Stars and Stones

By: Jeff Clark    Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2014

I just launched my first mobile app. It's a game, called Stars and Stones, and you can download it now on the Apple App Store for free.

I enjoy games that have a simple natural user interaction, are easy to learn, but have a rich depth of play - an elegant complexity. That's what I attempted to create and I think I came close in many respects. Stars and Stones is a series of dynamic puzzles that get progressively more challenging. There are over 100 levels and the first 50 are free.

In each puzzle you drag a token around to try and capture five stars while avoiding stones. The stones move as you move and their speed is relative to your own - the faster you move, the faster they move. When you stop, they stop. Most of them in the early levels move like brainless physical objects. As you progress they take on more complex behaviours - they chase you, or block your progress, or block your access to the boosters which aid you in your task. The stones all look the same so to succeed in the game you must recognize patterns in their movement and exploit them.

Here are a few images to give you a feel for the game.


It's available for iPhone and iPads and I'd be very happy for you to try it and let me know what you think!

 


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