Multi-platform mobile apps with Flash CS6

Coin Quiz and Coins In A Flash have been reviewed and both have recently passed the review process at Apples' iTunes. We now have our apps on Google Play and Amazon  and now its also on iTunes.

I had my doubts. I guess I doubted because I thought that Apple had the hardest submission out of all of the other online app stores. I am also surprised that Apple doesn't just immediate fail anything that's made with Flash just based on previous history with Adobe Flash Player.

These United States coin counting apps have been carefully crafted to train and teach counting in general, counting US coins and coin identification skills to all ages of learners. They are similar to flash cards but much better. I would like to test the apps out in various class room settings, home schooling and in educational curriculum.

The goal is to have education and learning apps (or any mobile app) on the most used hardware that schools or parents (end users) would actually have at their disposal and to provide an app that spans operating systems, (Androind and iOS) capable of keeping the hordes of mobile fans and customers happy or just teaching kids how to count coins.

To get a (low quality recording) glimpse of the apps in action, check them out on YouTube. If your interested in that apps or already love them let us know.

Next we will be doing a version with Euro coins.

A picture says a thousands words.

So I read blogs for marketing, that there are various ways to market your mobile app. One of the ways that seems to constantly get mentioned is that creating a video of you app and posting it on youtube.com or some other strategic places.

At Google Play when setting up an apps info like descriptions, screen shots and what not, video is an optional parameter. I recommend it. Same with the Amazon Store, video is an optional field.

The reason I recommend it is because it can give the buyer a chance to demo the products functionality, features, and to assess the intended audience much better than screen shots.

So I started looking around for a way to get the video. I came up with a few options.

1. use screen capture software and capture it while running on a emulator.
2. send it in to a third party company for a review that has video demo as one of the options
3. Run out and buy a 3 million dollar HD camera to film it myself.

What did I do, none. I grabbed my wife's Kindle Fire and launched the game while sitting it on a black wind breaker for a back drop. I grabbed a tripod from the garage and set my Galaxy S phone on it and recorded myself playing the game a few rounds. I thought at least I have something. Something is better than nothing. I have a few more videos of different features in the apps, check it out at YouTube.

So, I hope to use video of this quality to create a trailer of some type. That may not seem to appealing to some but its free. Although it feels like a daunting task.

Now I have found a few very impressive shops that will give you a demo real for a price. One which had a very believable sales video was dailyappshow.com. I may have to splurge and give them a try.

Coins Quiz

So I realized that another U.S. coin application was needed or was possible at least. The goal is to test your skills with coins and math but in a way that seems fun.

Coin Quiz is an application that can take the place of flash card yet do so much more. In the beginning of every level a random grouping of coins zip out onto the screen. Next, 4 answers are flicked up at the bottom of the screen. The goal is to correctly count up the coins and press the correct answer. After a correct answer is selected a success sound, awarded points and the next level begins. If you are incorrect the answer is disabled, points (in that amount) are deducted from your score and you are left with the following answers to attempt to pass the level and make it to the next, with your life.

NOTE *** I was happy to use the same collision detection and collision reaction code over again from "Coins In A Flash" in my latest app named "Coin Quiz". Code reuse, you gotta love it.

The best part of this game is that the coins fly out crashing around and bouncing off of each other. Finally the coins come to a stop. Its kind of like and explosion of coins or some kinda gravity simulator. Of course the effect is a little different each time because each coin picks a random angle to travel out into play and each round there are varying numbers of coins. Another interesting event in the game is that after level 50 there is a half dollar that starts to show up hear and there. Now that switches up the game!

Another awesome advantage to building this mobile application in Flash CS6 is that it is ready for Android and iOS. Coin Quiz is available at Google Play and Amazon. I am sad to say that the app is not currently being deployed for iOS, but we plan t in the near future.

I have a few really interesting upgrades for the game. The list will come in handy as I attempt to keep customers riveted with exciting new content. If you have any ideas for the game please let me know.

Coins in a Flash

We launched our first education and learning mobile game a few weeks ago, named “Coins in a Flash”. The game is glorified flash cards of US coins showing different goals in the form of cents. The objective is to click the correct coins to add up to the goal amount. As the coins are clicked they fly out onto the stage and collide with other coins and the edges of the screen.

 It has been exciting to develop. It is also fun to test because I like the sounds, collision detection and collision reactions. The sounds are from soundsnap.com. I have an “Old School” membership so I can get 5 sounds a month. The anticipation of publishing the game was killing me.

The application costs less than the paper predecessor. For $3.95 a cool little box of 86 cards can be purchased from flashkids.com or schoolzone.com for $2.99. However, for .99 cents a digital version of it can be downloaded from Google Play in minutes. That’s a savings of 2 or 3 dollars and no waiting for mail or driving to the store - saving gas, time and your vehicle. Not to mention the cardboard cards won’t end up all over the house, bent up, and misplaced here and there.

Another good thing about the game is it teaches users to identify and count coins fast. It is so much fun to play you may not even realize you are learning. The application also lets you know when you're right and wrong. So parents won’t have to take precious time to go over the flash cards with the kiddos.

We are thinking about implementing the Leitner system for covering questions that are answered incorrectly. This would allow for a little spaced repetition and help identify trouble areas.

For more upcoming applications check out our web site at scriptMicro.com