iOS Developer

When I was a kid I taught myself computer programming and later studied it a bit in college before heading in a different direction. When iPhone gaming became a big deal, I decided to get back in the game on a part time basis. I made quite a few games and only a very meager amount of money. But I got a kick out of it anyway. I created everything in the games – the art, the UI, the logic, sound and even the music (and for that “music” I do apologize).
I used the GameSalad developer environment to build the games, which allowed me to export to multiple platforms (iOS, Android, and Amazon devices). ‍

Eventually the time required to keep the games compliant with each annual iOS update wasn’t justifiable. So, sadly, my games are no longer available on that platform today. There are still remnants available on Amazon and Android devices, but changes over the years to the OS for those platforms may mean they don’t always work properly. I can still play Lost Balloon on my FireTV just fine so all is not totally forgotten. Following is a sampling of what my games were like.

Battle Bowling

iPad only

Battle Bowling was my first game. It was a bit too ambitious of a concept for my first app, to be totally honest. It was a two-player game that placed each player on one end of an iPad. So two players on the same device at the same time. The bowling alley was two-directional, allowing the player to defend their pins by throwing the bowling ball into the path of the other ball while at the same time trying to knock down the pins at the other end. Each side was represented by either Moki or Loki, the two monkey mascots I created for the game.

Battle Times & Battle Times Plus

iPhone & iPad

Moki and Loki rejoined forces in BattleTimes (above left), a head-to-head multiplication contest that tested how fast your brain and fingers could work. Both players work to solve the same multiplication problem, but only one of you can grab the point for getting it right first. It was 60 seconds of multiplication melee!
Like BattleBowling it used the two players using the same screen concept. I released a separate version of the game for iPhone and iPad since this was back in the era of tiny iPhone screens (3.5"). The screenshot below shows the iPhone layout. Battle Times was my most downloaded free game, as it was very popular in China.

Play BattleTimes in your browser

Lost Balloon

iOS / FireTV

Lost Balloon Links:‍‍

Lost Ballon for FireTV on Amazon.com ‍‍

Providence Journal Article about Lost Balloon‍

Play Lost Balloon in your browser‍

Lost Balloon was my most successful game and even generated some interest from the Providence Journal newspaper because I used silhouettes of Rhode Island landmarks (well, they were interested after I sent them a press release). It’s a side scrolling game where the balloon must dodge girders and spikes. It loses gas with each button press, so the player must replenish the helium supply by gathering power-ups. The goal is to make it to the Rhode Island capitol and finally to Newport. The challenge increases as the wind changes and day becomes night. As far as I know, no one ever completed the journey (which means the poor balloon is still lost).

and some more...

Number Duel (top): A math game where the player must choose the card with the greater numerical value.
Play Number Duel online on GameSalad arcade!*
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SumDice (bottom left): A “shut the box” dice game that adds the element of time to increase the challenge. Play SumDice online on GameSalad arcade!*
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LeftShark (bottom right): Made in one day after the 2015 Superbowl, the clumsy shark must keep beach balls in the air.

*GameSalad arcade doesn't work on all devices and browsers.
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iOS Games

Want to know more about my game making days?

I’ll do my best to answer any questions.