Banana Kong is an endless runner game set in the jungle starring a banana collecting gorilla. The developers wanted to create an original endless runner that combined known mechanics with a new twist. They developed parallel gameplay sections as the twist. Creating intuitive gesture controls for the four different actions like jumping, gliding, and dashing was a challenge that required extensive playtesting. The game was a commercial success selling 500,000 copies in its first six months. It later transitioned to a free-to-play model and was ported to other platforms with plans for more games set in the Banana Kong universe.

2. 1. What is Banana Kong?
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3. VIDEO
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4. 2. An idea is born
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5. The idea
- Create a new endless runner with set in the jungle, with
animals and a banana collecting gorilla as star
The Challenge
- Many endless runners
- We didn't want to clone, but be original
- No brand we could build up on
The solution:
- Give players what their longing for
- Combine known mechanics with a new twist
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6. The twist: the parallel gameplay sections
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7. 3. The development starts
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8. Finding a development partner:
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9. Character design: the main character
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10. Character design: the main character
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11. Character design: the evolution of the Toucan
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12. Early gameplay scribbles and sketches
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13. Challenge 1: the controls
- 4 different input types:
- TAP (jump)
- STAY TAPPED (glide)
- SWIPE to the right (dash)
- SWIPE down(change platforms, dash down midair
Problem: all 3 inputs start with a tap!
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14. Challenge 1: the controls
4 different input types!
photo
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15. 1 - TAP (jump)
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16. 2 - STAY TAPPED (glide)
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17. 3 - SWIPE to the right (dash)
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18. 4 - SWIPE down(change platforms,
dash down midair)
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19. Problem: all 3 inputs start with a tap!
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20. Are buttons a solution?
mockup with buttons
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21. NO! Buttons are not the solution:
- Not intuitive controls for iDevices in most cases
- Hide part of the gameplay area
- Player is forced to press same spot
- Goes against what makes up today's everyday usage of
touchscreen devices
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22. How about controls tied to display areas?
mockup with area sensitive controls
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23. Better than buttons, but still not an option as well:
- Good if there are only 2 different actions....
- ... but BK already has 4 different actions
- Restricts further expansion of controls
- What about left handed players?
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24. The solution:
- Gesture controls
We had to
- Playtest with lots of people, friends, family, etc...
- Observe them, ask them, speak with them
- Tweak until it felt good
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25. Challenge 2: level design
- Endless runners are played hundreds of times and need
feel fresh every time
Problem:
- how to create enough variation and make sure
randomized level design works?
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26. Total randomness vs. planned randomness
- TOTAL RANDOMNESS leads to frustrating, non solvabl
situations
- Absolutely NO control on difficulty, design, fun, etc...
- PLANNED RANDOMNESS by building levels together
with small sections gives more control:
- sections with different difficulty
- nice designs
- makes sure of fun situations
- creating a classic jump'n run feeling
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27. Ready for release? Make sure:
- that you didn't get project blind!
- people don't like a feature? think twice about it!
- do people understand your game?
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28. 4. Game released!
What next!?
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29. Games nowadays:
- Critically acclaimed
- Ambitious users part of the game's evolution
- Dynamic product
- Updates keep the games alive
- WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS!!!
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30. Part of a dynamic product: shop expansion
screenshots customisation
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31. Part of a dynamic product: new content
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32. Part of a dynamic product: the logo
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33. Part of a dynamic product: the social competition
screenshot social elements
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34. 5. Times are changing...
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35. ... and so are games:
- Market shifting towards F2P
- Despite F2P shift, good sales: 500.000k sales in 6 mths!
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36. The Free to Play switch:
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37. 6. The future
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38. The future:
- Ports to Android and other platforms
- Establishing the game as a brand
- More games in the Banana Kong Universe
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39. That's it!
Thanks for listening!
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40. - Questions? Or want to publish with us:
philipp@fdg-entertainment.com
- Download presentation at:
- FDG on the web:
http://www.fdgentertainment.com
- FDG on Social Networks:
www.facebook.com/FDGEntertainment
www.twitter.com/FDG_Games
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