Why Our Android Games Are in Closed Testing (and How to Help)
ORBIT.IO, GROUND.IO, INK.IO, PHASE.IO, DODGE.IO, SPLIT.IO and DON'T SQUISH BOB all have Android versions, and all of them are currently in closed testing on Google Play rather than publicly listed. This post explains why, and how you can help them launch.
Three of the games in closed testing, recorded from their Android apps.
Google's testing requirement
Google Play requires new apps from new personal developer accounts to go through a closed test before they can be released publicly. The test has to run for at least 14 days with a group of testers who stay opted in. Only after that does Google allow the app to be published to everyone.
The rule exists to catch broken or low-quality apps before they reach the public store. For a one-person studio, it means every game needs a group of real people willing to install it and keep it installed for two weeks.
One group for every game
To keep things simple, there's one Google Group for testers, and joining it covers every Vibe Games title. You then opt in to each game individually on its Google Play testing page, using the same Google account you use on your Android phone. After opting in, the testing page links to the game on Google Play, and you install and update it like any other app.
The step-by-step links are in the beta section of the home page.
What testers get
- Early access to every game before public launch.
- Updates as soon as they're released.
- A direct line to the developer. Bug reports and feedback go straight to the person fixing them.
What helps most
The single most useful thing a tester can do is stay opted in for the full 14 days. After that, playing a few runs and reporting anything that looks wrong, such as a crash, a sound glitch, or a threat that feels unfair, makes a real difference. Several games have already been retuned because of tester feedback.
Bug reports go to contact@playvibegames.app. The contact page lists what to include.
Can't test on Android?
Every game can be played free in the browser on this site. The browser versions of ORBIT.IO, DODGE.IO and SPLIT.IO are faithful ports of the Android apps, so playing them is useful feedback too.
More from the Devlog
The design rule behind the whole catalog: one verb per game, and why constraint produces better arcade games than features do.
How the Daily Challenge turns a calendar date into a run that's identical for everyone, and why that makes scores fair.
ORBIT.IO, DODGE.IO and SPLIT.IO began as Android apps. Their browser versions are line-by-line ports. Here's what that took.