Making an Innovative iOS Game in SpriteKit with no Budget, Experience or Time
summary
Built an original iOS endless runner called Endless Runner X in Swift with SpriteKit, scoped to team strengths and shipped part-time. Development yields over 50+ minigame ideas prototyped, a hidden metagame mechanic that players sometimes discover, and integration of ad monetization plus Unity and Google ads. Launch performance shows 4.9k downloads and a 4.6 App Store rating; acquisition costs run about $0.90/install on Facebook and $0.60 on Apple Search Ads. Project secures a Screen Queensland grant and proves the approach works.
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chapters (23)
- 0:00Intro
- 1:11TBD Game Company
- 2:18The birth of an idea
- 3:10Some key concerns raised
- 4:01Evolving the idea
- 4:45From there...
- 9:20Development timeline
- 9:47Testing Approach
- 10:42Balancing gameplay and accessibility
- 12:06How good is Spritekit!?
- 12:53Our issues with Sprite Kit
- 13:34Designing the perfect glitch
- 14:16Sizing things up
- 15:08Localisation
- 15:30Communications Strategy
- 16:02Advertising Strategy
- 16:13Advertising Costs
- 16:34Monetisation Approach
- 18:04Applying for Funding
- 19:19Rising the ranks
- 19:49Our MVP's may differ...
- 21:49Lessons from promotion
- 22:38You can do it!
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