The Slam Rapid Application Development Process
The Slam Rapid Application Development Process
Whenever we develop a new game or app, we use the Slam Engine. It’s straightforward, and channels developer mindset to become more production-oriented. That means we’re far quicker.
The Slam Engine is based upon a clear concept: casual mobile games and apps do not require expensive skilled 3D programmers.
In fact, complicated technology can kill a casual game. A casual game player is just as impressed with the intelligent use of 2D, live action video or pre-rendered sequences. By programming a game using our pragmatic approach, flights of fancy involving expensive bleeding edge technology are avoided.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Take this example from the game Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It was originally developed for PC. We were asked to completely redevelop it for Wii and Nintendo DS. The original programmer’s desire to include real time 3D graphics would have made the development process very lengthy: a matter of months at least. What’s more, the restrictions that a real time engine gives to the artists make it difficult for the host to be displayed perfectly. This makes approval difficult and increases management time. It also made the presenter, Chris Tarrant, look plain weird.
Original version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire uses real time “robo” Chris as a presenter. We decided that a casual gamer would be more impressed with video footage of the real Chris Tarrant. So we booked him into a studio for a couple of hours and gave him a script. Once we had the footage, we simply dropped it into the game. The whole process took only a couple of days – and the completed game was on the bestseller lists just weeks later.
Our version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire uses real life Chris Tarrant as a presenter. Our approach had the added bonus in the reduction in licensor approval problems. It is very difficult for a presenter or his agent to complain about his likeness in a video!
Who Wants to be a Millionaire exemplifies our straightforward and very fast rapid application development approach. It takes the risk out of games development – and that means better business for you.
