• Where did the initial idea come from?
• How long did it take from the first idea to the version 1?
• and more!

Check the full interview at BlahBlapp!

BlahBlapp is also on Twitter and Google+

Vicent Victoria has created a nice sequel to the Bejewel genre. They have managed to not simply copy the gameplay as many are tempted to do but they have added a nice twist of their own, creating a cooler, more casual game. They also have created a game appealing to a wider audience. This is a nice touch.

Check out the full review at BlahBlapp!

BlahBlapp is also on Twitter and Google+

The debut of the Korean development is more than successful and is hardly cause for criticism. The Match3 game relies on proven, but extends it with fresh game ideas. Here you can follow his instinct to collect without being pressured by time pressure or annoying In-App-Purchases. The sharp graphics with beautiful gems, the relaxed music, and the buttery smooth control underpins the good impression.

Check the full review at App Gemeinde.

Oh, I can’t read German other than Guten Tag, but I did read it with the help of Google translate. Check here.

Also, check out their Facebook and Twitter

Thank you, Tobi!

Enhancing user experience takes polishing to its extreme. Little details here and there sum up and make a difference. One little thing that bothered me for a very long time was this: you can’t swap a jewel into an empty space.

Take a look at this:

A Typical Situation in Match 3 Games

Players feel an urge to make the swap, but they can’t because there are jewels falling into the empty space. If they try, they will get either no response or a beep. People just seemed to accept this, thinking it was their fault. It happens in many Match 3 games, so this isn’t really a problem. But I wanted to make it better.

I thought about how I could allow such swaps. Then I realized the swap bothered me not because it wasn’t allowed but because there was no satisfying reaction.

Hence, the Half Swap was born:

In Jewel Next, if you swap a jewel into an empty space, the jewel will move a little toward that direction and come back—feeling funny and elastic. Very satisfying!

I hope you can enjoy this little experience!

THIS is the heart of Jewel Next. Players match, create, collect, and put jewels in there. However, it didn’t exist in earlier builds—not even in design documents. But you know, not all hope is lost. Its dinosaur ancestor was there—in a Game Over screen:

Can you spot the Jewels section, a little below the middle, where the unlocked jewels and a question mark are displayed? That is the dinosaur of Jewelry Box. We polished it, and it became prettier:

It definitely looks prettier, but it is still not a jewelry box. Then around February 2012, when I was reading a book titled “Steve Jobs” using iBooks, I realized that a shelf would perfectly fit in Jewel Next. This is how a shelf looks like in iBooks:

With the help of Steve Jobs, Jewelry Box finally came into existence:

This is how Jewelry Box came into the game—the very first in its genre! Oh, by the way, the box also has a cover.

• 1024×1024 is for iPad1, iPad2.
• 2048×2048 is for the New iPad.

Enjoy!

1024×1024 2048×2048	1024×1024 2048×2048
1024×1024 2048×2048	1024×1024 2048×2048

1. A Logbook



I will write how things are going for my projects and how I did certain things in the past. Writing them down will help me sort my thoughts, and at the same time, I wish they would provide value to all readers, including gamers and developers.

2. A Diary


Photo by KangHee
As a human being, I will do many things that are irrelevant to my projects, yet it would still be worth sharing. I will post them irregularly, just like a real diary. For an almost-real-time diary, you can follow my Twitter @vincentvictoria.

3. A Round Table



I firmly believe that blogs are meant for a two-way communication. So if you have anything to say, please comment. We will sit in a cozy place and talk. If you prefer, contact me via these means:

Twitter @vincentvictoria
Email: vincent@vincentvictoria.com