Happy Birthday Shake-a-Phrase! App Update & Sale!

How time flies!

Shake-a-Phrase, our fun little grammar app turns one today.

Its been downloaded over 25,000 times.

It's an iTunes featured Storytelling App.

And we just updated the parts of speech Quiz to add prepositions and conjunctions.

That's our gift to you.

Shake-a-Phrase is a funny little educational app - people seem to either love it (thank you, loyal and vocal educators), or hate it (because it doesn't do your laundry).

I personally love it.

Every now and then when I shake it up, it's bound to give me something unexpected that brings a smile to my face.

And if that isn't worth a measly .99 (on sale today), I don't know what is.

Much more on the way from Artgig Apps, so stay tuned...

Get Shake-a-Phrase

The Jekyll and Hyde of App Review - Part III

...Continued (Part 3 of 3)

The Next Day

I wake to this headline "Strong Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Mexico."

Steve is in Mexico - and pretty close to the earthquake, according to the map I'm looking at.

I scan the news for details...it appears the quake was unsettling, but fortunately not a catastrophic event, and there are no reports of injuries - or worse.

I send Steve a message to make sure he is okay.

And, despite my sharp instinct to barricade myself in the safety of my home, I go to work.

On the ride, I try to focus on the things I may actually be able to control.

I last spoke with Steve overnight and we discussed our options for fixing and resubmitting Word Cracker.

We both agreed that rebuilding the app from an Xcode snapshot of a previous state, effectively, reverting to the previous build, was too risky without intensive testing to be certain the snapshot didn't introduce a new, and possibly even more disastrous bug.

And in the time it would take to thoroughly test the app, Steve would be back from his vacation.

That's when Steve pulled a rabbit from his sombrero.

He had an idea that I could possibly modify the supporting .plist files from the previously accepted build to match the newly created iTunes version.

It was so crazy, it might just work.

By the time I arrive at work, hope is surging through my veins.

I'm determined to fix this Word Cracker and I'm gonna do it for Steve.

I open up the previous Word Cracker app bundle, locate the .plist files that had the version numbers, and edit them to the new version.

I save the files and upload the app bundle to iTunes.

The upload progress bar appears on screen, and in that instant I can practically feel the warm hand poised over my back - ready to give me a good pat, and I allow myself to think "well, that was easy."

Only, It doesn't work.

An abrupt error message taunts me, underlining the failed effort.

I'm officially out of ideas.

I check my email - no word from Steve.

But I do see an email from eoz games - a message was waiting in the App Resolution Center.

I shift gears, back to Roman Backgammon.

Mr. Hyde Calls... 

When I opened up the App Resolution Center in iTunes Connect, nearly 24 hours had passed since I responded to the original Roman Backgammon Rejection notice.

The Roman Backgammon app status is still red - not a good sign.

Quite a bit of effort goes into planning an app launch, and surprise delays can be costly.

We've consistently found it takes seven days from App Review submission to get to the store, so our launch marketing efforts are coordinated with that timeline in mind.

We like to aim for a mid-week launch and we always schedule a press release along with more specific grass roots marketing efforts and social media support, on launch day.

The cost of an app review delay is hard to quantify, but I can tell you from a marketing and project management perspective, it ain't cheap.

Each little app has a small window at initial launch where they are in the best position to get noticed because they are "new," and our marketing efforts are concentrated on maximizing the potential of the natural attraction to all things shiny and new.

Everyone loves that new app smell.

Apple's response in the Resolution Center is hopeful but frustrating.

They just want to clarify that the app is only using Game Center Multiplayer features, and not Leaderboards or Achievements - and they look forward to our response.

Well, I certainly don't want to keep them waiting, so I respond immediately, "Yes, that is correct."

Now it's my turn again to eagerly anticipate Apple's reply and resolution of the issue.

It is Thursday.

Here I am still stranded, my chief developer is still missing in the wake of a Mexican earthquake, Word Cracker is still crashing, and Roman Backgammon is still in App Store limbo.

Did I mention Friday is probably the worst day to launch an app because the marketing and press momentum quickly dissipates over the weekend?

An email from Steve suddenly pops up - He's okay. Communications spotty. He'll see me soon.

Needless to say, I'm happy to hear from him.

But another 24 hours will pass before I hear from Apple again...

Friday the 13th

I wait for my daily Resolution Center communication.

And it arrives right on time, promptly at 11am.

Of course Roman Backgammon gets the green light and the app re-enters review, and is approved shortly after.

Roman Backgammon appears in the App Store at 12:40 PM on Friday, April 13th.

Yes, Friday the 13th.

You can't make this stuff up.

I huddle with eoz games and they decide to hold their press release until Monday morning.

Monday the 16th

I arrive at the office Monday morning to find my old friend Steve already there.

And Word Cracker is already fixed.

And the update is already submitted to Apple, along with a special request for an Expedited Review.

The request is granted that same morning and Word Cracker update v.1.02 lands in the App Store later the SAME DAY!

After all of the frustration and waiting and desperation of the previous week, the speed of Apple's response is nothing short of breathtaking.

All three eoz games are now live in the App Store.

I slump in my chair, relieved, but spent from the entire experience.

I need a vacation.

I hear Mexico is nice.

eoz games

The Jekyll and Hyde of App Review - Part II

...Continued (now that you've downloaded the apps we developed for eoz games during yesterday's free AppFest, continue reading the sinister story behind the scenes)


A Surprise

I'm stunned.

Aghast.

Not only do I have a client app, Word Cracker, crashing in the App Store, but I've also got another app, Roman Backgammon 1.0, Rejected by Apple App Review - for the same client!

And that's not all.

Did I mention our dynamic developer and engineer extraordinaire, Steve, was in Mexico on vacation?

That's right, Mexico.

We could open up the Xcode project and start tinkering without him but that wasn't high on my list of best path forward options.

I know how it goes.

What takes the rest of us mortals a day to do, usually takes Steve half the time.
 
And I knew, based on our contingency plan, that he wouldn't be available until later in the evening.

In the meanwhile, I've got to cut through the underbrush of uncertainty to give Steve a head start.

Introducing...Dr. Jekyll

My Word Cracker mission - minimize damage.

When an app is first released, it's a lot like a baby deer, taking shaky, tentative steps in the big scary world and that little app needs all the help it can get.

Word Cracker had only been in the App Store for a week before the update, so it was still a newborn, and eoz games was busy trying to help nurture and nurse it along, with various marketing efforts in motion.

There is no break glass in case of emergency option to revert the app state to a previous build.

And you can't simply resubmit the previous build without rebuilding and updating the version and resubmitting the app to Apple and...waiting another week for their approval.

I took one look at our little Word Cracker and just knew, there's no way this doe-eyed app will make it another week.

As the grey swirling sky took on a decidedly more ominous tone, I reached for...my mom.

Well, "Moms" actually.

I called upon my friends at Moms With Apps, to help us find our way in these murky and dangerous waters.

And with a simple suggestion from another MWA member, "rebuild, submit and request an Expedited Review," the clouds part just enough to let a sliver of light through.

"Expedited" is exactly the kind of word I was looking for.

Now, I have a clear plan to discuss with Steve when he resurfaces.

I turn my attention back to the Roman Backgammon Rejection.

Introducing...Mr. Hyde

I open iTunes Connect and scan the rejection details noted in the Resolution Center:

"We found that Game Center has not been fully enabled for this version of your app. Though Game Center has been enabled on the Manage Game Center page, it must also be enabled on the App Details page in iTunes Connect."

I flip to the App Details and there's a big green "ENABLED" button shouting at me from the page.

I take a picture of the button, along with a note indicating that I don't see a problem, and send it back to App Review via the Resolution Center.

This, at least, seems like a simple misunderstanding - should be cleared up in no time, I tell myself.

And I wait, for a reply...

No time at all...

The clock ticks.

Day turns to night.

And I think to myself, "I bet it's nice in Mexico."

To Be Continued... 

Read Part III (The Final Chapter)

Eoz Games Celebrates App Trio Launch With Huge Sale!

Psssst!

Yes, you.

Do you like free stuff?

Well, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret...

Roman Backgammon ($2.99), Ticker Quiz ($1.99) and Word Cracker ($1.99) will be free to download from the App Store tomorrow, 4/24 (EST).

Yes, I said free.

Yes, it sounds just like "tree."

Yes, they will work on your iPad and iPhone.

I guess they just want to share the fun.

Just go download them and tell your friends.

DOWNLOAD FREE EOZ GAMES 4/24

The Jekyll and Hyde of App Review - Part I

Today is a good day.

We've successfully launched the app trio of Ticker Quiz, Word Cracker, and Roman Backgammon for eoz games.

We're working on interesting website projects.

And I stayed up last night, testing our next homegrown education app and I'm really impressed with the gameplay.

When I got out of bed this morning, there was a distinct bounce in my step and a genuine eagerness in my work commute as I considered the day ahead with hope and excitement.

But last week at this time was an entirely different story.

I shudder to think of the nightmare my waking life had become.

Heed this, my fellow developers, as a cautionary tale that dives into the deepest pit of darkness, before hope...is restored.

You too, can survive the mad science of Apple's App Review.

I know this, because I did just that.

And along the way, I met two very different characters.

Rewind.

Two weeks ago, we submitted a minor update to the App Store to fix a broken link for both Ticker Quiz and Word Cracker.

We also wrapped and submitted Roman Backgammon 1.0.

I was happy.

Eoz games was happy.

And love was in the air, along with various marketing efforts, including press releases and active app reviews.

We've developed many apps for ourselves, and for others, and we know the routine - app approvals and updates typically take a full week from the time they are submitted to the actual review and approval, so I kicked my feet up and set my cruise control.

At the time, I didn't even consider that anything could go wrong with Ticker Quiz and Word Cracker - my only concern with eoz games was Roman Backgammon because the first approval is always a bit uncertain.

A week passed, and I got notice from eoz games that Ticker Quiz and Word Cracker had passed review and both updates were available for sale in the App Store.

All according to plan, or so I thought.

I approached work the next day with only Roman Backgammon on my mind.

And then came the call from eoz:

"The Word Cracker update is crashing."

"No way" I thought, but I said (calmly) "Let me have a look and I'll call you back."

I hadn't even downloaded the update from the App Store yet - but I did.

And sure enough, the app crashed in Solo mode, upon completion of a game - every single time.

My first thought struck like a poison dart - we're going to have to live with this app crashing in the App Store for an entire week while Apple reviews it.

Before I could even mobilize the team to formulate a plan of action, I got an email from eoz:

"Roman Backgammon 1.0 - REJECTED!"

To Be Continued... 

Read Part II

There’s a New App Developer in Town - eoz games!

In the wild west of app development, it helps to partner up with a developer who’s no stranger to danger. And believe me, we’ve seen our share - as a soup to nuts indie developer, and as a hired gun.

We first met new game company, eoz games, right around the holidays, when they were just a bunch of sketches on index cards.

Today, we’ve developed and published two eoz games, Ticker Quiz and Word Cracker, for the App Store and another, Roman Backgammon, is in beta testing with Apple submission just around the bend.

It’s no easy task, launching a game company virtually overnight. We pushed and pulled and cursed and toiled, to get the specs and design just right. And once the dust (mostly) settled, we’ve got three polished apps - cocked and ready to download. They’ve filled out a bit since we first met, but in reality, these three games haven’t strayed far from their humble 3 x 5 beginnings. The trio might be bigger and shinier now, but the beauty and simplicity of the original game concepts remains intact.

App #1 is called Ticker Quiz - it’s a handy pocket game for those itching to test their stock symbol know-how. The game can be played two ways: by company name, or by ticker. The timed game can be played solo or in head-to-head mode and the top scores appear on the Game Center leader boards.

App #2 is called Word Cracker - if you’re daring enough to call yourself a wordsmith, you better be willing to lay it on the table and prove it with this app. The timed game is played two ways: with or without spaces (think hangman) and also offers solo and head-to-head play modes. Like Ticker Quiz, top scores appear on the Game Center leaderboards.

App #3, Roman Backgammon, is my personal favorite of the bunch. Addicting and challenging, this app takes the classic Backgammon game and adds a historical twist with slightly different rules and a custom game board and dice design to take you back in time. Once you’ve beaten the crafty AI a few times, you may think you’re ready for a high noon duel with a dice-slinger from another far off town, and the Game Center integration will bring the challenger to you - just pick a stranger and pit your wits.

Together, this app trio represent some of the finest games you’ll play this side of Dodge City.

eoz games in the App Store

Shake-a-Phrase is an Apple Staff Favorite!

Q: What do NASA, MOMA and Shake-a-Phrase have in common?

A: They're all featured Staff Favorites in the App Store Education category.

It's always nice to be featured by Apple.

And celebrating the launch of the new iPad with some App Store stars in the Staff Favorites lounge ain't a bad way to spend the day.

More shrimp cocktail?

Why yes - don't mind if I do.

Oh look, there's Dr. Seuss - gotta run!...

(Stay tuned for the launch of a trio of game apps we're working on for a client - instant game company!)

Shake-a-Phrase