Why Making Mobile Games Sucks

[@TheShelfman]

Subscribe now to get bread🍞 (might be moldy on arrival)

[@DennisSimpson-LEGACY]

Actually even the games updated as much as they are and complicated as they are on android still suck. I recommend playstation state of the art only.

[@stray1239]

I had to watch an ad for a mobile game before watching this video wait no two for two different mobile games

[@TheShelfman]

The irony

[@bendiver-r3h]

i got a lords mobile and trading app ad before this video

[@AIAdev]

Creating a mobile game has made me realize how wide-ranging the phrase "this game collects data about you" can be. Including a leaderboard in your game puts it in the same category as apps that profit from selling your data. Almost every game collects data in some way, even if it's just storing a player's coins on their device across sessions.

[@TheShelfman]

This was actually before implementing a leaderboard, but it was complaining about the ads I think. It was really frustrating. I would fight Google Play if I could

[@ChristinaCreatesGames]

I understand the frustration, but your editing and the way you spoke about it had me laugh out a couple times :D Really well done! (And I'm looking forward to Le Chateau!)

[@TheShelfman]

Thanks! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video besides my ranting😂

[@SpeedIncStudio]

It really is very difficult, I created my account recently and, in addition to all this bureaucracy, I was forced to find 20 testers who would play my game for 14 days so that I could then have access to Production, I spent around 20 days sending changes and receiving rejections and now I finally managed to publish my indie game. Big hug and good luck in all your projects!

[@TheShelfman]

Oh yeah it's even worse now if you're starting out. I thankfully didn't have to find 20 testers. It's really annoying. Thanks for watching 😁

[@malimakes]

This is me in 2018 - Making games for mobile if you're not super motivated to go through all the bullshit is just so frustrating. This video was so funny because it really reminded of how I felt lmaooo

[@TheShelfman]

Yeah it's the worst. Steam is my best friend

[@GamesBySaul]

Honestly I don't blame you at all! Its a pain, I have/had one app on the google play store, it can't taken down due to inactivity or something expiring and it gave no info on how to fix, just decided meh not worth the time or hassle

[@TheShelfman]

Exactly. It's really stupid when you want to leave something behind but still want people to be able to play/use it

[@CocoDynoBytez]

Game development aside, I agree on the mobile development/maintenance. I was teaching myself android dev about 8 years ago for a while, realized how much work it is just to maintain and we're at the mercy of google/apple just auto banning you or removing you (more likely google). Switched to web development and got a job in web development. I now have (ironically) created (3) apps for iOS and Android for clients since then and it's still a hastle, as you have described. All that is to say, no one can blame you for being done with these mobile platforms.

[@TheShelfman]

Definitely ironic haha. I can't imagine how it must feel to *have to* maintain them and keep them updated because they're for clients. At some point I imagine you'd get sick of it. Thanks for watching 😁

[@KeyboardKrieger]

I just gambled and clicked on no at every question. Downside is, maybe they'll sue me for millions if I misclicked anywhere

[@TheShelfman]

A risk worth taking, I'm sure

[@KeyboardKrieger]

@@TheShelfman I already made 10€, just hope this will be enough for the lawyer

[@FaultyGamess]

now they even have a requirement of having a internal test with 20 people atleast for 14 days before you are allowed to release the game

[@Skeffles]

Good video. I'd heard rumours but was unaware of just how bad it can be.

[@TheShelfman]

Yeah not worth the hassle imo haha

[@Innkeeper34]

I released my first game on Google Play a couple of years ago and yes, it was a nightmare. I tried again a few months ago and gave up in the middle of the process. Also I noticed that my first game received several complaining emails from google, one of them even threatening deleting the game. And I don't honestly give a damn anymore.

[@Innkeeper34]

The first game was basically a pong in a cyberpunk style. No connection to internet or adds 🤷‍♂

[@TheShelfman]

Exactly this. It just takes the fun out of publishing a game. Something that should be exciting, and something you should be able to be proud of, ruined by unnecessary complexity

[@nevosis]

Those questions on the playStore (and appleStore) are there to protect Google/Apple. I work in mobile, not gaming but still. Some things stayed false stated for 4+years, they don't give a fuck, they just want to protect themselves so you are responsible if anything goes wrong

[@TheShelfman]

Typical haha But yeah I kinda gave up on mobile. It just really sucks

[@GurkisDev]

I tried to release a mobile game as well. Hardest part was trying to put it on Google Play (I gave up)

[@TheShelfman]

I totally get why. Honestly surprised I didn't lol

[@Glitch_404_0]

This is why I hate Google Play because of their failed system. I will give you an example: if a person has a Console account and works on an external network, and his Console account is closed, and you use the same network, your account will be banned as well, even if you did not know. Isn’t it a stupid matter? There are other reasons. It is hell.

[@TheShelfman]

@@Glitch_404_0 yup. Google play is the worst. I like making mobile games every now and then, but not like this🤷‍♂️

[@moohsenbrody2443]

crazy how google play have all these standards yet its filed with trash lol

[@a_greek_dev]

Seeing other developers being angry at Google Play too, makes me happy 😊

[@XanderwoodGameDev]

Bread on your s second monitor... 🤔 so this is what's missing from my set up

[@TheShelfman]

Yup. Bread is all you need in life for true happiness

[@thomasjgour4678]

I want to know why all the games on google Play suck... It's all autoplay trash. How come games were better in the 90s?

[@TheShelfman]

@@thomasjgour4678 I'm not sure. I personally don't feel that way. Maybe it's a matter of nostalgia? Also there was no google play in the 90s and not every single person could make and release a game back then. All things that matter in the equation haha So I'd say games are still really good, but there's just way more of them

[@Ratio429]

Sometimes, I wonder if mobile gamers know what real games are like.

[@todesziege]

We had better controllers in the '90s, and running ads and telemetry wasn't a possibility. It was also possible to have people actually _pay_ for games, unlike modern mobile.

[@Lightyboii]

I wish you could just do apk... Is sad now

[@TheShelfman]

Maybe I can upload the APK to itch io if I ever feel like making a mobile game again 🤔

[@Lightyboii]

@@TheShelfman Yea because then you dont have to worry about google play being a little cry baby

[@Pallerim]

Giant platforms have an aversion to hiring actual humans to do their moderation and control (and it's not just because of money, they make billions of profits). Sadly it probably wont change unless we force them to do so by law. Your anger and exhaustion is very understandable.

[@TheShelfman]

If only. But the business will go on. People will continue to make games and publish them on Google Play, even if I don't

[@todesziege]

Yeah, things won't ever get better unless companies like Google are held legally responsible.

[@BobbeDev]

can’t you just install stuff on android without the store?

[@TheShelfman]

yup, that's why i said at the end "at least i probably won't publish anything on google play anymore" so maybe on itch or something idk

[@andygeers]

Oh dear... This is making me feel nervous for our own mobile launch... And our game has naked people in it! (That's what you get for making a game set in the garden of eden 😆- kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnXCfZWwort0iK8)

[@TheShelfman]

Oh yeah good luck getting that published on your first try😂

[@GingerNingerish]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... etc...

[@PersonWithDreamz]

damn that's a shame but it is what it is. do what makes you happy(note: i havent watched the video yet)

[@TheShelfman]

All good, hope you enjoy the video! I'll definitely be doing what makes me happy!

[@PersonWithDreamz]

@@TheShelfman it is really good! apples fees are bad. the google play store is bad for devs. Its harder to release mobile games than to make them🤣

[@alecheesacker4460]

I am getting bombarded with spam apps!

[@alecheesacker4460]

So, I clicked, "App Was Not What I Was Looking For".

[@TheShelfman]

@@alecheesacker4460 it's really annoying that this is the standard. I understand it, but still. Imagine premium games also having ads

[@avicxer]

bro you are demotivating me

[@TheShelfman]

@@avicxer there's no need to be demotivated. I just wanted to share the reality of mobile development and why I'm done with it. Keep making games!

[@avicxer]

@@TheShelfman yes your point is correct, I'm just learn and trying to make some game in unity. play store just little sucks for game developer to published their game.

[@Lightyboii]

Aw man

[@iamthebubb]

I was looking forward to releasing my game until i saw this

[@TheShelfman]

@@iamthebubb don't get too discouraged! Give it a shot and decide for yourself how you feel about the process 😁

[@fbnmvn7845]

Very cool

[@TheShelfman]

Thank you!

[@dennismakesgames]

You should try Consoles XD

[@TheShelfman]

That sounds like it'd be terrible as well lmao

[@tyujg7495.]

Every time when I want to start a new endeavor its either "Wow this is a gold rush it can make you good money!!!" Or "It sucks its in a crises [Insert 500 reason why its bad and a horror story] and then I gave up" On the same topic Come on, make up your mind

[@myrmatta1]

Honestly based.

[@TheShelfman]

🙏

[@aaronpingol1566]

Mobile games as a lot of ads which is annoying

[@TheShelfman]

Some of them definitely do. It can be super annoying.

[@malimakes]

69th comment let's go

[@TheShelfman]

@@malimakes nice

[@spartanghost_17]

Your app was just trash dude, that's why they rejected it

[@Skartcher]

you cry too much

[@TheShelfman]

i believe i'm missing the tears for it to count as crying but i'll take it