOS device running iOS 8.
This requires you to hook up to iTunes;
<a href="http://www.lightrains.com/blog/iphone-udid-iphone-5-5c-5s-ios7">here
are full instructions</a>. Send an email with your UUID to me at:
terry at weissman dot org
## Things I need from alpha testers
* MORE LEVELS! I will consider this game a success when I get to play
lots of cool levels that I didn't make myself.
* Bug reports! But do look at "Known issues" below.
* Feedback! What you like, what could be improved, any suggestions.
* UI design! I'm a terrible UI designer. See the "Known UI lameness" below.
* A better name. "Spring World" is mildly descriptive, and seems to
not be used by anything else, but it's pretty dull.
## Known issues
* When you finish a level, should give you a screen summarizing how many stars you earned and giving you a choice whether to run it again or go to the next level.
* Does not remember which levels you've solved, or how many stars you earned on them.
* Needs to be integrated with Game Center.
* Needs an "about" page.
* If you create more than 20 or so levels with the editor, the "User levels" page no longer fits on the screen. I need to implement a scrolling or paging list.
* When you finish the last level, it gives an error message and then starts you
off at the tutorial screen. Some kind of "congratulations" screen would probably be more rewarding.
* Level editor: when you clone a piece with actions that refer to
other pieces that you're also cloning, it doesn't adjust the names
to match.
## Known UI lameness
* I need a better font. (With both upper and lower case letters, please!)
* I need a real icon and startup screen.
* The "Open level" screens are awful. ("<Up>"?)
* Poor textures. The "deep blue vortex" is particularly lame. But all
of them need help.
* 3D tuning. I will take any and all advice on improving the 3D looks.
(But my priority is to keep things simple to maintain framerate. I'll
ignore your suggestion that I add shadows unless you have specific advice
on how to cheaply add them. Adding shadows to Ball Pit nearly killed me.)
## Other things that need help
* The tutorial levels probably could use lots of tuning. It's hard for me to
make things clear without getting way too wordy.
* Some of the levels should probably be tossed out. I'm looking at
"Labyrinth", which is the only level I haven't managed to earn full
stars on, and "Spare", which was a fun idea but not too interesting
to play. But I'll listen to other suggestions.
* Most of the levels probably could use improving. I'll take
suggestions; even better would be to tune them yourself and send them in.
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