Paul Wheatley Ltd.

Xs & Os: The RB

 
 
Game on an iPhone
 

A gridiron inspired endless runner game where you need to dodge ever increasing and faster opponents... How many yards can you manage?

 
Download the game on Google Play Download the game on Google Play
 

The Background

I have always wanted to learn how to make Video Games, I have tried a number of systems and tools over the years but I never really got out of the 1st gear. I would create a basic game and get bored in the bug fixing phase or I would work out the system for the game but run out of steam with the creation of the players, assets or sprites, whatever it was; it just never really stuck.

Then in the early part of 2021 I found the missing piece; time and lots of it. In the Covid lockdowns of 2020 I loved all the spare time after the kids were safely in bed either working on projects in my garden or out in the countryside running, cycling or walking.

Then the lockdown of January 2021 hit. The appeal of being outside in the evenings at that time of year was no longer appealing. Scotland is, at best; dark, damp and depressing (aka dreich) in the early part of the year. Whats worse, Love Island had consumed my wifes evenings so I was at a loss. As someone who likes to be active (either physically or mentally) I really struggled. My mental heath was taking a beating and I needed to find a solution.

At the start of the 2020 lockdowns I had dusted off my Swift skills and tried to make an app but then the light nights came around and I dropped it. It occurred to me that this was something I could pick back up. So, I started to explore YouTube for Swift courses and I happened across Brackeys channel on YouTube (ironically the first video i was drawn in by was his Farewell video. I found his videos easy to digest and understand so I jumped into the wonderful world of Unity. In very little time i had worked through his 2D series and I found myself desperate to get stuck into my own game.

I really just wanted to take a game right through the workflow from basic idea, to the mechanics, the art (however basic), the User Interface, testing, sharing it to get feedback, working through that feedback, the Apple App store process, the Google Play process and finally how to get it live and market it. The full soup to nuts (as they say).

And so now, here I am, just over a year later with a finished Game in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. It looks only slightly like the original game I sketched back in March 2021 but i guess thats the process.

Despite the simplicity of the game I am proud of it, I have learned so much (definitely more in the 'what not to do next time' category) and have already started on a variety of sequels or add ons to to Xs & Os: The RB along with 3 completely different games that I am looking forward to getting more time to work on now that Xs & Os: The RB is live.

If you have any feedback on the game, please feel free to leave a review in the respective app store, comment on the Xs & Os: The RB Facebook page or message me using the contact page above.