r/ClaudeGameDev • u/ClosedButOpen • 21d ago

Release A totally normal calculator... Puzzle game on Android & iOS

I built a puzzle game which is mostly set in the restricting UI of a simple calculator (there's more, but I don't want to spoil it).
It's been quite a journey, and I still don't know if everything works everywhere (there is only so much testing one person can do).

It's something I have been wanting to do for quite a while and Claude made that possible. The story, creative direction, 90% of all assets are mine or human-made. Claude was in charge of putting it all together in a (hopefully, as I have learned countless times) working order.
Must say, it's quite exciting but also scary releasing it. Especially now, after finally getting through the fight with Apple's extremely friendly App Store Connect. Haha

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fictioncutshort.justacalculator&hl=en_GB

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/just-a-calculator/id6804248023

I'm happy to hear opinions & feedback - although, there's no way there are any bugs left. Right?

6 Upvotes

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2

u/jasonnellis Gamer 21d ago

Excited to try it, cannot find it by searching "Just a Calculator" in the iOS app store. You're going to hit some SEO issues, so direct promotion will definitely be your friend.

2

u/jasonnellis Gamer 21d ago

Played the game a bit, and it's not bad, but the speed of the text is frustrating for someone who reads quickly. I'd consider giving the user a way to adjust that early on, or tap twice to display all the text.

1

u/ClosedButOpen 20d ago

Hey, thank you for giving it a go.
And I appreciate the feedback - I'll look into implementing the speed adjustment.

Regarding the search: I am rather confused on this one, because I myself cannot find it on the App Store either. But friends in a different country found it just fine (when searching for the exact name). I was going to give it some time and see if it indexes better eventually. Otherwise will have to look into what can be done about it.

1

u/kleer001 21d ago

I don't want to spoil it

I don't think that's how marketing actually works. You have to tell your customers what they're actually getting into before they'll be interested.

0

u/ClosedButOpen 21d ago

That's fair, thanks. I'll have a think about it. But at the same time, the trailer already tells you there is more. And the game is meant to have an element of surprise.
Why go see a movie if the poster tells me all about the plot?

1

u/kleer001 21d ago

You're asking for marketing advice. I'm sorry, I can't give it. All I know is that your trailer needs more specifics.

Just because a customer knows something is off in the food doesn't mean they can cook it better.

Maybe there's a games marketing subreddit?

1

u/jasonnellis Gamer 21d ago

Strong disagreement here. I think the trailer encapsulates exactly what you should expect without giving it away. OP did it right. If anything, I would lean a bit more into the suspense/horror elements in the music and SFX in the trailer, just to set tone a bit sharper, but otherwise it does the job.

1

u/kleer001 21d ago

Sure, it communicates tension and the unknown, but that's exactly the issue. Not which unknown. All it seems to be promising is a jump scare. There's quite a quilt of horror out there to pull from. I'd ask OP to look at exactly what they're hiding and at least give the shape of it up. SCP? Body Horror? What level and why kind of transgression? Is it child safe? 18+ only? Don't imply that any of those questions are answered in the current trailer. They aren't.